Kauai is considered one of the most breathtaking places for its splendor, vast wildlife, and picturesque landscape. These attributes and more earned it the nickname “the Garden Isle“. However, what you see on the surface is nothing close to the magnificent wonder and breathtaking sight of its underwater world. No wonder many Kauai-bound tourists often fancy a dive in the Pacific.

From giant whales and nesting sea turtles to sharks of multiple sizes and shapes, the rich marine life in Kauai is probably next to none in that part of the world. But as far as diving in Kauai is concerned, not all spots offer the same value. Therefore, you must visit the best spots considered to conceal the most amazing underwater sights in all of Kauai. In this post, we’ve selected the 3 best spots for diving in Kauai during your next vacation.

1. Na Pali Coast

Na Pali coast is simply an adventurer’s dream come to pass from cascading waterfalls, streams, and very narrow valleys. The North-western part of the Hawaiian Island of Kauai is home to this fantastic coastline that runs from Kee Beach down to Polihale State Park- right during excellent tropical greens. When we talk about scuba diving or snorkeling in Hawaii, this is one spot that is certainly mentioned.

Although challenging to access by car or foot, using a helicopter or boat will give you access to the entire view as you experience the thrill of the castle-like walls of the cliffs and surrounding mountains. But if you’re looking for some adventure, hiking is way more fun, and you can use the Kalalau trail, which the locals call Kuhio Highway.

2. Niihau

Niihau is Hawaii’s seventh-largest Island and holds a lot of unseen magic. For many years, this destination was Forbidden, and no visitors were allowed. But that is slowly changing in recent times as helicopters are now allowed to fly over and experience some of its wonders. Be warned, though; interaction with the locals is still forbidden, and no dive tourism activity is allowed in the area’s mysterious reefs.

By taking a boat ride to the Island, you’ll experience the thrill of a lifetime and see the true magic that lies underneath the Niihau’s waters. Sea giants like dolphins, whales, sharks and even the big tuna are some of the creatures you should expect to see here. While the Niihau Island itself is still off-limits to tourists and divers, the rich surrounding waters are a perfect spot for the thrill of a lifetime. It’ll take about 2 hours by boat to travel from Poipu through Kauai to Niihau, and be sure you’ll enjoy every bit of it.

3. Sheraton Caverns

This is, perhaps, one of the most challenging dive spots in Kauai, but the thrill and experience make it all worth it. Just off Poipu Beach, you’d need a flashlight and camera to see and capture every sight and the beauty that the magnificent underwater caverns offer. The spot is great for experienced divers and beginners alike and is rich in marine life who have no worries despite the harsh ocean swells. If you’re itching for a challenging swim, this is the place to go.

You’d need to go by and dive from a boat because a kick-out is not just tricky but almost impossible- especially for novice divers. There are severe Kauai scuba diving charters to book a boat a dive with. It is also not recommended for shore diving because of the vast potential for exhaustion. The rocky beach west provides entry and exit routes, which can be extremely difficult because of ocean swells.

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Awarded as the “Best Indian Ocean Diving Destination” in 2015, Mauritius is the perfect place if you want to indulge in some diving. With over 330 km of pristine coastline, the island is home to some of the best beaches ideal for diving activities. Whether you are a professional diver or an amateur, looking for scuba diving or shark diving, Mauritius is where you can experience it all. What’s more, the best diving in Mauritius is found all around the island, which is surrounded by a network of coral reefs and azure lagoons. If you are planning a trip to dive in Mauritius, here’s our Mauritius scuba diving tips from an insider.

THE BEST DIVES SITES IN MAURITIUS

Mauritius is well known for its fantastic diving spot and has lots of diversity. Here are some of the best diving spots that you can explore while on the island based on your preferences:

For Underwater Architecture: The Cathedral

This diving site is located off the coast of Flic en Flac, a small seaside village on Mauritius west coast. It offers you a glimpse of the island’s spectacular marine life and underwater architecture. While diving here, you will find Gropers, Angelfish, Wrasse, Sweet lip, and Clownfish within the rocky chamber.

For Marine Life: Rempart Serpent

This diving site stretches over 100m across the seabed. It consists of a mesmerizing blanket of rock and seaweed that resembles a snake that is slowly sliding across the sand. The site features a large variety of tropical fish and other marine life such as lionfish, stonefish, scorpionfish, and Moray Eels.

