#Mahe Island, the largest island in #Seychelles, is a true paradise for freedivers. With its pristine waters, vibrant marine life, and stunning underwater landscapes, it offers a plethora of #freediving spots that cater to both #beginners and #experienced #divers. Here are the top 10 freediving spots on Mahe Island that you shouldn't miss:
1. Aquarium
Overview: Aquarium is known to most dive centres around Mahe and is a great place for beginner / intermediate freedivers. It’s known for its three beautiful coral reefs and turtles. We actually have a couple of residential turtles that live here and one of them, a hawksbill turtle is called Marguerite. If you follow us on Instagram you’ll see that we do post about her regularly on our stories. Aquarium is located 5-10 minutes from Beau Vallon bay by boat.
Depth: 7-13m
Best time to visit:
March-June / September-December
Highlights:
Vibrant coral reefs
Diverse marine life including lots of tropical coral fish, and turtles.
2. Twin Barges
Overview: Twin barges are two wrecks on the North West of Mahe just by near the Bel Ombre jetty. These two wrecks were sunk here on purpose in 1989 for recreational diving and each barge is around 15m long and are both near each other. Twin barges have lots of marine life around them and you can see octopus, jack fish, scorpion fish, turtles, eels and sweetlips. You can access this dive site by the shore from Bel Ombre jetty as it’s a 10-15 minute swim although we reccommend using a boat as you can have boat traffic in this area.
Depth: 10-23m
Best time to visit: March-June / September-December
Highlights:
Two sunken barges
Abundant marine species like angelfish, parrot fish, and occasional octopuses
A swim-through in the barges
3. Baie Ternay
Overview: Baie Ternay is a protected marine national park on the northwest coast of Mahe. Its pristine waters and undisturbed marine life make it a top destination for freedivers seeking an unspoiled underwater experience. If you are a tourist you do have to pay 150 scr to freedive around here so make sure you have some cash or card on you. You can access Bait Ternay either by shore or boat.
Depth: 5-20m
Best time to visit: March-June / September-December
Highlights:
Diverse marine ecosystems with coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves
Frequent sightings of rays, reef sharks, and a variety of fish species
Beautiful beaches
Whale sharks can be spotted in the right season if you are lucky!
4. Shark Bank
Overview: A 20-30 boat ride from North West Mahe. Shark bank is one of our favourite dive sites and is only for intermediate/advanced freedivers. The depth here is from 20-27m deep and is well known for its abundance of yellow snappers, eagle rays, sting rays and small white tip and nurse sharks. Shark bank has granite boulders, and sandy bottoms, providing a diverse freediving experience.
Depth: 20-27m
Best time to visit: March-June / September-December
Highlights:
Huge spectacular schools of yellow snappers
Rich marine life including schools of snapper, groupers, and sometimes whale sharks in the correct season
Stunning underwater rock formations
5. Anse Soleil
Overview: Anse Soleil is a remote beach on the south west coast of Mahe, accessible by a scenic drive or boat ride. The spot is known for its calm, clear waters and abundant marine life, making it a perfect freediving destination.
Depth: 7-15m
Best time to visit: March-June / September-December
Highlights:
Clear, shallow waters ideal for beginners
Plenty of marine life including colorful fish, rays, and sea turtles
Beautiful underwater rock formations
6. L’ilot
Overview: L’ilot is a tiny island made from granitic boulders and a couple of coconut trees just off of the North of Mahe, offering a haven for marine life and a fantastic freediving experience. You can freedive around the island and explore some of the swim throughs and hard and soft coral. You can swim to L’ilot from Top Soleil beach or take a boat. Just make sure you have a bouy / float if you do decide to swim here as there can be boat traffic between Mahe and L’ilot.
Depth: 8-15m
Best time to visit: March-June / September-December
Highlights:
Extensive granitic boulders beeming with life
Frequent sightings of sea turtles, rays, sometimes dolphins and various tropical fish
Fun swim-throughs
7. Ennerdale Wreck
Overview: Ennderdale wreck is a 200m tanker which sank by accident in the 1970s, located on the eastern coast of Mahe, it’s known for its beautiful marine life and swim throughs. This dive site is only for intermediate/advanced freedivers and can be accessed with a boat. Ennerdale is an incredible wreck to explore and attracts a variety of marine species such as giant groupers, rays, reef sharks and yellow snappers.
Depth: 12-30m
Best time to visit: March-May / October-February
Highlights:
Massive tanker wreck
Rich marine life including reef fish, octopuses, and moray eels
Scenic underwater landscapes
8. Anse Forbans
Overview: Anse Forbans, located on the southern coast of Mahe has lovely reefs and excellent freediving conditions in the right time of year. The spot offers a mix of coral reefs and sandy bottoms, attracting a variety of marine species. You can access this dive spot from the beach, just swim a few minutes out towards the reef and you’ll be in awe.
Depth: 7-15m
Best time to visit: March-May / October-February
Highlights:
Vibrant coral reefs
Rich marine life including reef fish, octopuses, and moray eels
Scenic underwater landscapes
9. Petite Anse
Overview: Petit Anse, located on the south west coast of Mahe, is known for its beautiful beach, white sand and clear pristine waters. The spot offers a mix of granitic boulders, sandy sea bed floor and coral heads.
Depth: 8-15m
Best time to visit: March-June / September-December
Highlights:
Rich marine life including reef fish, octopuses, and reef sharks
Sting rays and eagle rays
10. Anse Gouvernment
Overview: Anse Government located on the southern coast of Mahe, is a lovely spot for beginner freedivers. Here we have a lovely reef with channels which can be super fun to freedive around. In this spot which is accessible either by shore or boat, you can see turtles, schools of Napoleon fish, reef sharks, rays and different types of coral tropical fish.
Depth: 5-15m
Best time to visit: March-June / September-December
Highlights:
Beautiful coral reefs
Rich marine life
Scenic underwater channels
Conclusion
Mahe Island is a true paradise for freedivers, offering a variety of spots that cater to all levels of experience. From the vibrant reefs to the beaming granitic boulders, each location promises an unforgettable underwater adventure. So, grab your gear and explore the stunning underwater world of Mahe Island, Seychelles!
***Always have an experienced freediving instructor or buddy with you. If you are not sure about the different freediving sites, contact us here +248 2588421 n whatsapp or Instagram @freedivingseychelles so we can show you these incredible spots***
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