Updated September 8, 2022
This is the nineteenth in a series that introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris. The focus in this one is on Seychelles liveaboards.
In addition to this liveaboard series, the best worldwide dive resort locations and services are reviewed in their own series. To check them out, or other liveaboards, click on Liveaboards / Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title.
Have you ever been diving in the Seychelles? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. What dive shop or liveaboard did you use? Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sea life attractions, etc.? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.
Scuba Diving the Seychelles – Diving, Snorkeling, and Island Tours
Country Background
Seychelles is a 115 island archipelago set 480 km (300 miles) from the east coast of Africa, 4 to 10 degrees below the equator, that tip to tip extends over 1,100 km (687.5 miles) in length. The 41 inner islands are granite-based with surrounding coral walls, pinnacles, and canyons that have been hell on passing ships while providing a rich habitat for over 1,000 species of fish. The outer 74 islands are atolls or with a coral foundation. Onshore, there is also a variety of unique flora and fauna. UNESCO has designated two World Heritage Sites in Seychelles and the world’s largest coral atoll, Aldabra, is part of the archipelago.
Most human inhabitants are located on the main inner islands, Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue, where the bulk of the resorts are also located. The vast majority of islands are not inhabited and besides the big three, only Alphonse and Desroches have accommodations.
Undersea World
While not world-class for corals, perhaps in part due to the granite foundation, the reef is pristine and the rich sea life has benefited greatly from the banning of spear and dynamite fishing in the 1960s. The inner island substrate is made up of a shallow plateau, suitable for snorkeling, kayaking, and beginner scuba divers, deep drop-offs, and a number of well-preserved wrecks.
The plurality of the local operators is on the north side of Mahe, doing most of their diving there and not going to the south side very often. There are 30 sites north of Mahe, about a dozen good sites around Praslin and La Digue, and 75 in all on the inner islands. The number of divers is low enough that sites are not crowded. The best ones are reputed to be Aldabra Atoll (outer islands), Shark Bank, and the Ennerdale Wreck.
The difficulty level of diving is suitable for beginners with only a few requiring advanced skills. Most liveaboards offer open water diver courses and even discover scuba diving. The most popular courses offered are the advanced open water and specialty underwater photography certifications. Many excellent snorkeling locations are available and passengers are encouraged to participate.
The smaller critters and macro life are quite fascinating. There are also numerous brightly colored reef fish like surgeonfish, rabbitfish, lionfish, parrotfish, and batfish, but the main draw is this long list of larger attractions: hawksbill and green turtles, swordfish, marlin and sailfish, barracuda, giant grouper, grey, and whitetip reef sharks, bull sharks, hammerheads, stingrays, Napoleon wrasses, whale sharks and manta and eagle rays.
Seasons and Conditions
It is always warm and diving is good year-round with the calmest seas and best visibility from March through May. It is the coolest and windiest in the monsoon season of July and August. October and November are the best time for mantas and whale sharks. Water temperatures range from 78-84° F (26-29° C) requiring no more than 3mm of protection and oftentimes only a shortie.
Visibility is almost always good at 65-100ft (20-30m). From June to October, rougher surface conditions cause a decrease in vis to the lower end of the range.
Seychelles Liveaboard Dive Boats
There are 5 great liveaboard boats cruising the Seychelle’s inner islands. They all are friendly to snorkelers, kids, and non-diving passengers and offer extensive land touring. Facilities and services are outstanding on all even though pricing is fairly reasonable. Of the 5, the MY Pegasos doesn’t offer scuba diving, focusing more on land-based touring and shallow water activities.
MV Galatea | SY Sea Bird | SY Sea Star | SV Sea Pearl | MY Pegasos | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Length | 30 m | 42 m | 40 m | 36 m | 45 m |
Guests | 14 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 44 |
Equipment | €10/dive | €190/7 days | €190/7 days | €30/day | No |
Nitrox | No | No | No | No | No |
Diving Package | €180/6 dives | €196/8 dives | €196/8 dives | €196/8 dives | No Diving |
Dive Courses On Board | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Snorkeling, Kayaking Available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Snorkeling only |
Price/Day | $344 | $219 | $219 | $161 | $219 |
MV Galatea | SY Sea Bird | SY Sea Star | SV Sea Pearl | MY Pegasos |
Seychelles Resorts and Hotels
Seychelles has a number of dive shops and more than 200 hotels and resorts starting at $50 per night. Before and after your cruise you may want to spend some time taking advantage of the sun, beach, and nightlife activities by hooking up with a local resort.
The website linked below has the details and can arrange a booking for the lodging. You can easily find the location on the map provided on this site. Their rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.
Seychelles Photos
With the attractive coral reefs, exciting megafauna including manta and eagle rays, turtles, hammerhead and whale sharks, pelagics, intriguing macro critters, reef tropicals, and fascinating onshore scenery, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities. For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:
Scuba Diving Trip Insurance
A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on Seychelles scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
Laura says
One day I really want to do this kind of holiday. Maybe when my kid is a little bit older and I’ve saved up some money. Sailing around these different places and checking out nature’s finest must be amazing.
Good to see they have diving courses available as I’ve never dived before. Also, the boats look nice and have all the comfort you need, which is convenient if you need to stay on them for 8 days.
Joe says
Hi Laura,
Thanks for your kind comments. I am glad my post has peaked your interest.
If you would like to take a course to learn to scuba dive it takes 3-5 days and includes 5 shallow water or swimming pool sessions and 4 open water dives and a bit of study. A number of liveaboards can accomplish this or it is easily possible just about wherever you live. If you would like advice on where to do a course or anything related to diving, please let me know. I hope you make the decision to learn to dive sooner rather than later. It’s a great hobby that can really open your eyes to a new exciting world.
Best regards,
Joe
Aziza Usoof says
I am not a diver, but the Seychelles seem to be an interesting part of the world to visit, as it is not very far from Sri Lanka. In addition to diving I am interested in finding out what other activities are available for tourists? Sri Lanka is also popular among divers and I would suggest that you also do an article on the diving opportunities in Sri Lanka.
Joe says
Hi Aziza Usoof,
Thanks a lot for your kind comments. The Seychelles is really beautiful for diving and touring.
If you would like to take a course to learn to scuba dive it takes 3-5 days and includes 5 shallow water or swimming pool sessions and 4 open water dives and a bit of study. A number of liveaboards can accomplish this or it is easily possible just about wherever you live. If you would like advice on where to do a course or anything related to diving, please let me know.
There is a full range of accommodations in the Seychelles. I suggest you contact an agent like Agoda to research and book any hotel or guest house there. Many boat tours are available of the islands. You can see a lot of the culture and wildlife in the videos in my post.
I’ll take your advice and look into diving in Sri Lanka, but are you aware that the Maldives are relatively nearby and the diving there is considered world class? I suggest you look at my liveaboard post on the Maldives and consider diving there.
Best of luck to you.
Regards,
Joe
Renton says
The Seychelles is such a popular holiday destination an now I can see why. I must say there are quite a lot of fish with animal names like rabbit fish, lion fish, bat fish. The activities that really sound good to me are cruising around in the boat and possibly kayaking.
I noticed you said there are some sharks there. Do you have to wear chain mail suits when diving or is that unnecessary?
Joe says
Hi Renton,
Thanks for your kind comments and interest.
Part of what is so enjoyable about the undersea world is the beautiful fish that we have given interesting names. The Seychelles are a great place to see them. If you just want to do a liveaboard for kayaking or snorkeling and some island hopping and touring, that is also a good idea.
A course to learn to scuba dive it takes 3-5 days and includes 5 shallow water or swimming pool sessions and 4 open water dives and a bit of study. Have you considered that? A number of liveaboards can give you the course or it is easily possible just about wherever you live. If you would like advice on where to do a course or anything related to diving, please let me know.
The type of sharks that you see in the Seychelles are not considered dangerous to divers. It is only in very rare circumstances of shark feeding or diving with great white sharks that someone would consider wearing a chain mail suit. I urge you to take a diving course and you will learn a lot about sharks in addition to diving.
I hope you decide to learn to dive. It is really an eye opening world undersea.
Best regards,
Joe