Snorkelling Places in Seychelles – Travel and Explore

Located along the north western coast of Mahe this marine park is located close to Port Launay. As Bay Ternay is part of the Mahe inner islands there is not motor road and you will have to get to the snorkelling point via boat. There are of course many tour operators operating boat services to the best spots within the Bay Ternay Marine National Park.

The Ste. Anne Marine National Park was set up in 1973 and was the first protected marine park in the gorgeous Indian Ocean. Located only 20 minutes off-shore from the mainland of Mahe; this park is a small archipelago of about 6 islands. This includes the country's foremost Hawks Bill Turtle nesting sites which are encompassed within beautiful sea grass meadows. The park is home to warm and shallow lagoons offering excellent visibility. There you can experience a variety of marine life from exotic corals, to sea anemones to small translucent tropical fish. Your best option for touring the park is to book a half or full days boat tour of the archipelago from the comforts of your seaside resort in Seychelles. Likewise you could either avail yourself of tours offered by Mahe tour operators, the AVANI Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa or Seychelles dive centres.

Both these beaches are located on the north-west coast of Mahe from where you can swim out to the reef for a spot of excellent snorkelling and experience of tropical marine life.

A few metres from the beach of Anse Soleil you can experience a marvellous bout of snorkelling; the waters there are home to rock and coral formations amongst which a fascinating bunch of sea life is to be found. Do lookout for big parrot fish, exotic rays and various types of angel fish, these swim amongst other curious little creatures that can be seen hiding between the rocky outcrops.

A beach that is also located on west coast of Mahe and quit close to Anse Soleil, Petit Anse is a large expanse of beach despite being called petit. Snorkelling though requires a higher level of swimming skill as you must first get through a wavy portion of the sea before reaching the coral reef. There is also a current that changes with the tide; as such fins are a necessity. Apart for the nitty gritty part of getting to the spot, snorkelling is an absolute treat with beautiful coral beds visible beneath the waves. An added bonus is the sea turtles that are bound to cross your path.

Further away from the previous 2 beaches is Anse Takamaka Beach which too requires some skilled swimming in order to snorkel amongst the coral beds. Not recommend for children this site too has its fair share of danger and beauty in the form of beautiful tropical allures beneath the waves.