Diving in the Seychelles

One Tree Island – For divers focused on finding fish, this could well be one of the finest. The relatively shallow site, which boasts generally good visibility, sits on a granite substrate, which is as popular with moray eels and stingrays as it is with divers. Myriad reef fish vie for divers’ attention and huge hump-head parrotfish munch on the coral itself. If you’re observant, and a little lucky, you might also find the elusive ghost pipefish hanging upside down while pretending to be a bit of sea grass. Trois Bancs– When conditions are right off the west coast of Mahé, divers in the know head offshore to these three granite-based reefs. Here they drift over steep drop offs, along vertical walls, under massive ledges and through small caves. The currents here can be strong, and they attract big pelagics, turtles and reef sharks. Whale sharks are also known to put in an appearance in season. North Island – North of Silhouette Island lies the appropriately named North Island. It’s renowned by local divers for it’s fantastic coral reefs. Multiple pinnacles reach to the surface from a sandy bottom. The full cast of reef fish is fond of the site too, and divers regularly encounter whitetip reef sharks, stingrays and nurse sharks. This is the kind of place where you’ll enjoy your safety stop on the reef as much as any other part of the dive. Napoleon – This is one of the best dives off Alphonse Island. Strong currents wash the dramatic wall and divers are hard pressed to make up their mind between the macro and the manta rays. The best solution is to pay attention to both, never forgetting to tear your focus from the coral face to keep an occasional eye on the big blue where the big animals cruise. This place is pristine.