Roche Grand Maman - Inner Islands

Roche Grand Maman sits off Praslin, a granite boulder field that feels like diving through a submerged sculpture park. We usually find ourselves exploring depths from 12 to 20 metres here, weaving through massive, rounded rocks covered in soft corals and sponges. Sunlight filters through gaps in the boulders, creating these incredible shafts of light that dance on the sand patches below. It’s a site where you really need to slow down, peer into every crevice, because that’s where you’ll find the Small-eyed Squirrelfish tucked away or a grumpy Bennett's Pufferfish trying to blend in. Visibility is generally excellent, often 25 metres plus, especially if you get there before the afternoon winds pick up. We’ve had some cracking encounters with Giant Trevally here, often circling the deeper edges of the rock formations, and the schools of fusiliers can be so thick they genuinely block the view for a moment. Keep an eye out for the Hound Needlefish cruising just below the surface, too. Roche Grand Maman is perfect for divers who appreciate intricate topography and a slower, more observational dive, rather than chasing pelagics in the blue. It’s a site that rewards repeat visits; you always spot something new.

Location
Inner Islands, Seychelles, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-4.290069, 55.685910

Marine Protected Area: Booby Island

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 Roche Grand Maman

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 Roche Grand Maman

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