Aride Bank
Protected Area
Aride
Why dive here
With 183+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, sea turtles, sperm whales and lionfish - Aride Bank offers some of Inner Islands's richest reef diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest March, April, May.
Aride Bank, a solid 30-minute boat ride north of Praslin, delivers a different flavour of Seychelles diving. It's not about dramatic drop-offs; here, the granite boulders are the stars, creating a maze of channels and overhangs from 12m down to 19m. We love how the light plays through the gaps, highlighting the smaller, more intricate reef life. Look close for the Freckled Anglerfish or a shy Brown-banded Pipefish tucked amongst the corals. Visibility here averages 10m, so it’s a site where you need to slow down and appreciate the details. We've seen schools of Blackstriped Cardinalfish pulsing around the rocks, and the flash of an Orange-lined Triggerfish zipping past. It’s also one of our picks for spotting Nurse sharks napping under ledges, and we’ve had good luck with Whitetips patrolling the deeper edges. This site truly suits divers who enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies, rather than chasing big pelagics in the blue. Keep an eye out for the Arc-eye Hawkfish perched on the coral heads – they’re always a favourite.
Nearest Dive Centres to Aride Bank
Dive shops near Aride Bank
UDive Centre Praslin
Whitetip Divers
Octopus Diving Centre
Hawksbill Dive Centre
Plongee Sous Marine
Trek Divers
Reviews for Aride Bank
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Aride Bank
Aride Bank Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Aride Bank, sourced from Copernicus Marine satellite data
August Averages
Sea Temperature
26.55°C
80°F
Current Speed
18.38 cm/s
Direction: NW (315°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.549 mg/m³
Moderate productivity
Salinity
35.3 PSU
Data sources: Copernicus Marine Service (EU)
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