Water Sports

Big game fishing in the Seychelles

The Seychelles is home to an amazing maritime environment for finding big fish, making the Seychelles a dream for budding and professional fishermen. Whether one is in pursuit of a swordfish or blue marlin, the Seychelles is the perfect place to indulge in fishing.

With a naturally beautiful environment and abundance of fish, the Seychelles archipelago offers excellent conditions for big game fishing. The main inner islands of granite formation lie on a shallow plateau, with depths averaging around 50m and with waters abundant with tuna, bonito, dorado and sailfish. At the edge of this plateau is the ocean floor which plunges to 2,000m, with a greater variety of fish on offer.

Fishing Season

As a tourist’s paradise, the Seychelles islands offer great conditions for those who come to discover or practice fishing. During the period between June and October, special programs are arranged.

Fish in the Seychelles

Ignobilis kingfish, barracuda, red carp, dogtooth tuna, grouper, kingfish, yellowfin tuna , swordfish, dolphin fish and marlin.

Fishing Equipment

One of the main advantages of fishing in Seychelles is that no fishing license is required for recreational fishing. While there are a few retail outlets that cater for the basic needs of the fishermen, visiting fishermen should bear in mind that local fishing tackle shops are not commonly found. Thus, it is advisable to bring along an adequate supply of tackle, as there are no specialised fishing equipment hire or servicing establishments.You will need rod holders, outriggers, fighting chair (normally provided), large capacity fish tray, rods and reels.

Whilst you are free to fish in most areas of Seychelles' waters, there are limitations in place to help preserve the unique environment of the Seychelles. This allows everyone to enjoy what the islands have to offer today and in the years to come. In the inner islands, fishing is prohibited within the boundaries of the Curieuse, Ile Cocos, Port Launay/Baie Ternay and Ste. Anne Marine National Parks.

Seychelles Cruising

Sailing the Seychelles Islands is a once in a lifetime experience so book your flight to the Seychelles today. Enjoy safe moorings and easy sailing distances that will open up a breath-taking and naturally beautiful world to be explored at your own pace while sailing. Between the months of May and September, you can enjoy calm anchorages and relatively quiet landings.

The Climate

From May to October you will experience the winter prevailing winds from southeast (trade winds). Temperatures are between 24 and 31 °C all year round and humidity is around 80% in any season. Rain usually falls in the late afternoon or at night. As the islands are close to the equator, the length of day and nights are roughly the same, with the sun rises at 6:00 a.m and setting at 18.00 p.m.

The Winds

Must Know

Victoria is the only port where you can make the entry clearance and departure. Vessels entering or leaving the Victoria harbour must always establish contact through VHF (channel 16) to reach the "Harbour Master" and declare their departure or arrival by indicating the name of the boat and the number of people on board.

You should also note that access to some islands are prohibited and some require specific landing conditions. Anchoring at night is prohibited in some coves and it is strictly forbidden to anchor on coral reef and to discharge sewage at sea.

Cruising around Islands

Travelling between the nearby islands of Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and their neighbours can be made relatively easily. 

Stocking up on food and water on islands further out such as Desroches, Farquhar and Aldabra can sometimes pose problems, as 99% of the population lives on the nearby islands. Since the protection of Seychelles' flora, fauna and underwater ecosystem is very well observed, you will not be allowed to visit the other islands without having at least one authorised person on board.

The smaller islands of Cerf, Moyenne, Round and Ste Anne are situated just off Mahé’s eastern coast in a marine park, whilst Conception Island and Thérèse can be found to her west. Further in the north-west distance lies Silhouette and its close neighbour North Island. Do not miss a visit to those wonderful gems scattered on the paradisiacal Indian Ocean!

Tips for amateur sailors

It’s advisable to keep your belongings concealed in a sports bag and to carry light clothes, swimsuit, pants and a light sweater for the evenings or outings. Ensure that you wear closed shoes with soft soles (i.e. tennis shoes). In addition, bring sunglasses, a T-shirt, high SPF level of protection sunscreen, possibly hiking shoes to enjoy walks in the lush vegetation and bug repellent. Do not forget your personal pharmaceuticals in sufficient quantity for the duration of your stay and avoid drugs that cause drowsiness.

Book your ticket to the Seychelles today!

The Seychelles Diving Experience

The archipelago of 115 islands is a perfect diving spot in the Indian Ocean. With its turquoise lagoons and charming beaches, the Seychelles provides a plethora of marine life across Mahé, Praslin and La Digue Island.

Flora

The islands are a museum of natural history and are home to some of the rarest species of flora around the globe. The aquatic flora of this wonderland is rich and exceptional, teeming with corals and gardens, making it a perfect destination for a great diving experience.

Fauna

Along with its amazing flora, the Seychelles Islands contain some of the most diverse and outstanding fauna around the world, ranging from tiny creatures to large ones. Species such as angelfish, reef sharks, octopus, whale sharks, hawksbill turtle and giant tortoise make the diversity of fauna unique.

Seychelles diving tips

The Seychelles is a well-known place amongst different categories of divers. For your convenience, we’ve outlined a few, safety tips and available diving centres.

When to dive

The months of March, April, May, September, October and November guarantee a superb diving experience, with the temperature varying from 29° to 31°. During these months, the water is very calm and visibility is typically clear.

Stronger winds usually blow in the month of June, July and August, resulting in cooler waters with temperatures dropping to around 25°. Whilst visibility tends to degrade during these periods due to excessive plankton manifestations, the presence of plankton attracts the iconic whale sharks.

Where to dive

Seychelles has many fantastic diving spots but Mahé, Praslin and La Digue remain the best. With over 75 diving sites and astounding underwater topography, Mahé is considered to be one of the most diverse in the inner islands. If you're lucky enough, you might come across multiple tropical species, including sharks and even shipwrecks!

Praslin Island has a rich and diverse marine life, surrounded by granite boulders in different sizes and shapes. Praslin has over 15 sites to explore and is the second largest in the inner islands. To suit all types of divers, diving can vary between 8 to 20 metres. Don’t forget to book your ticket to Praslin to discover the multi-coloured reef fishes, sharks and turtles.

Amongst the best diving spots in the Seychelles is La Digue Island which also offers a real diving experience. The island offers more than 15 diving sites with impressive granitic slopes and a wide variety of marine life. Amongst its vibrant aquatic life are the angelfish, parrotfish, octopus, eagle rays and hawksbill turtles among others.

Diving Centres

Located on Beau Vallon beach on Mahé, "The Underwater Centre" has been operating for more than 25 years. Guests are provided with multilingual staff that will assist throughout the journey. The Underwater Centre is a PADI Snorkel & Dive centre.

Also near Beau Vallon beach is the "Big Blue Divers" centre. The team members are professional, multilingual and friendly. In addition, they offer International PADI Certification courses.

Situated on Praslin Island at Anse Volbert on the Côte d'Or, is the "Octopus Diving Centre". Recently voted as one of the 100 best diving centres in the world by the German magazine “Unterwasser”, the Octopus Diving Centre provides guests with high standards of service and are a PADI dive resort.

Located on La Digue Island at Anse Reunion, is "Azzurra Pro Dive". The centre is a professional and multilingual team that guarantees you an enjoyable adventure and is also PADI certified diving centre.

Initiation & Instructions

All of the above mentioned centres are PADI certified and can provide you with a diving course before going into the blue sea. The course will include theory, pool and water sessions. First time divers will be trained in a pool. Afterwards, they will be given instructions on how to communicate underwater and given diving tips.

Once you have grasped the techniques, you will be ready to explore the Seychelles aquatic life.

Recompression Chamber

To eliminate many of the dangers of long decompressions underwater, a recompression chamber has been constructed on the Silhouette Island. A hyperbaric medical physician and staff are always on site.

Diving Insurance

Scuba diving is known to be a high risk sport. So as a diver it is important for you to get an insurance policy if your centre is not PADI certified. Diving accidents may not be covered by the usual insurances. However, association such as DAN, aqua med and VDST offer diving assistance and insurance.

Kitesurfing in the Seychelles

The Seychelles is not only famous for its beaches but also for its water sport activities. One of the activities dominating the water sport field now is the kitesurfing.

What is kitesurfing?

Kitesurfing, also known as kiteboarding, is a surface water sport. It is a mix of snowboarding, paragliding, windsurfing, surfing, wakeboarding, skateboarding and gymnastics into one adrenaline-filled activity.

Considered one of the best extreme sports kitesurfing consists utilizes the wind power with a large power kite in order to boost the kiteboard across the water. This sport gathers a vast popularity and is extremely attractive to the new generation.

Why the Seychelles?

As a tropical island, the Seychelles presents the perfect weather conditions for water sport activities, making for an unforgettable experience. Kite surfers have described the island as a wonderland for and enjoy the splendid scenery as the Seychelles has one of the most incredible landscapes for kitesurfing.

This fascinating archipelago of 115 islands brings an excellent array of excitement amongst kite surfers. The island provides adequate weather conditions for kitesurfing. Boasting challenging sites, the Seychelles allows you to feel the exhilaration of kitesurfing.

The ultimate sensation of speed and power that the island provides will hook you up nicely. Kite surfers have described the island as a wonderland for kitesurfing, as though it was created solely for it. Enjoy the splendid scenery as the Seychelles has one of the most incredible landscapes for kitesurfing.

When To Kitesurf?

As a tropical island, the Seychelles climate conditions are usually determined by two opposing trade winds. The north-west trade wind blows from October to March, during which the climate is humid and warm with wind speed varying from 15 to 22 kilometres per hour.

From May to September, the south-east trade wind brings a cooler and drier weather. Winds can vary from 19 to 37 kilometres per hour in those periods. Despite rainy periods between December to February, sunshine periods still remain.

Where to kitesurf in Seychelles?

Anse aux Pins is a long bay situated on the South Eastern coast of Mahé and is roughly 10 minutes away from the airport. It has a narrow beach and shallow waters, with an outer coral reef of 500m offshore protecting the bay. It is a popular beach in the Seychelles, but it is not over crowded. The waves are of a reasonable height, approximately 1m to 3m. However, the beach can be smaller at high tides but gets much wider at low tides. You can be sure that parking issues will not arise as there is parking behind the beach.

Located on La Digue Island, is Anse Source d’Argent. It is a relatively small island where everybody walks or rides bicycles to commute. Beach and tides are similar to other spots on the island, that is, outer reef protecting the bay and decent waves. To get to La Digue Island, you can take a domestic flight from Mahé to Praslin. From Praslin you can take a direct boat, "La Belle Séraphina".

Cerf Island is a very small island which is 4km off the north-east coast of Mahé. It is approximately, 5 to 10 minutes from Mahé with the “lagoon taxi”, and provides a beautiful landscape.

Kitesurf Insurance

Kitesurfing is considered to be a high risk sports so being insured is primordial. Travel insurance companies such as World Nomads do cover kitesurfing. It is accessible to individuals from over 150 countries.

Interesting fact about Kitesurfing

During his honeymoon in Seychelles, Prince William went kitesurfing in the paradise island, enjoying the best conditions for wave sports.

If you’re looking for an adrenaline-packed kitesurfing experience, book your ticket to the Seychelles today!

Snorkelling in Paradise

There is probably no better location for snorkelling than the Seychelles. An ideal location for those craving for white sandy beaches and dazzling turquoise lagoons. The Seychelles is a top island destination for visitors of all ages.

What makes the Seychelles unique?

With its spectacular marine flora and fauna, the island ranks itself on the top of the list for best holiday destinations around the world.

Snorkelling is a recreational activity which normally takes place in shallow water. It involves exploring marine life with the aid of a mask and swim fins. As it requires less equipment compared to scuba diving and can be enjoyed by different age groups, it’s a great alternative to diving.

When to snorkel?

Whilst snorkelling is possible all year round, it is recommended to do so in March, April, May, September, October and November. During these months, there is good visibility and the water is usually calm. Temperature normally varies from 29° to 31° in these months.

In the months of June, July and August, winds blows are much stronger, resulting in cooler waters. Temperature can drop to 25° and due to the presence of excessive plankton, visibility can become obscure during these periods.

Where to snorkel?

Ste. Anne Marine National Park

A 20 minute boat ride from Mahé Island is the Ste. Anne Marine National Park. Consisting of six islands, the park offers a plethora of marine life and is a nesting place for hawksbill turtle. Beautiful tropical fish and bottlenose dolphins can be spotted in the park.

The Vista Bay Rocks

Located at the end of Beau Vallon Bay, the "Vista Bay Rocks" is a great site for snorkelling. Teeming with coral reefs and granite, this particular area hosts moray eels.

Curieuse Island

2km off Praslin, Curieuse Island reserves great surprises for snorkellers. Since 1970, this point in the Curieuse Marine National Park has been protected.

Anse Lazio

Anse Lazio is located in the North-West of Praslin. It is commonly regarded as the best beach on Praslin. With a crystal clear water, the visibility under water is fantastic. Turtles and barracuda can often be spotted on Anse Lazio.

Coco Island

7km off Praslin, lies the Coco Island. A relatively small island, it is inhabited by a rich selection of maritime life including the parrotfish, deep red anthias, blue damselfish, boxfish and angelfish.

Snorkelling with whale sharks

Snorkelling in the Seychelles allows you to swim along the iconic whale sharks. Immerse yourself into the world of the whale shark on Mahé and enjoy an ultimate experience that should not be missed!

Snorkelling tips

Here are some tips which you should bear in mind while snorkelling:

1. Try to remain relaxed and calm;
2. Know and respect your limits
3. Due to sunburn and sunstroke, limit the length of your stay in the water or cover up;
4. Always obey warning signs, they have been implemented for your safety;
5. Do not collect marine life as souvenirs;
6. Always remain cautious;
7. Never snorkel alone. Always have someone with you.

Don’t forget to book your flight to the Seychelles for an amazing snorkeling experience!