Scuba diving holidays in the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the warmest in the world, offering ideal diving conditions all year round. Beautiful islands such as the Seychelles, Maldives and Mauritius combine unique, breathtaking scenery both above and below the water with a rich diversity of marine life and all sorts of underwater treasures to discover besides.

Wrecks, caverns, dramatic walls, extensive coral reefs and crystalline waters entice both experienced divers and novices to explore the undersea wonders of the Indian Ocean, and there are dive sites to suit all levels. Each archipelago offers something unique, but equally breathtaking.

Stretching over 800 kilometres from north to south, the Maldives is made up of over 1000, low-lying coral atolls, which are actually the visible tips of a submerged volcanic mountain range. The outer edges plunge to depths of over 3000m at certain points, creating exciting drop offs for divers to explore. Strong tidal currents flow into the channels separating the main atolls, bringing a plethora of colourful marine life for divers to observe.

Other diving highlights include complex reefs systems such as Farus, Giris and Thilas, as well as channels, sandbars, lagoons, caves and wrecks, providing unforgettable underwater adventures for divers of all levels. Some of the best dive sites in the Maldives can be found inside the South and North Male Atolls, as well as Felidhoo Atoll, Lhaviyani Atoll, Ari Atoll and many others.

The Seychelles offer equally breathtaking diving opportunities. Comprising 115 paradise islands in the heart of the Indian Ocean, this idyllic destination boasts a wealth of undersea treasures such as unique granite boulders, expansive reefs, wrecks, canyons, walls and diverse marine life.

The beautiful Inner granite islands of Mahe, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette, among others, are the remains of a submerged mountain range which create unique dive sites such as swim-throughs between submerged granite boulders and reefs. These are covered in all kinds of colourful soft and hard corals and sponges, and inhabited by an abundance of fish and other sea life.

The remote Outer coral atolls, located south of the Seychelles archipelago, offer some of the best dive sites in relatively untouched waters. An impressive range of canyons, caves, walls and wrecks are just some of the underwater features you can expect to find here, as well as diverse aquatic life such as manta rays, green turtles, nurse sharks and whale sharks, depending on the season. Scuba diving sites in the Seychelles range in depth from 8m to 30m, so there is a wide range of options for novices and experienced divers to enjoy.

Last but not least, the stunning island of Mauritius is renowned for its unforgettable diving, boasting colourful underwater seascapes full of breathtaking coral reefs and sea life, as well as a good range of wrecks to explore. The island is almost completely encircled by a barrier coral reef, so you won't be far from vibrant corals, sponges and exotic marine life wherever you stay.

Numerous dive sites are scattered around Mauritius and its offshore islands, but some of the best are located around Grand Bay and Trou aux Biches in the protected north west of the island. Novices can begin in the warm, shallow waters and lagoons, whilst more experienced divers can head for the more adventurous sites such as caverns, reefs, wrecks and rock pinnacles. Night dives are also popular here. Whichever islands you decide to explore, a scuba diving holiday in the Indian Ocean is an unforgettable experience not to miss.