The 6 Best Snorkelling Spots In Mauritius

Does Mauritius have good snorkelling? That’s like asking whether Greece has good Hummus. Or Turkey has good Kebabs. Mauritius sitting in the Indian Ocean, surrounded by coral that creates lagoons teeming with fish and other underwater creatures -  is a snorkelling paradise.

The shallow, calm and clear water means that you don’t have to be a strong swimmer to get the best out of it, and in most spots you can just stand up whenever you want to take a little breather.

The water temperature does you a favour as well. The sea sits somewhere around 25 to 28°C through the southern summer and rarely drops much below 22°C in the cooler months, so a swimsuit is usually all you need.

Just know what Mauritius isn’t when it comes to snorkelling. This is coral country rather than big open waters. It’s about finding joy discovering hundreds of reef species in ridiculous colours, exploring coral garden

Six spots, spread around the island. Some are a two-minute wade from your towel. Others need a boat and a whole day. All of them are stunning.

1. Balaclava and Turtle Bay: calm water and our new home in Mauritius

Let’s start on the north-west coast, beside the protected Balaclava Marine Park and Neilson x The Ravenala Attitude is the perfect lagoon for beginner snorkellers to explore.

It’s shallow, sheltered and with a just few steps through crystal-clear water, you can be face down floating over some coral taking in Angelfish, butterflyfish and Surgeonfish. And if you’re feeling extra adventurous you can dip your head under and explore all of the little nooks and crannies, unearth moray eels and creepy little crustaceans.  

The best bit about this lagoon, though? Turtles visit here, too (there’s a reason it got it’s name, right?). They come in search of smaller fish to pick their shells clean as they lie their motionless. So in some ways, it’s a bit like they're on a weekend spa retreat looking for a little refresh.  

If you fancy snorkelling in Turtle Bay then check out Neilson x The Ravenala Attitude. Sitting right on Balaclava lagoon, with the water sports centre on the beach and Lemon River running out into the sea beside, it’s the perfect place to enjoy everything the Indian Ocean has to offer.

2. Blue Bay Marine Park: the one everyone names

Ask enough people who’ve been to Mauritius “Where’s the best place to snorkel?” and one name will keep coming up again and again – Blue Bay Marine Park.

Blue Bay sits on the south-east coast next to the village of Mahebourg. It was the island's first marine park, and it's still its most famous snorkelling spot.

The protected status means that there’s no anchoring, no fishing, no boats carving through the shallows. All of which means that the coral feels like it hasn’t been touched (because it hasn’t) and the fish haven’t learnt to bolt away as propellers disturb the water around them.

The fish are one thing, but the real reason to visit is the coral. There are gardens of branching coral, table coral and giant brain coral - one that’s been growing for centuries.  

You can reach some reef straight from the public beach, but the best of it sits further out. A short glass-bottom or taxi-boat trip will get you there, and the operators on the beach hire out masks and fins if you've travelled light.

Top tip: go early. The day-trip boats pile in mid-morning, and the afternoon breeze chops up the surface.

3. Trou aux Biches: easy, lively and turtle-friendly

Back on the north-west coast, Trou aux Biches is a favourite with families because of its long, calm lagoon that sits right in front of a lively little resort town.

The reef sits roughly 50 metres out from the public beach. Close enough and shallow enough that most people can just stand up and wade out to it. It's also one of the better spots for turtles. Green and hawksbill are both seen here, usually further out where the reef drops away, so it's worth swimming a little just to get a glimpse of them.

One thing to know before you go, this is a working water sports beach, and boats come and go all day. Stick to the shallow, calm zones, keep well clear of the channels, and bring a bright tow float if you have one. Do that and it's a lovely, easy swim.

4. Pereybere: your best shot at turtles

If your only reason for snorkelling in Mauritius is to see turtles, then Pereybere is probably your best bet.  

It's a small, soft-sand bay about 3km north of Grand Baie pier on the north coast, and it's the single best spot on the island for seeing sea turtles. With both green and hawksbill turtle coming right into the shallows, close enough that you barely need to swim out to see them.

It’s not only turtles, though. There's Mauritian clownfish, an anemonefish found only around Mauritius and Réunion.  

Pereybere does get busy. If the beach is packed when you arrive, head a few minutes further north to Bain Boeuf or Cap Malheureux, where the snorkelling is quieter and nearly as good.

5. Flat Island and Gabriel Island: the offshore adventure

Off the northern tip of Mauritius sits a cluster of uninhabited islands with some of the healthiest seabed anywhere in the world. Of these islands the two we’d recommend is Flat Island (Île Plate) and Gabriel Island, who are linked by a shallow channel making it a prime location to snorkel in.

Because nobody lives out here, the water is clearer and the reef sees far less traffic. Stingrays cruise the sandy patches. Angelfish, butterflyfish and moray eels work the coral. Schools of fish split around you and reform behind.

You'll need a day boat tour from Grand Baie to reach them. Most trips take in three islands by speedboat, usually including Coin de Mire, the flat-topped hulk of rock you can see from the north coast. Expect a barbecue lunch on the sand and a couple of snorkelling stops rather than one long swim, so it's a day out with snorkelling as much as a snorkelling day.

Looking for something to do off the water? Check out our guide to cycling in Mauritius.

6. Île aux Bénitiers and Crystal Rock: the scenic south-west finale

If you’re want somewhere that makes your mates green with envy once you’ve posted it on the gram, then Crystal Rock and Île aux Bénitiers is the perfect place for you.

Sitting off the south-west coast near Le Morne, there’s a massive lump of coral rock poking its head out of the blue lagoon creating a signature shot that’s hard to miss. During low-tide, you can swim up to it and climb on it to get a piccy that that will have your mates thinking “what lucky so and so”.

You can only reach Crystal Rock by boat with most trips out starting early so that you can get a bit of dolphin watching in at nearby Tamarin Bay.  

That all sounds great, but there’s definitely a few things that you should know before you go snorkelling in Mauritius.

Wear reef-safe, biodegradable sun cream. Plenty of standard sun creams contain chemicals that bleach coral, and the reef is the reason you're in the water, so do your best to protect it.

Check the tide before you go. Some reefs sit too shallow to snorkel over at low water, and you'll end up scraping across the coral you're trying so hard not to touch.

Stick to the shallow lagoons and stay away from the boat channels. Calmer water, better visibility, no engines. And just safer for everyone all round.

Move slowly. Thrashing about empties a reef in seconds. Glide, hang still for a moment, and everything starts creeping back out.

Take a buddy. It’s better in pairs. And its safer, even if it is only waist-deep water.

Look, don't touch. No standing on coral, no grabbing at fish, no touching the turtles. Everything down there is alive, and most of it is far more fragile than it looks. 

That ring of reef, the warm lagoons, the sea life, the island life – yep Mauritius is a snorkeller’s paradise. With plenty of spots to explore.

It's just a case of picking one. Blue Bay for the coral. Pereybere for turtles. Trou aux Biches or Balaclava for walk-in snorkelling with the kids. Flat Island or Île aux Bénitiers when you want to make a proper day of it.

Our new home in Mauritius, Neilson x The Ravenala Attitude, sits right on the Balaclava lagoon, with snorkelling, sea scooters, paddle boarding, kayaking, tennis and cycling all part of the week. Have a look at our Mauritius activity holidays to see what that looks like.

Looking for content on Mauritius? Check out our guide to Windsurfing in Mauritius, why you should paddle board in Mauritius and the best Mauritian dishes.