Octopus Island - Flic en Flac & West Coast

Rix Garden is one of our favourite spots in the Somosomo Strait, especially if you’re into getting lost in the details. The wall starts shallow, around 5 metres, and just drops away. We love to take our time here, drifting with the incoming tide – that's when it really comes alive. The sheer density of the corals is what hits you first: forests of branch coral, big plates of montipora, and stacks of staghorn. It’s a riot of colour, a real technicolour dream. Look closely and you’ll find so many tiny fish darting in and out, like the Hayashi’s cardinalfish tucked into every crevice, or wasp pygmy gobies perched on the soft corals. We’ve also had some fantastic encounters with eagle rays cruising by in the blue, so it pays to occasionally look out from the wall. This site is brilliant for macro lovers and photographers, but even snorkelers get a fantastic show up top.

Location: Flic en Flac & West Coast, Mauritius, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates: -20.260000, 57.374000
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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Octopus Island

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 Octopus Island

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