Corsair Reef - Inner Islands

Heaven’s Door is one of those Somosomo Strait sites that just feels… different. We love dropping into a couple of metres of water, right onto the reef crest, before the wall drops away to beyond 50m. The big draw, of course, is the swim-through. You’ll know why it’s called Heaven’s Door when you look up and see the sunlight pouring in through the ceiling – it’s genuinely spectacular. The walls here are covered in soft corals. Not just a few patches, but a complete carpet of them, interspersed with giant sea fans. We’ve had great luck spotting blennies and gobies tucked into every crevice, and the Pearl-spotted wrasse always seem to be darting around. Keep an eye out for Freckled Anglerfish too; they blend in beautifully, but they’re there if you’re patient. Visibility usually holds around 20 metres, making it a great spot for photographers, both macro and wide-angle, especially on a bright day when the light beams through the opening. It’s a pretty easy drift, suitable for most experience levels, as long as you’re comfortable with a wall dive.

Location
Inner Islands, Seychelles, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-4.615400, 55.410500
Type
wall

Marine Protected Area: Port Glaud

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 Corsair Reef

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 Corsair Reef

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