Diving in Aldabra & Outer Islands
Why dive here
Aldabra & Outer Islands offers some of Seychelles's richest diving, with 488+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, bull sharks, dugongs and eagle rays.
Aldabra. Just the name carries a certain weight, doesn't it? This isn’t your typical Seychelles trip. Forget speedy pangas and day trips; getting here means committing to a liveaboard, and frankly, that’s exactly how it should be. The diving here feels raw, ancient, like stepping back to a time before humans really interfered. We love the sheer scale of it all, especially the channels. When the current pushes through, it’s a drift dive on steroids, a conveyor belt of pelagics. Grey reef sharks patrol the drop-offs, often in numbers that make you pause. We’ve seen schools of barracuda so dense they create a shimmering wall, and manta rays glide past with an unhurried grace that always captivates us. Our favourite moments are often in the quieter sections though, tucked behind a coral bommie, watching a common hairy crab scuttling across the seabed or the subtle iridescent sheen of an Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips. Visibility is generally excellent, often 25m or more, allowing you to truly appreciate the topography of this massive atoll. Be prepared for strong currents; this isn’t a place for the easily flustered. But for those willing to embrace the wild, Aldabra is an experience few other places can match.
Aldabra & Outer Islands Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Aldabra & Outer Islands
Aldabra & Outer Islands Dive Sites
4 dive sites in Aldabra & Outer Islands
Aldabra Atoll
Aldabra Atoll isn't just a dive site, it’s a commitment. Getting here means a serious journey, but the reward is a genuine frontier experience. We love the sheer scale of the place; it’s one of those rare spots where you truly feel tiny in the vastness of the ocean. Drop into the channels with the incoming tide, and you’re riding a conveyor belt past grey reef sharks, blackfin barracuda, and schools of snapper so dense they shimmer like a liquid wall. Our favourite moments here are often just hanging in the blue, watching pelagics cruise by – scalloped hammerheads are a real possibility, and we’ve seen some enormous potato groupers lingering off the reef edges. The coral itself is surprisingly robust, plenty of stony corals and flowerpot corals holding their own against the currents. It’s not a gentle drift; this is a place for experienced divers comfortable with strong currents and open ocean. Come prepared for big animals and an even bigger sense of wildness.
CHANCE NO 801 (PROBABLY)
Okay, let's be honest, "Chance No 801 (Probably)" is less a dive and more a historical landmark. With a max depth of 1m, you're not exactly exploring the abyss here. This isn't about swimming through coral gardens; it’s about a direct, visceral connection to Aldabra's wild, unforgiving nature. The 55-meter fishing vessel, grounded since '89, sits right on the reef edge, a massive skeleton bleached by sun and salt. We love this site for its sheer audacity – it’s a wreck that demands attention from above the surface. You can snorkel over it, peering down into the shallow, sunlit hull, seeing reef sharks cruise through the shadow it casts. Our favorite part is the way the hull has become a harsh, beautiful habitat for crabs and small reef fish, clinging to the rust-stained metal. It’s a powerful reminder of the ocean's indifference, and frankly, a bit of a photography marvel at sunset.
GLEN LYON
The Glen Lyon wreck in Aldabra is pure magic, and frankly, we think it’s one of the most underrated wreck dives out there. She's a British tanker, deliberately scuttled in 1879, and lies so shallow – barely breaking the surface at low tide – you can almost reach out and touch her from a dinghy. We love that it’s technically a snorkel site, but the experience is so much more than that. You’re swimming through history. The hull is still largely intact, a skeletal frame that catches the light beautifully, especially in the late morning when the sun angle is just right. You can fin right through the holds, watching schools of juvenile snapper flit between the rusting beams. Parrotfish scrape at the encrusting corals, their crunching audible even with a mask on. Our favourite part is spotting the octopus that often hides amongst the deeper crevices, its eyes tracking you as you pass. It’s an easy, leisurely fin, perfect for those days when you want something relaxing but still profoundly impactful, and absolutely ideal for photographers looking for unique light and composition.
MEREDITH A WHITE
The Meredith A. White isn’t about depth, it’s about history. Sunk in 1924, this old sailing ship lies just below the surface, mostly broken up but still a fascinating piece of Aldabra’s past. We love how accessible it is, perfect for snorkelers or freedivers looking for something more engaging than just reef. What you find here are the timbers, scattered across the sandy bottom at a mere two metres. It’s not a grand wreck, more like an archaeological site, but the way light plays on the barnacle-encrusted wood is beautiful. Look closely, and you’ll spot juvenile reef fish darting between the ribs and plates, and often, small reef sharks cruise by, curious about the activity. It’s a gentle exploration, ideal for an hour or so, letting you imagine the ship in its sailing days before it met its end here. Our pick for a relaxed afternoon dip, especially when the sun is high and bright.
Aldabra & Outer Islands Dive Centres
1 dive shop and operator in Aldabra & Outer Islands
Ocean Wildlife in Aldabra & Outer Islands
488 species recorded in Aldabra & Outer Islands
Aldabra & Outer Islands Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Aldabra & Outer Islands, calculated from coordinates
Today - Sunday 11 October
Sunrise
05:31
Sunset
17:47
Daylight
12h 16m
Golden Hour
17:20
First light (dawn) at 05:10 · Last light (dusk) at 18:09
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 05:43 | 18:20 | 12h 38m |
| Feb | 05:55 | 18:19 | 12h 25m |
| Mar | 05:57 | 18:07 | 12h 10m |
| Apr | 05:56 | 17:49 | 11h 54m |
| May | 05:59 | 17:39 | 11h 41m |
| JunShortest | 06:06 | 17:40 | 11h 34m |
| Jul | 06:10 | 17:47 | 11h 36m |
| Aug | 06:04 | 17:51 | 11h 47m |
| Sep | 05:47 | 17:49 | 12h 2m |
| OctNow | 05:29 | 17:48 | 12h 18m |
| Nov | 05:21 | 17:54 | 12h 33m |
| DecLongest | 05:27 | 18:08 | 12h 41m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Aldabra & Outer Islands.
Where to Stay near Aldabra & Outer Islands
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Marine Protected Areas near Aldabra & Outer Islands
5 protected areas near Aldabra & Outer Islands - please respect local regulations when diving
Aldabra Group (Marine) National Park
Cosmoledo and Astove Archipelago (Marine) Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Aldabra Atoll
Aldabra Atoll
Aldabra Atoll
Getting to Aldabra & Outer Islands
Antisiranana
Dzaoudzi
Moroni
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