Liveaboard diving in the Seychelles

Granite labyrinths off Mahé, autumn whale sharks and the remote atolls of Aldabra

3 yachts for liveaboard diving

Seychelles — granite boulder reefs off Mahé, Shark Bank, whale sharks and the remote Aldabra atoll. Liveaboard schedules and prices.

Why divers come here

Granite boulders off Mahé, Praslin and La Digue — topography found nowhere else in the tropics
Shark Bank — a 25–30 m plateau with schools of batfish and large stingrays
Whale sharks along the west coast of Mahé in October–November
Aldabra — the world's second-largest atoll, a UNESCO site reachable only by liveaboard
The Ennerdale — a 217-metre tanker wreck lying at 30 metres
Cosmoledo and Astove — outer-atoll drifts along walls with mantas and grey reef sharks

What you'll meet underwater

Whale sharks (October–November) Reef manta rays Grey reef sharks (outer atolls) Whitetip reef sharks and nurse sharks Hawksbill and green sea turtles Eagle rays and large stingrays Humphead wrasse and giant groupers Batfish, snapper and barracuda schools

Practical information

Best season: April–May and October–November (calmest sea, best visibility); whale sharks in October–November
Water temperature: 26–30 °C
Visibility: 15–30 m
Wetsuit: 3 mm or a shorty; 3–5 mm is more comfortable on the outer atolls in July–August
Experience level: Open Water for the inner islands, Advanced for the outer atolls (currents, drift dives)
Getting there: Fly to Mahé (SEZ) via Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Istanbul or Nairobi. Domestic flights and ferries connect Mahé with Praslin and La Digue; the outer atolls are reached only by liveaboard.
Airports: Mahé (SEZ)
Visa: No visa required for most nationalities — a visitor's permit for up to 30 days is issued on arrival and can be extended. A return ticket, accommodation booking and proof of funds are required.
Climate: Tropical, 24–32°C year-round; southeast monsoon May–September, northwest monsoon November–March
Currency: Seychellois rupee (SCR)
Language: Seychellois Creole, English, French
Time zone: UTC+4