Diving in Seychelles
With 115 islands scattered in the blue sea, between 4° and 10° south of the Equator, the Seychelles offer the possibility to make the diving very different and very impressive.
The Inner Islands are the remains of a submerged mountain range that rely on a shallow platform, where there is a varied and prolific marine life.
It is possible to dive all year round but the quality of dive sites varies depending on prevailing winds.
In general, the best conditions for diving occur during the transition periods of April / May and October / November. The water temperature is 29 º C and visibility extends beyond 30 metres.
In December and January the trade winds blow from the north-west, but conditions remain comparable to those periods of calm, with the exception of a greater movement of the turbidity of surface waters.
From May to September stron winds blow from the South-East. Especially in August, visibility is reduced and the water is colder (25 ° C). A wetsuit of at least 4 mm is recommended.
The Seychelles offer impressive granite cliffs, sculpted by the sea with rocks covered with soft corals and sponges and a prolific marine wildlife, due to strict environmental protection measures.
The depth of dives vary from 8 to 20 meters for sites near the coast and up to 40 meters for open water dives and wrecks.
The marine flora and fauna of the nearby islands (inner islands) also reveal an abundance of fish on reefs near the coast: several species of butterfly fish, angelfish, emperor, soldier fish, squirrel fish, parrot fish and glass fish are just some species among many. The cliffs also hide many species of invertebrates among which there are octopus, lobster and a plethora of nudibranchs such as Spanish dancers.
Sites where there is always current you will see growing gorgonian and colorful coral formations while in more remote sites you will find bigger species such as big napoléons, giant groupers, reef sharks and rays.
Among the most spectacular species, whale sharks encircle the islands from June to December, especially in September and October.
