Mahe dive sites

Beau Vallon Bay on the northwest coast of Mahe serves as the main diving hub for the island. The area features a unique underwater landscape where massive granite boulders, characteristic of the Seychelles, are covered in hard and soft corals. Dive sites range from shallow areas at 4 metres to deeper sites at 25-30 metres, suiting all certification levels. The bay is sheltered and conditions are generally calm.

The transitional months between monsoons offer the best conditions: April to May and October to November, when seas are calmest and visibility peaks. The northwest monsoon from December to February can bring plankton that reduces visibility but attracts whale sharks and manta rays. The southeast monsoon from June to September affects the eastern coast more, keeping Beau Vallon relatively protected.

Common sightings include hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, stingrays, moray eels, octopuses, nudibranchs, batfish, snapper, and a wide variety of tropical reef fish. Whale sharks are seasonal visitors, most often seen between October and January. The bay is known as a nursery area, so you may encounter juvenile eagle rays and small reef sharks.