Snorkeling in the Seychelles: when to go, best places and prices

There are many places in the Seychelles where you do not even need a boat for good snorkeling. On Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, some reefs are close to the shore, while small islands and more remote spots can be reached on a sea excursion.

Underwater you can see sea turtles, rays and dozens of species of tropical fish. But the quality of snorkeling strongly depends on the specific beach, season, waves and currents. Let's look at where snorkeling is more interesting in the Seychelles, which places are accessible directly from the shore and when it is best to come.

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When to go to the Seychelles for snorkeling

Snorkeling in the Seychelles is available all year round, but the periods between the trade-wind seasons are considered the most favourable - approximately April-May and October-November. At this time, calm weather is more common, the ocean is less rough and the water remains clear. But even in these months, conditions can differ from beach to beach.

Sometimes it is enough to drive to the other side of the island to find calm water instead of waves. Before the trip, it is worth checking sea conditions at the specific beach.

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Best places for snorkeling in the Seychelles

The largest number of shore-accessible snorkeling places can be found on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. It is usually more interesting near reefs, granite rocks and along the edges of bays, but the same spot can look completely different depending on the waves, tide and water clarity on a particular day.

Snorkeling on Mahé: best beaches

On Mahé there are several good snorkeling places accessible directly from the shore. So for a first introduction to the underwater world, you do not necessarily need to take a boat excursion.

• Port Launay - one of the best options for shore snorkeling on Mahé. Reefs run along both sides of the bay: here you can see corals and many small reef fish. The beach is located within Port Launay Marine National Park.
• Anse Royale and Fairyland - for snorkeling, it is better to explore not so much the central sandy part of Anse Royale as the areas near the rocks around Fairyland and the small island opposite the shore. There are especially many small bright reef fish here.
• Anse Soleil - a small bay in south-western Mahé where you can snorkel directly from the beach. A convenient option if you want to combine snorkeling with an ordinary day by the sea without planning a separate trip to the reef.
• Beau Vallon - Mahé's most famous beach, with a wide choice of water activities and dive centres. You can snorkel here, but it is hardly worth going to Beau Vallon only for snorkeling - there are more interesting reef areas on the island.
• Anse Major - a beach in the north-west of the island. A hiking trail leads to it, so it is worth combining a trip here with a walk, swimming and snorkeling. It can also be reached by water.

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Snorkeling on Praslin: best beaches

On Praslin the choice of shore snorkeling places is not as large as on Mahé, but several good spots can easily be included in a regular beach route around the island.

• Anse Lazio - the best-known option. Snorkeling is more interesting along the edges of the bay, near the granite rocks, where you can see schools of tropical fish, surgeonfish, rays and other inhabitants of coastal waters. The central part of the beach is more suitable for swimming. Sea conditions change here, so it is worth assessing the waves and current before entering the water.
• Anse Petit Cour is a small sheltered bay on the northern coast of the island. There are coral areas near the shore where reef fish can be seen, while the calm water also makes this place interesting for those who do not yet have much snorkeling experience.
• Anse Volbert, or Côte d'Or, is convenient primarily because of its accessibility: a long beach, shallow water and calm sea make it possible to snorkel right by the shore. The underwater world here is more modest than at Anse Lazio or the small reef islands near Praslin, so this beach should not be considered the island's main snorkeling spot.

For more varied snorkeling, you can take a boat to neighbouring islands. Especially popular are sea excursions to the islands of Curieuse and St Pierre.

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Snorkeling on La Digue: best beaches

On the island of La Digue there are several places where you can snorkel directly from the shore. The easiest options are in the north of the island, while conditions on more exposed beaches should be assessed immediately before entering the water.

• Anse Severe - one of the most convenient beaches for snorkeling on La Digue. The water is shallow here, and a reef with corals and reef fish runs not far from the shore. The beach is located near La Passe, so it is easy to reach by bicycle.
• Anse Patates - a small bay at the northern tip of the island, surrounded by granite rocks typical of La Digue. Here you can combine swimming with snorkeling near the rocks and coral areas. Swimming conditions depend on the state of the sea, so it is worth assessing the waves and current before entering the water.
• Anse Source d'Argent is better known for its granite rocks, but its shallow lagoon is also suitable for calm snorkeling. Near the rocks you can see various tropical fish and other inhabitants of coastal waters.

To visit more interesting coral areas, it is worth taking a boat excursion to the neighbouring islands. Coco Island is especially popular, while routes from La Digue often combine it with Félicité and the Sister Islands.

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Snorkeling excursions in the Seychelles

Not all reefs in the Seychelles are accessible from the beach. Small islands and remote stretches of coast are easier to reach by boat, and snorkeling is usually combined with a walk around the island, several swimming stops or lunch.

Popular destinations include:

• Sainte Anne Marine National Park from Mahé - from a few hours to a full day. Half-day and full-day excursions are available, including trips on glass-bottom boats. The programme usually includes snorkeling stops near reefs where you can see corals, tropical fish and sometimes sea turtles.
• BaieTernay Marine Park from Mahé. The park is reached by boat from the west coast of Mahé, including from the Beau Vallon area. The main purpose of these trips is swimming and snorkeling near coral areas. Some programmes also include a picnic or barbecue.
• Curieuse and St Pierre from Praslin - approximately 4-7 hours. Short programmes take about half a day, while full excursions with a walk on Curieuse and lunch take 6-7 hours. On Curieuse you can see giant tortoises and walk along a nature trail, after which the boat heads to St Pierre for snorkeling.
• Coco and Félicité from La Digue. You can choose a short half-day trip or spend almost the whole day on the water. Routes often include several islands - for example, Coco, Félicité and the Sister Islands - with stops for snorkeling near the reefs.

Programmes differ between operators. The price may include several snorkeling stops, landings on islands, lunch or barbecue and equipment. Before booking, it is worth checking the duration of the specific trip and exactly what is included in the price, and choosing a licensed operator for the excursion itself.

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Prices: how much snorkeling costs in the Seychelles

Independent snorkeling from the beach costs practically nothing if you have your own mask and snorkel. Additional expenses appear when visiting marine national parks and taking boat trips to reefs and small islands.

Approximate prices for snorkeling tours in the Seychelles:

• Sainte Anne from Mahé - from 90 euros per person for a full-day snorkeling excursion. Programmes may include a glass-bottom boat trip, several stops at reefs, island visits and a barbecue.
• Curieuse and St Pierre from Praslin - from 75 euros per person for a half-day excursion and around 95-120 euros for a full day, depending on the programmes. A walk on Curieuse, snorkeling near St Pierre and lunch are usually included. Some operators also offer cheaper half-day excursions.
• Coco and Félicité from La Digue - from 65 euros for a trip of about 3.5 hours. A full-day excursion with several islands and a barbecue costs about 120 euros per person.

Additional fees for visiting protected areas should also be taken into account. For non-residents over 12 years old, visiting Curieuse costs 300 SCR (about 20 euros). The fee for visiting Sainte Anne Marine Park is 200 SCR (about 13 euros), Baie Ternay + Port Launay - 200 SCR with a single ticket, Coco Island - 200 SCR. Children under 12 - free.

When comparing excursions, pay attention to what is included in the price. Some operators already include marine park fees, equipment, transfer and lunch, while with others these must be paid separately.

Prices are valid for 2026 and may change.

If snorkeling is one of the main goals of the trip, when choosing a hotel pay attention not only to the beach but also to the location of the nearest reefs and the availability of sea excursions.

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