Dolphin Lagoon - Flic en Flac & West Coast
Ilha Vitoria sits right in the path of the South Atlantic current, which means a constant churn of nutrients. That's a big part of why we love it. The site is shallow, topping out around 13 metres, but the sheer density of life here is something else. You're not going to find massive pelagics, but look closely and you'll spot some real treasures. We usually drop in on the eastern side, where the current tends to be gentler. Keep an eye out for the Colon Goby, a tiny little fish that blends in perfectly with the sand. They're a favourite of ours to try and photograph. The reef itself is a mix of small hard coral formations and rocky outcrops, draped in sponges. Schools of juvenile snapper often mill about, glinting in the shafts of sunlight that pierce the relatively shallow water. The visibility here averages around 8 metres, which isn't incredible, but it's more than enough to appreciate the intricate details. We've seen some impressive Orangespotted Filefish here, too, darting in and out of the crevices. It’s a site that really rewards slow diving and a keen eye. Think macro, think observing behaviour. It’s perfect for divers who appreciate the smaller wonders.
- Location
- Flic en Flac & West Coast, Mauritius, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -20.247800, 57.381300
- Type
- reef
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)
- Big Rock, Mauritius (cave)
- Canal Trazar
- Canon (wall)
- Cathedral - 18-28m (cave)
Nearest Dive Centres to Dolphin Lagoon
- 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 Dolphin Lagoon
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