Underwater waterfall – Mauritius island’s unique geological formation, in 2008 was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can get to this fascinating phenomenon and fully enjoy its views only by helicopter ride.
This fact doesn’t scare tourists: every year hundreds of vacationers fly to Mauritius to see one of the natural wonders, which is also one of the main attractions of the island .
Read this post to get more details about Mauritius Underwater Waterfall and find out how to visit it for better views, helicopter tour prices, is it safe to swim and dive and other useful information for first timers.
Underwater Waterfall Mauritius: General Info
- Book tour for scenic seaplane flight
- Location: southern coast of Mauritius island, 200 meters from Le Morne Brabant peninsula in the Indian Ocean
- Best time to visit: available all year round
- How to visit: The best way is to book helicopter tour or choose the seaplane which is a bit cheaper. The price for 15 minutes starts from 150 USD/ per person. As an alternative, you can hike Le Morne and take a look at the lagoon from it’s summit.
- Location on the map
The secret of the underwater waterfall Le Morne Brabant
It is worth starting with the fact that a real underwater waterfall, Mauritius island’s one of the iconic landmarks, simply does not exist. This is a massive optical illusion. Compared to other islands, Mauritius is considered the young one, the period of its existence is about 8 million years only.
Mauritius island was formed due to volcanic activity and is based on Submarine Plateau (ocean shelf), which is also known as Mascarene plateau. The average depth of this shelf is about 150 meters below sea level. But that is not all, in some places the shelf’s edge plunges to 4000 meters depth.
The fact is that in this part of the Indian Ocean there are very strong undercurrents that have eroded the ocean floor for many years. What looks like the flowing water at first glance in reality are constantly moving sand and silt deposits.
As a result, a high plateau under water formed on the site of the underwater waterfall Le Morne Brabant. The ocean floor rose here relatively recently – about two hundred years ago. Ocean currents wash away coastal sand and silt from it. And coral reefs on the plateau complement this beauty.
As a result of this optical illusion, it seems that huge streams of water fall right into the Indian ocean. At dawn and in bright sunshine, the waterfall shimmers with various shades of turquoise and blue. Closer to sunset, dark blue and black-burgundy colors are added to these hues.
It is impossible to dive in this place because of the strong current, so you won’t be able to see this natural attraction up close.
How to see Underwater Waterfall
Helicopter or Seaplane Tours
If you want to see Mauritius underwater waterfall in all its glory, then book a helicopter tour. It is offered by all tour operators in Mauritius, including hotels.
The cost of such an excursion will depend on the duration of the flight and the number of people. The cheapest option is 15 minutes by helicopter for two people. Such a flight will cost about 300 US dollars.
If you want to fly for an hour, you will have to shell out at least $ 1,500 for two.
For those looking for unusual and full of adrenaline things to do for couples in Mauritius, it is recommended to join to couple experience flight. Flights around the island can be a great gift for someone special. Click here to learn more.
Enjoy the Views from Le Morne Peak
Experienced travelers told the secret of how to see the waterfall and save money.
Head to Le Morne Brabant by taxi or car. On the peninsula itself there is Le Morne Brabant peak. From its top, you can see part of the underwater waterfall and other attractions of Mauritius island. Also, there you’ll notice many kitesurfers, as Le Morne is a paradise for kitesurfers.
Please note that for such a trip you will need a lot of water, comfortable shoes and clothes. Climbing to the top of Le Morne with small children is not worth it – they can get very tired on the road.
The mountain is located near the coast. Its height is 556 meters. The way to the top will take about two hours at an average pace.
There are signs at the bottom. In total, the trail stretched for three and a half kilometers. The first part of the path is easy. You can walk to the middle of the mountain and take beautiful panoramic views. But if you want to see exactly the waterfall (albeit a small part of it), then go up to the very top.
On the way to the top, you will find many monuments and ancient buildings. There are no shops along the route.
FAQ
You can see certain part of waterfall, but not in all its glory. Though the mountain if high enough, the waterfall is in the distance.
The best way to enjoy the underwater waterfall is by joining helicopter or seaplane tours, that can be quite expensive, but according to many tourists it’s worth it.
You can book helicopter or seaplane tour to enjoy the fascinating views on waterfall illusion. Such attraction is very pricey, but with no doubt it will be the brightest memory about your trip to Mauritius island.
Although from a height it may seem that the waterfall is incredibly deep, in fact its depth does not exceed 150 meters.
Many people are afraid of swimming in the waters close to underwater waterfall in Mauritius, but it’s more about psychology, rather than real treat. It’s absolutely safe for swimming.
