BASE Diving - Flic en Flac & West Coast

BASE Diving, just off Flic en Flac, is one of those sites we always try to hit when we're on the west coast of Mauritius. It’s not about huge pelagics here, though you might catch a glimpse of a southern right whale if you’re very lucky in season. We go for the sheer density of small stuff, tucked into the staghorn corals that dominate the reef. You’ll find walls of giant squirrelfish staring out from every crevice, their eyes like little red lamps. The telescopefish are bizarre, drifting like fragments of weed. Look closely among the seagrass patches; we’ve spotted tiny bridled gobies darting about. The halfmoon triggerfish are everywhere, their patterns vivid against the coral. It’s a photographer's dream if you're into macro, and we love drifting slowly, just letting the gentle current guide us over the reef, spotting species like the snakehead cowrie. We'd suggest an afternoon dive here; the light filters through the water beautifully then, illuminating the corals and making the colours pop.

Location
Flic en Flac & West Coast, Mauritius, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-19.993013, 57.592400

Marine Protected Area: Coin de Mire (Gunner's Quoin)

Best Time to Dive in Flic en Flac & West Coast

The warmest water temperatures in Flic en Flac & West Coast occur in January, averaging 28.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.0°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.0°C (air: 27.0°C)
  • February: 28.0°C (air: 27.2°C)
  • March: 28.0°C (air: 27.0°C)
  • April: 28.0°C (air: 26.3°C)
  • May: 28.0°C (air: 25.0°C)
  • June: 28.0°C (air: 23.2°C)
  • July: 28.0°C (air: 22.5°C)
  • August: 28.0°C (air: 22.5°C)
  • September: 28.0°C (air: 23.2°C)
  • October: 28.0°C (air: 24.3°C)
  • November: 28.0°C (air: 25.4°C)
  • December: 28.0°C (air: 26.7°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Flic en Flac & West Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to BASE Diving

Marine Life in Flic en Flac & West Coast

Home to 453 recorded species including 314 reef fish, 71 hard corals, 14 sea snails & nudibranchs, 12 sharks & rays, 11 seagrass & algae, 8 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for BASE Diving

Based on average water temperature of 28.0°C.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories