Scuba diving in Mauritius is a genuine joy – and there’s a wide variety of experiences to get stuck into, from gentle reef dips to wrecks, caverns and drift descents for those more experienced.
Like most travellers, you’re visiting the tropical, sun-soaked island for its litany of white sand beaches. But as you begin to explore more and more, you’ll end up engrossed in the underwater kingdom hidden below its coveted shores, alive with saturated colours and unusual creatures.
So, where should you base your Mauritius scuba diving holiday? There are over 200 dive sites littered around the coast, meaning you must narrow down the many options to a select few.
This is where we come in. In this Mauritius travel guide, we aim to guide you towards the areas best suited to you and your travel style. The reefs constantly face environmental pressures, but venture down deeper and you’ll discover those that remain vibrant and healthy to this day.
When you’re ready to travel, speak with one of our Travel Specialists, who can recommend the best scuba diving locations in Mauritius based on where you’re staying.
In this Mauritius scuba diving guide:
– Best Dive Sites in Mauritius
– What Marine Life Will You See?
– Learning to Dive in Mauritius
– Diving Safety and Choosing an Operator
– Reef Conservation and Responsible Diving
– Best Time to Dive in Mauritius
Best Dive Sites in Mauritius
Coin de Mire
Depth range: 18—50m
Marine species: Butterflyfish, angelfish, damselfish, parrotfish, moray eels
Best for: Intermediate to advanced divers
One of our favourite sites for scuba diving in Mauritius, Coin de Mire (also known as Gunner’s Quoin) transports you to another realm entirely. Its pellucid waters are a front-row seat to the schools of jackfish and barracuda that meander around a spectacle of coral reef sections.
Take a short 15- to 25-minute boat ride off the northern tip near Cap Malheureux and you’ll find yourself diving in no time. Conditions are clear and calm, with a shallow enough depth that you can observe an array of sea life. Please note that currents and swell can be strong, so you should only travel with experienced operators and appropriate certification holders.
Top tip: Keep your eyes open for dolphins, whose pods are a rare sight in these waters
Cathedral - Flic en Flac
Depth range: 18—28m
Marine species: Lionfish, moray eels, groupers, sea turtles, reef fish
Best for: Advanced divers
Discover a labyrinth of volcanic caverns, arches and swim-throughs. Cathedral is up there with the very best dive sites in Mauritius. As you make the plunge, shafts of sunlight filter through the rock formations, illuminating the bright red squirrelfish as they dart and move between the reef.
Known to local western Mauritians as ‘Grotte-Cathédrale’, its dramatic structures are perfect for taking photos, particularly when the light catches the cavern walls and creates striking light and dark contrasts beneath the surface. Gaze into the deep recesses and you may spot a honeycomb or giant moray eel – two slippery marine beings that tend to hide during the day.
Stella Maru Wreck - Trou aux Biches
Depth range: 18—25m
Marine species: Moray eels, groupers, lionfish, glassfish, octopus
Best for: Beginner to intermediate divers
For an accessible introduction to wreck diving, Stella Maru is hard to beat. This former Japanese trawler was intentionally scuttled off Trou aux Biches in 1987, creating an artificial reef that’s now home to abundant marine life species. Coral growth covers sections of the vessel, while the likes of barracuda and trevally have been seen hunting smaller fish above it.
The wreck lies lifeless at around 20–25m, encrusted with marine growth that includes algae, hard and soft corals, anemones, sponges and more. Inside, you may come across orange clouds of soldierfish floating through the passageways that have long since been abandoned.
Did you know? Over 1,400 shipwrecks are recorded in the coastal waters and reefs of Mauritius
You can add Trou aux Biches or any other sandy shores to your tailor-made Mauritius beach holiday. Speak with one of our Travel Specialists to personalise your itinerary today.
Aquarium - Belle Mare
Depth range: 8—15m
Marine species: Butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, bannerfish
Best for: Beginners & underwater photographers
Aquarium offers a gentle introduction to the underwater world of Mauritius. At just 15m deep on the east coast near Belle Mare, this sheltered site features calm conditions, minimal current fluctuations and great visibility for scuba diving. Enjoy scouring the seabed for the rare sea turtles, which often take a break atop the coral bommies before drifting off to explore further.
Sandy channels weave between coral blocks alive with a kaleidoscopic mix of magnificent scorpionfish and anemonefish. If you’re lucky enough, you may also come across a reef shark or two. And, oftentimes, they can be seen edging along the outskirts of the surrounding reef.
Merville Patches - Grand Baie
Depth range: 10—18m
Marine species: Parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, clownfish, moray eels
Best for: Beginners & intermediate divers
Shallow, sandy-bottomed reefs combine with an impressive variety of marine life to create one of the best dive sites in Mauritius. Merville Patches drops to only 18m. Its calm currents and excellent visibility ensure comfortable conditions for introductory dives and refresher courses.
