La Passe de l'Hermitage - Saint-Gilles & West Coast

La Passe de l'Hermitage offers a mellow dive, perfect if you’re looking for a relaxed exploration rather than a deep blue adventure. This channel, cutting through the reef, typically sits between 5 and 20 metres, making it an excellent spot for newer divers or for a gentle second dive of the day. We always appreciate a site where you can just drift and soak it all in. What we really love about this pass is the consistent turtle presence – you'll often find green and hawksbill turtles munching on the algae or simply cruising by. The coral gardens here are surprisingly healthy given the proximity to shore, with some impressive stands of hump coral and sprawling table corals. Keep an eye out for rays too; we’ve had some lovely encounters with bluespotted rays resting on the sandy patches. The currents are generally mild, easing you through the channel without much effort, which means more time to really look for those smaller critters like the Pretty Liomera or the colourful sunburst butterflyfish flitting between the corals. This site suits anyone who enjoys a calm, shallow dive with plenty of accessible marine life, a real treat after the more exposed sites.

Location: Saint-Gilles & West Coast, Réunion, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates: -21.070000, 55.220000
Type: reef
Maximum Depth: 5-20m
Difficulty: Beginner

Marine Protected Area: Grande Ravine

Best Time to Dive in Saint-Gilles & West Coast

The warmest water temperatures in Saint-Gilles & West Coast occur in January, averaging 27.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.9°C (air: 26.6°C)
February: 27.9°C (air: 26.6°C)
March: 27.9°C (air: 26.4°C)
April: 27.9°C (air: 25.6°C)
May: 27.9°C (air: 23.8°C)
June: 27.9°C (air: 22.0°C)
July: 27.9°C (air: 21.1°C)
August: 27.9°C (air: 21.2°C)
September: 27.9°C (air: 21.6°C)
October: 27.9°C (air: 23.0°C)
November: 27.9°C (air: 24.0°C)
December: 27.9°C (air: 25.4°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to La Passe de l'Hermitage

Marine Life in Saint-Gilles & West Coast

Home to 524 recorded species including 348 reef fish, 99 hard corals, 30 sharks & rays, 15 whales & dolphins, 9 sea cucumbers, 9 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
Ocean Triggerfish (Canthidermis maculata) - Reef Fish
Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena equiselis) - Reef Fish
Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
Oriental flying gurnard (Dactyloptena orientalis) - Reef Fish
Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
Barracuda (Acanthocybium solandri) - Reef Fish
Hatchetfish (Sternoptyx pseudobscura) - Reef Fish
Kingston (Decapterus macarellus) - Reef Fish
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
Brim (Kyphosus sectatrix) - Reef Fish
Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
Immaculate Squirrelfish (Myripristis vittata) - Reef Fish
scad (Priacanthus hamrur) - Reef Fish
Racoon (Chaetodon lunula) - Reef Fish
Gilbert's Synaphobranchid Eel (Synaphobranchus affinis) - Reef Fish
Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers

Recommended Packing List for La Passe de l'Hermitage

Based on average water temperature of 27.9°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