Whale sharks in the waters of Mahé
The main island, Mahé, is the Seychelles’ most varied diving area, featuring wrecks, seamounts and even whale sharks! These marine giants can be spotted between September and November, including in the Port Launay Marine National Park, where they like to swim in the park’s protected lagoons and can be admired from the shallow reefs. Port Launay Marine National Park is an excellent dive site for beginners. Experienced divers eager to see sharks are sure to have Shark Bank on their scuba diving bucket list. Stretching to a depth of roughly 100 feet (30 m), this dive site showcases massive granite boulders and large coral formations. Strong currents attract reef sharks, rays and barracuda. Aside from predatory fish, the waters of Mahé are also a habitat for rare fish, dolphins, snails, lobster, cuttlefish and turtles, which can also be seen when snorkelling. Many of the Seychelles’ exciting reefs are close to the beaches, such as Anse Major or Beau Vallon bay, meaning snorkellers do not require a boat to reach them. Snorkelling boat trips lasting several hours are also available, for example at the Dive Seychelles Underwater Centre. Big Blue Divers, in the north of the island, offers a wide selection of diving tours, ranging from short boat trips to full-day excursions.