Look closely among the five individual coral patches and you could find both the ornate and robust ghost pipefish species. At first, you may mistake these unusual organisms for drifting seaweed, debris or coral. However, their long tubular forms are actually bodies covered in bony plates. If you’re patient enough, you may be rewarded with a memorable encounter.
Top tip: Take your time – some of the most fascinating residents are masters of camouflage
Passe St. Jacques
Depth range: 16—30m
Marine species: Grey reef sharks, eagle rays, barracuda, tuna, trevally
Best for: Advanced divers
For experienced divers seeking a more exhilarating challenge, venture into stronger currents and open-water conditions off the south-east coast near Mahébourg at Passe St. Jacques. You’ll drift along as the current carries you towards deeper waters, where larger pelagic species pass.
Grey reef sharks, eagle rays, reef fish – you’ll be engulfed in marine life, although encounters here are never truly guaranteed. Conditions are also highly weather-dependent, with currents and swell varying considerably. But when conditions do align, it makes for an exhilarating dive with the possibility of seeing some of Mauritius’ larger marine life in their natural habitat.
What Marine Life Can You See?
While diving in Mauritius, you’ll discover an impressive diversity of Indo-Pacific marine life, even in areas where coral cover has declined. In shallow lagoons and reef flats, you may encounter green and hawksbill turtles, while deeper reefs and drop-offs can bring sightings of eagle rays, barracuda and reef sharks. Across both, keep an eye out for moray eels, octopus, nudibranchs and well-camouflaged species such as leaf scorpionfish. Some reefs have suffered from bleaching and storm damage, but deeper reefs and protected areas remain surprisingly vibrant.
Summer (November—April) brings warmer water and more active marine life closer to the reefs, whereas winter (May—October) brings better visibility and calmer conditions on the west coast. To best navigate this, speak with our Travel Specialists to tailor your Mauritius wildlife holiday.
Learning to Dive in Mauritius
You don’t need to be a certified diver to explore the underwater riches of Mauritius. Many resort hotels have professional in-house dive centres, while accredited operators around the island offer scuba diving sessions – allowing you to try scuba without ever actually committing to a full certification course. If you’re ready to progress further, PADI Open Water courses are available at selected Mauritius Scuba Divers Association (MSDA) centres, which we can recommend based on where you’re staying. The warm water and sheltered lagoons combine to create the perfect conditions for initial training before you progress to deeper reefs when more confident.
Diving Safety and Choosing an Operator
When planning a scuba diving trip, safety is paramount. Although the island’s lagoons can appear calm, conditions can change quickly, particularly around reef passes where currents may become strong. That’s why we always choose a reputable, licensed operator affiliated with organisations such as the Mauritius Scuba Divers Association (MSDA) or PADI. You’ll be led by a professional Mauritius scuba diving guide who’s PADI or SSI-certified, taking you to the most prolific spots for marine creature sightings. Sites such as Coin de Mire and Shark Cathedral are best left to experienced divers with the appropriate certification. You should also check that your travel insurance covers scuba diving to the depth you intend to reach; plus, speak with our travel experts for recommendations on trusted operators based on your hotel and interests.
Reef Conservation and Responsible Diving
Mauritius’ reefs face pressure from coral bleaching and storms, but protected areas and deeper reefs can still support diverse marine life. As a diver, you can help protect these underwater habitats by maintaining good buoyancy control, avoiding contact with coral and never collecting natural souvenirs. Choosing operators that follow responsible diving practices also makes a difference, and artificial reefs support marine habitats. Wrecks like the Stella Maru were deliberately scuttled to create structures where marine species can thrive. Many of the same principles apply above the surface, as well. See our Mauritius snorkelling guide for more.
Best Time to Dive in Mauritius
With warm waters and dive sites accessible throughout the year, there’s no bad time for diving in Mauritius. The water’s temperatures range from around 21—30°C, with October—December and March—April often offering an excellent balance of clear visibility and marine activity.
During the summer months (November—April), warmer waters bring with them plenty of activity around the reefs, although conditions can be rougher on the east coast. Winter (May—October) brings slightly cooler waters around 23—25°C, as well as calmer conditions on the west coast. It’s also the best time for humpback whale encounters, while resident sperm whales can be seen off the west coast year-round – one of only a few places in the world in which to do so.
If you’re hoping to explore beyond Mauritius itself, our guide, the five reasons to visit Rodrigues Island, highlights another destination for marine life and coastal adventures in this vicinity.
Plan Your Mauritius Scuba Diving Holiday
Hopefully, our guide to diving in Mauritius has given you a better idea of what to expect beneath the surface. Speak with one of our Travel Specialists to start planning your time on the island, from choosing the right dive sites to arranging the details around your interests.
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