Best Diving in Seychelles | Luxury Dive Holidays & Top Dive Sites

Overview

Seychelles-hawksbill-turtle

Dive into paradise. Marvel in the near-paradise experience of diving in the Seychelles. With coral reefs, granite pinnacles, wrecks, and marine parks, the underwater landscapes are as stunning as the beaches above.

The Seychelles is a haven for divers, offering warm aquamarine waters, dazzling coral reefs, and a sublime year-round climate. Whether you're a first-time diver or a seasoned underwater explorer, the Seychelles delivers some of the best diving in the Indian Ocean.

Luxury Scuba Diving in the Seychelles

Many of its islands lie on the edge of the ''Seychelles bank''. This drops some 2,000 meters into the turquoise Indian Ocean teeming with fish. Here you can enjoy a variety of breath-taking underwater worlds granite pinnacles and coral walls to dramatic drop-offs and wrecks teeming with marine life.

Why Diving in the Seychelles?

One of the longest coral reef systems in the world
Clear waters with visibility up to 30 metres
Tropical fish, turtles, reef sharks, and (in season) whale sharks
A perfect blend of luxury lodges and easy dive access
PADI-certified dive schools and courses at most resorts
Plus powdery white beaches for any non-divers

Best Dive Sites in the Seychelles

Inner Islands – Ideal for Beginners & Intermediates

The inner islands—remnants of an ancient, submerged mountain range—are perfect for diving in the Seychelles. Around Mahe, Praslin, North Island, and Silhouette, you’ll find:

Huge variety of dive sites and excellent diving facilities.
The Northern islands offer colourful coral gardens, granite reefs, and sponges
Green and hawksbill turtles, butterflyfish, stingrays, and angelfish
Easy access to dive centres offering PADI Open Water courses
Protected sites like Sainte Anne Marine National Park, where vibrant marine life flourishes. Plus its beaches are a favourite spot for nesting turtles.

If you are based at one of the hotels on Mahe or Praslin, enjoy diving with one of the reputable dive companies based there. They run PADI dive courses and operate full day dive excursions to the inner islands.

Many of the inner islands, such as Denis Island, offer world class diving. Special sightings include green and hawksbill turtles, butterfly fish, angelfish, squirrel fish, sweepers, hump-head parrot fish, stingrays, and reef sharks.

There are numerous dive sites around North Island and nearby Silhouette Island.

Seychelles diving on the Outer Islands – Remote & Rewarding

For more experienced divers, the outer islands offer spectacular rewards. One standout is Desroches Island, home to:

14 unique dive sites within a 20-minute boat ride
Mini-walls, canyons, and coral reefs stretching 70km around this tropical atoll
Larger pelagics like sailfish, manta rays, even nurse sharks and whale sharks
Excellent wreck diving opportunities

Best Base: Four Seasons Desroches Island - a luxury retreat with direct access to top-tier diving

Best time for Diving in the Seychelles?

Diving is possible year-round, but:

Best visibility and conditions: March to May and September to November with 8 to 30 metres of visibility.
June to August: Monsoon winds bring slightly cooler waters (around 25°C) with increased plankton. This reduces visibility—but attracts whale sharks, especially around Mahe and Desroches
Water temperatures average 28–29°C during most months

Whale Sharks - the magnificent whale shark reaches up to 12-14 meters in length. It feeds off the plankton. so you'll see these amazing creatures - with their 1.5m-wide mouths - much more during June to August.