The best condition for scuba diving and sailing is in October - March. Most of the larger beach hotels offer dive excursions and lessons and rent equipment. Spearfishing while diving with an aqua-lung is prohibited: spearfishing while snorkelling is allowed, but the catch cannot exceed ten fish per day. There are plenty of scuba diving centres on the islands. The Mauritius Underwater Group (MUG) has given rise to the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society, a group actively engaged in conservation of the reef environment. MUG is linked to the professional Diving Association, and also to the International Diving Confederation. Much of the diving consists of rock formations like overhangs, walls and caverns. Abundant and diverse corals colonise such formations - some 200 species are said to be present. Spearfishing is forbidden.
The reefs of Mauritius offer excellent opportunities for scuba diving and snorkelling enthusiasts with warm, crystal clear water, calm seas and varied marine life. The 205-mile (330-km) coastline of
There are several good scuba-diving locations around Rodrigues, but there is no diving school or public-use compressor on the island, and you need a boat. The best dives are off Pointe Colon and
Advice on diving can be obtained from the MauritiusUnderwater Group, Railway Road, Phoenix tel: 696 5368. The Mauritius Marine Conservation Society functions from the same address. A decompression
A bit more affected by mass tourism than other regions, the East Coast offers some excellent diving. One of Mauritius' best dives is The Passe where you drift dive through the passes with the current
The best dive center include Le Morne in the southwest, the west coast of Flic en Flac and north to Grand Bay and Trou aux Biches. In the south, diving is good off Grand Port, some of the very best
From the la Pirogue, divers are taken to some 20 sites. Very useful for beginners is Aquarium, a rocky reef area with plenty of angelfish, kingfish and butterfly fish plus lots of wire coral. Watch
All sites visited by the Meridien dive centre at Beachcomber Hotel are about 30 minutes by boat from the hotel. And they are all on the seaward side of the barrier reef, where marine life is abundant