Dive Sites
Mauritius is surrounded by a coral reef with a rich marine life – and offers shallow comfortable dive sites for beginners, as well as wrecks, walls, rock formations and caverns for the experienced. There are dive sites right around Mauritius, however the best diving is along the West coast due to its consistently good sea and weather conditions.
With over 35 dive sites a short boat trip from the Maritim Diving Center alone, there is plenty of choice for beginner and advanced divers. Here is a small selection:
Whale Rock
Depth: 26 to 38 metres
Whale Rock is a large dive site with an abundance of marine life such as angel fish, butterfly fish, trigger fish, small murenes, parrots, labres and clown fish. Occasionally some of the larger species of fish can be seen such as swordfish and hammerheads.
Lost Anchor
Depth: 18 to 31 metres
Lost Anchor is a small patch of reef and features a 17th Century anchor lying on the bottom. The dive site has many hard and soft corals, and gorgonians including picturesque sea fans. Two giant morays reside here and giant scorpion fish, stonefish, crayfish, peacock groupers, big porcupine fish can also be found. A well-known friendly titan triggerfish always swims around the divers here.
Holt's Rock
Depth: 16 to 25 metres
The large blocks of coral shelter many varieties of fish including angel fish, butterfly fish, trigger fish, clown fish, scorpion fish, stone fish and lobsters. The fish are quite curious and will often come out to inspect divers as they swin around this interesting dive site.
Black Forest
Depth: 25 to 40 metres
The thick trunks of coral form a veritable forest, an amazing sight, only enhanced by the excellent visibility.
Coral Garden
Depth: 19 metres
As the name suggests this dive site has an amazing array of coral which attracts an equally diverse array of fish including yellow tail, angel fish, butterfly fish, surgeons and trigger fish. An excellent spot for underwater photographers.
Stenopus
Depth: 38 to 40 metres
An expanse of sand dotted with large blocks of rock upon which can be found immense coral formations. Around this coral angel emperors can be found along with butterfly fish and other small marine life. From time to time some of the larger species can be seen passing through such as barracuda and tuna.
Corsair Reef
Depth: 0 to 7 metres
This dive site is excellent for beginner divers. A great introduction to the waters of Mauritius with many species of fish inhabiting the reef.
Corsair's Wall
Depth: 40 to 60 metres
This dive is a deep wall dive with the higher plateau of the reef head starting at around 37 m. On the reef there is a huge anchor lying abandoned in the coral with its chain stretching off into the distance. Divers exploring the edge of the wall can witness the interaction of the marine life inhabiting the wall. There are also huge gorgonians, glass corals and the rare and precious black coral.
King Fish Kingdom
Depth: 36 to 60 metres
One of the best dive sites in Mauritius. The dive starts with a descent, then a walk along the wall until the bottom where a gap leads to a tunnel. At the end of the tunnel is a long fault with open roof of about thirty meters leading on to two cliffs. Various rare fish can be seen throughout the dive along with some of the larger species.
Rose Garden
Depth: 39 metres
Pink coral is quite a rare sight but here at Rose Garden the coral stretches across the ocean floor. This fragile coral reaches heights of 2 to 3 metres and is home to anthias and angel fish amongst others.
Diving
Wrecks
Stella Maru
Depth: 26 metres
The Stella Maru was sunk in December 1987 and lies upright on the sandy bottom, next to a reef. The wreck is in great shape and there is remarkably little sea growth on the wreck apart from algae, small soft corals, anemones and sea urchins. Many fish make their home in the wreck, particularly angler fish and large stonefish.
Emily and Water Lilly
Depth: 26 metres
Emily and Water Lily are two barges that were scuttled to make an artificial reef. Lying only 30 metres apart, the barges are a fascinating dive experience. A wide variety of marine life can be seen on both barges and a number of eels have made their homes in different corners of the wrecks. One feature of this site is the number of Raggy and Tasselled scorpion fish present.
Silver Star
Depth: 39 metres
A lovely wreck, the Silver Star is a haven for a wide variety of marine life including barracuda, scorpion fish and angel fish. The interior of the wreck can be accessed safely allowing you to explore this relic of the past.
Djabeda
Depth: 35 metres
The Djabeda is the wreck of a Japanese fishing boat lying upright on the sandy bottom. The wreck has been damaged slightly over the years and debris can be seen strewn across the sandy floor. The site is full of king fish, moray eels, trigger fish, stone fish, lion fish, parrot fish, leaf fish and sea slugs. Sometimes the wreck is visited by sharks, barracuda, sting rays and dolphins.