Diving in Grand Baie nearby waters is considered to be the best one in Mauritius island. There are plenty of spots to explore where underwater life is prospering. There are many shallow and calm places for beginners to learn well, as well as plenty of dive sites that require certain qualifications and guarantee vivid emotions.
Average depths in the area are from 20 to 40 meters with good visibility options. Along with the inhabitants of the sea depths typical for these places there are some exotic species you can meet, like rare megamouth moray.
Check this ultimate travel guide about diving in Grand Baie area, Mauritius; get more details about the spots for beginners and experienced divers, day tours and other information.
Holt’s Rock
This location is notable for giant rocks surrounded by reefs. Main inhabitants of this spot are parrotfish, angelfish, wrasses and butterflyfish. You can also meet morays there, which look rather scary. Some members of the species can reach up to 2 meters long. Triggerfish like to “surprise” divers with unexpected appearances. This dive site is considered to be among the challenging ones, with many corridors and narrow passages.
- Depth: 16-25 meters
- Difficulty:
- Visibility:
- Currents: Low
Whale Rock
This location requires some qualification from divers. During the trip to this location you’ll dive to different depths, so it’s a great way to practice and improve your skills.
If you come here during summer months you’ll get a chance to see such big fish species like swordfish as well as hammerhead sharks.
- Depth: 25 meters
- Difficulty: for intermediate experience divers
- Visibility: up to 30 meters
- Currents: Low
Moray Reef
The name of this location speaks for itself, it’s the best spot to visit while enjoying diving in the Grand Baie area. While looking at underwater inhabitants, do not lose sight of morays, especially you can find here rather rare megamouth moray.
Together with this unusual marine creature you’ll have a chance to observe juvenile fish, octopuses and lionfish. This spot is perfect for beginners as it’s not so deep and the waters there are very calm. It is also appreciated by underwater photographers.
- Depth: up to 13 meters
- Difficulty: beginners +
- Visibility: great due to calm waters
- Currents: Low
Aquarium Grand Baie
When you’re looking the information about scuba diving in Mauritius, Aquarium Bay will be the first location recommended to try out. Beginners can enjoy diving in the Grand Baie area in this particular spot. There you’ll see healthy coral formations which are used as housing by a variety of marine creatures. PADI courses usually take place here. Barely noticeable currents attract many photographers to make great pictures of the underwater world. It’s also a place for night diving sessions.
- Depth: 14 meters
- Difficulty: beginners +
- Visibility: great due to calm waters
- Currents: Low
Poison Reef
This place got its name because of many venom fish species living there. Alleys of soft corals up to 50 meter long are the home to such species like dragon heads, scorpionfish and lionfish. This location is not exactly close to Grand Baie or one of its beaches, it is in the Protected Area of Balaclava. No need to worry if you’re not going to touch those marine creatures. On the southern part of the reef there are unusual black corals that are worth exploring.
- Depth: 14 meters
- Difficulty:
- Visibility:
- Currents: Low
Coral Garden
There are two locations of the same name, one of them in the northern part of Mauritius and another one is in the east close to Belle Mare. Enjoy diving in Grand Baie in this location where you can meet green turtles as well as stingrays. This is also a place where eels prefer to hide behind the rocks. The site is big enough and to enjoy it to the fullest it’s better to dive several times. There is a variety of topography there, starting from the open sand valleys to rock formations.
- Depth: 19 meters
- Difficulty: for open water skilled divers
- Visibility: usually very good
- Currents: Low
