Scuba Diving in Mauritius: What You Should Know

Mauritius offers easy, relaxed diving with warm water (24–28°C), decent visibility, and mostly gentle currents. Expect colourful reefs, wrecks, and lots of tropical fish rather than big pelagics or dramatic drop-offs. Most boat trips last a full day, leaving around 9am and returning mid-afternoon; you'll usually do two dives with a surface interval for lunch. The west and north coasts are the main hubs. It's a good choice if you're an occasional diver or traveling with non-divers who want to snorkel on the same boat. The experience is low-stress and scenic above water too, but don't come expecting world-class virgin reefs.

Best time is October to April when the sea is calmer and visibility is better. From May to September the southeast trade winds can make the east coast rough and limit sites, though the west coast often stays diveable. Expect to pay around $80–130 for a two-dive boat trip including gear and lunch; intro dives for beginners run $110–160. Packages of five or more dives bring the price down nicely.

Tip: stick to the west coast if you're short on time or prone to seasickness; the catamaran-style boats are more stable and comfortable than small speedboats. Skip the big group trips if you want a relaxed pace – smaller operator boats are worth the slight extra cost for fewer people in the water at once.