Big Rock, Mauritius - Flic en Flac & West Coast
Devils Point is a surprisingly varied spot, even if the visibility isn’t always what we’d call stellar. We’ve had days here where it’s a murky 5 metres, and others where it opens right up to a comfortable 10 or 12. You’re definitely coming here for the topography. The outer pin drops away, which can create some lively currents, but we love sticking closer to the middle. That’s where you find the belly of the reef rising to 5-8 metres, an ideal spot for a leisurely safety stop while you watch the school of Pacific sardines glimmer past. Our favourite part, though, is heading towards Humbug Bay. The boulders there are fantastic, riddled with deep cracks and holes begging to be explored. You’ll find a couple of legitimate caves too, nothing too deep, just enough to feel like you’re entering another world. Inside, we’ve spotted red rock lobsters tucked away, and often catch a glimpse of a New Zealand draughtboard shark resting on the sandy bottom. Keep an eye out for longtail garfish near the surface and those cheeky striped triplefins darting amongst the kelp. It’s a great site for divers who appreciate the structure of a reef and don’t mind a bit of a hunt for smaller creatures.
- Location
- Flic en Flac & West Coast, Mauritius, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -20.270000, 57.365200
- Type
- cave
Marine Protected Area: Black River Fishing Reserve
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
- Aqua BASE
- Aquarium (reef)
- Aquarium (reef)
- Bambous (reef)
- Bambous (wall)
- BASE Diving
- Bassin Verde (reef)
- Bassin Verde (reef)
- Batterie (reef)
- Batterie (pinnacle)
- Big Rock, Mauritius (drift)
- Canal Trazar
- Canon (wall)
- Cathedral - 18-28m (cave)
- Dolphin Lagoon (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Big Rock, Mauritius
- Bigorno Diving Centre LTD - PADI, SSI
- Blues Diving Centre - ["PADI"]
- Blue World Explorer Adventures - ["PADI"]
- Crystal Divers Mauritius - ["PADI"]
- Crystal Diving - ["PADI"]
- Dive Drem Divers Mauritius
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
- Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) - Reef Fish
- Coral Blenny (Istiblennius edentulus) - Reef Fish
- Blackspotted Rockskipper (Entomacrodus striatus) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Humpbacked conch (Gibberulus gibberulus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Small-eyed Squirrelfish (Myripristis murdjan) - Reef Fish
- Humphead Unicornfish (Naso unicornis) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora lutkeni) - Hard Corals
- Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra) - Reef Fish
- Adorned wrasse (Halichoeres cosmetus) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Peppered Squirrelfish (Sargocentron punctatissimum) - Reef Fish
- Maldive Cone (Conus maldivus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Bluestripe Pipefish (Doryrhamphus excisus) - Reef Fish
- Humphead wrasse (Coris aygula) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
Recommended Packing List for Big Rock, Mauritius
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