Canon - Flic en Flac & West Coast

Fausse Passe de Paea consistently delivers, a deep channel dive that always leaves us smiling. The real draw here is the sheer number of green sea turtles. We’re not talking about one or two; it’s a constant parade, often so focused on grazing the channel walls they barely seem to notice you. We find them nestled in crevices or casually swimming past, sometimes in groups. Drop in and let the current carry you gently along a stunning wall, riddled with fissures and small overhangs. Keep an eye out for Napoleon wrasse cruising by, their distinct profiles unmistakable, and leopard rays often glide through the deeper sections of the pass. It’s a comfortable drift for most experience levels, especially when the current isn't ripping. We’d suggest an early morning dive if you can, before any boat traffic picks up; it just adds to the serenity. Visibility usually hovers around 19m, sometimes more, giving you plenty of lead time to spot what’s coming.

Location: Flic en Flac & West Coast, Mauritius, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates: -20.257700, 57.377200
Type: wall

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Canon

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 Canon

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