Aride Bank - Inner Islands
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.
- Location
- Inner Islands, Seychelles, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -4.220000, 55.667900
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Aride
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
- Albatros (reef)
- Albatros (reef)
- ALDEBARAN - 26m (wreck)
- Aldebaran Wreck (wreck)
- Aldebaran Wreck (pinnacle)
- Amoujie Maman
- Anse Petit Cour (muck)
- Anse Petit Cour (reef)
- Aquarium (reef)
- Aquarium (reef)
- Aride Bank (reef)
- ATERPE-ALAI - 17m (wreck)
- Auberge Reef (reef)
- Auberge Reef (reef)
- Ave Maria (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Aride Bank
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
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Kingston (Decapterus macarellus) - Reef Fish
- Bullet Mackerel (Auxis thazard) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Rainbowfish (Halichoeres hortulanus) - Reef Fish
- Salmon (Elagatis bipinnulata) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) - Sharks & Rays
- Armed Squirrel-fish (Neoniphon sammara) - Reef Fish
- Threadfin (Chaetodon auriga) - Reef Fish
- Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) - Reef Fish
- Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) - Reef Fish
- Banded Toby (Canthigaster valentini) - Reef Fish
- Blue Surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucosternon) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Blenny (Istiblennius dussumieri) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Aride Bank
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