Scuba diving holidays in Mauritius

Offering 250 miles of pristine white sandy beaches, year-round hot sunshine and warm, turquoise waters teeming with sea life, the beautiful volcanic Indian Ocean island of Mauritius is a mecca for water sports enthusiasts. One of the best ways to discover the beauty and diversity of Mauritius' undersea world is by scuba diving, and there are all sorts of exciting diving sites and natural wonders to explore here.

There are numerous dive sites strewn all around the island, but some of the best dive sites in Mauritius can be found in the northwest, around Grand Bay and Trou aux Biches. You will find rock formations covered in all kinds of hard and soft coral species in the beautiful Coral Gardens, whilst the Japanese Garden is a magnificent coral reef diving site, where divers can leisurely explore vibrant coral banks separated by white sand gullies at 9-18m.

There are also a number of interesting underwater wrecks to explore, such as "Stella Maru", a Japanese fishing trawler which is surrounded by beautiful coral banks and inhabited by giant morays eels, and Waterlilly, an old water barge site which features a second water barge wreck named Emily next to it. Here you can see a plethora of fish and moray eels. Underwater photography is particularly popular at this site because of the excellent visibility.

The warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean host a huge diversity of colourful fish and other marine life. Depending on the site you visit, you are likely to spot a wide array of exotic fish such as sweetlips, squirrelfish, angel fish, soldier fish, clown fish, Titan trigger fish and large shoals of Blacktongue unicorn, as well as moray eels, sea turtles, octopus, tiger sharks, white-tip sharks and hundreds of other fascinating sea creatures.

The dive sites mentioned are just a handful of places to explore during your scuba diving holiday in Mauritius. If you want to see more beautiful seascapes and underwater treasures, dive centres in Mauritius will be able to take you to the best sites suitable for your level of experience. Professional dive instructors can also provide you with relevant training and certification if you decide you want to explore some of the island's more challenging sites.