Beginner Mauritius
Mauritius
A lagoon that wraps most of the island, and an outer drop-off almost no one expects
Most of the island is ringed by a fringing reef that encloses a shallow, turquoise lagoon. That ring is what defines diving here: calm absolute inside it, and outside, a drop-off that falls away all at once.
In this profile you'll find out how the lagoon-barrier-drop-off system that organizes all of the island's diving works, how its four coasts differ, when to go according to the monsoon and cyclone cycle, what wrecks are here, and what level you need to get past the outer reef.
It's a comfortable destination to start out in, with the lagoon as a natural classroom, and at the same time it has drop-off and wreck dives outside the barrier that hold the interest of an experienced diver.
Geography and access
Mauritius is a volcanic island in the southwestern Indian Ocean, and most of its perimeter is fringed by a fringing reef that sits some distance offshore, leaving a shallow lagoon in between.
The lagoon is why the island is such a solid destination to start out in: shallow water, sheltered from swell, with reasonable visibility, where a first dive happens without any of the variables that scare people off.
The fringing reef is broken by several passes where water enters and exits with the tide. Crossing them gives access to the outer drop-off, which falls away sharply and where the dive changes completely: more depth, more current, and passing pelagics.
The four coasts behave differently. The north concentrates most of the diving activity and has mild conditions almost all year round. The west offers wrecks and good access. The east is more exposed to the prevailing wind. And the south is the wildest stretch, with less barrier protection and more demanding conditions.
Access is through the international airport in the southeast of the island, with road transfers of between half an hour and an hour and a half depending on the zone.
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