ALDEBARAN - Inner Islands

We’ve spent a fair bit of time exploring the Aldebaran and it’s become one of our favourite wreck dives in the Inner Islands. This ex-longliner fishing vessel sits upright at 26 metres, a proper, intact wreck you can actually get into. You’ll find the wheelhouse still mostly there, and for those comfortable with overhead environments, the engine room is a tight squeeze but worth the effort. What we really love about the Aldebaran is the way the marine life has completely embraced it. Schools of fusiliers are so thick around the mast and superstructure, they often block out the light, creating this flickering, silver curtain. Look closely among the nooks and crannies – you’ll often spot massive groupers lurking, and we’ve had some cracking encounters with giant trevally circling the bow. On one dive, a napoleon wrasse, bold as brass, came right up to us near the stern. It's a dive that really suits those who enjoy the character of a real wreck, not just a pile of rubble, and the sense of discovery that comes with poking around inside.

Location
Inner Islands, Seychelles, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-4.623667, 55.377884
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
26m

Wreck History - ALDEBARAN

Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
scuttled

The Aldebaran is an artificial reef sunk to enhance the marine ecosystem and provide a unique destination for divers in the Seychelles. This former long-liner fishing vessel now rests on the seabed, its working life over and its new purpose to shelter and nurture ocean life. Its designation as a 'Dangerous Wreck' is a caution to divers, likely due to the presence of old fishing nets, lines, or sharp, deteriorating metalwork that require careful navigation and excellent buoyancy control. For the properly trained and equipped diver, it offers a compact and intriguing site to explore, from the wheelhouse to the open decks where the day's catch was once processed.

Marine Protected Area: Baie Ternay Marine National Park

Best Time to Dive in Inner Islands

The warmest water temperatures in Inner Islands occur in April, averaging 30.4°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 26.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.7°C
  • February: 29.0°C
  • March: 29.8°C
  • April: 30.4°C
  • May: 29.8°C
  • June: 28.5°C
  • July: 26.8°C
  • August: 26.6°C
  • September: 27.4°C
  • October: 28.3°C
  • November: 29.0°C
  • December: 29.1°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Inner Islands

Nearest Dive Centres to ALDEBARAN

Marine Life in Inner Islands

Home to 184 recorded species including 156 reef fish, 8 hard corals, 6 sharks & rays, 5 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 whales & dolphins, 2 other.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for ALDEBARAN

Based on average water temperature of 28.6°C, currents 11 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°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