For Underwater Photography: Rodrigues

If you are looking for a good diving site for taking pictures, the island of Rodrigues will offer you a more adventurous dive. Located over 600km on the northeast part of Mauritius mainland, it has a substantial coral formation and ideal for underwater topography. Just be sure to carry a camera that you can take underwater.

For Adrenaline Junkies: La Fosse Aux Requins

If you enjoy the feeling of an adrenaline rush, the island’s north coast diving sites will excite you. The Sharks’ Trench, which is the most iconic site here, features lively coral gardens and breath-taking coral walls. The latter feature makes it exciting to hang out here and watch the underwater world.

For Shark Diving: Shark Pit Site

If you want to get up close and personal with sharks, then you can’t miss checking out the Shark Pit diving site. Located on the Northern part of Mauritius, this dive site lives up to its name as it houses hundreds of sharks of different species. The site features a vast arena where you can observe several sharks swirling around to get the Oxygen that comes from the waves above the pit. If you want to feel more secure shark diving, you can opt for a cage diving experience. You will be lowered into the water inside a solid cage where you will watch the shakes from up close and safely.

For Night Diving: Belle Mare

Night diving is one of the most exciting adventures in Mauritius. Even a site that you are very familiar with will still look different at night. Belle Mare is one of the best night diving sites in Mauritius. Night diving here offers you spectacular views of exotic marine life. These include groupers, parrotfish, lionfish, wrasses, sergeant majors, clownfish, trumpets, and sea anemones. When on night dives, you should remember to never shine torches directly into the eyes of sleeping fish. The bright light will disturb and stress them. Also, don’t touch the turtles that are sleeping or resting.

BEST TIME TO DIVE IN MAURITIUS

Mauritius tends to be great for diving all year round, and anytime is a great time. The water stays comfortably warm throughout the year. However, there are slight changes in weather conditions that make certain months to be slightly more favorable. So if you want to get the best visibility, best water temperature, and overall diving experience, consider visiting Mauritius from October to December and March to April. There are also specific months that you can visit if you want to see individual animals.

Best time to see:

Turtles: November – March

Dolphins: June – October

Sharks: November – May

Humpback Whales: June – October

Sperm Whales: All year round

DIVING CONDITIONS IN MAURITIUS

Mauritius has a mild climate all year round that is warm enough for outdoor activities. The sea temperatures vary seasonally (from 22°C to 28°C) without dangerously high temperatures. Unless you often get affected by cold, a 3mm wetsuit is ideal for diving into the waters. The visibility varies greatly and can reach the highs of 40m when conditions are optimum.

OTHER PRACTICAL MAURITIUS DIVING TIPS

Know the necessary diving hand signals.

Only dive with a licensed dive instructor (PADI/ MSDA certified).

Please do not walk on or touch the corals since they are delicate.

Do not touch sea creatures as you may lose a finger.

Avoid flash photography as it alarms the fish.

When underwater, always be aware of the potential boats passing overhead.

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Product Description

Dive tourism in Mauritius includes a wide variety of recreational diving activities. One of the things that make Mauritius an attractive destination for dive tourism is its high quality of the diving environment. Mauritius has a very healthy marine environment with plenty of wildlife and excellent visibility. Like most tropical destinations, it has fantastic warm water. There is also a wide variety of diving sites such as ranging from wreck sites and wall sites to coral reefs. While the country remains an evergreen diving destination throughout the year, November to March (summer months) is considered the best time for diving. During this season, the warm waters attract an abundance of fish and marine life. Dive tourists can easily catch sight of exotic marine life such as the parrot fish, sweet lips, angelfish, groupers, wrasses, sergeant majors, moray eels, crayfish, trumpet and clown fish, along with a varied number of corals, sea anemones, and sponges.

2. Traveler Profile

Of all the dive tourists who come to Mauritius, 97 per cent come from European countries. The United Kingdom and France are the island country’s two top dive tourism markets followed by Reunion Island, Germany, and South Africa. The average dive travelers are males between the ages of 33 and 55 years old. However, women dive travelers are slowly beginning to catch up. The average length stay of dive tourist is about 15 days.

3. The trends that offer opportunities for Mauritius dive tourism

Mauritius diving tourism was traditionally dominated by Diving in the Mauritius waters. However, tourists who visit now have very different needs and are always looking for unique opportunities. To adapt to the dive tourists’ more sophisticated demands, Mauritius has diversified its offerings. It has achieved through developing a variety of entertainment opportunities besides the usual traditional beach tourism. For example, the island country now offers its dive tourists activities such as water-skiing, scuba diving, parasailing, deep-sea fishing, and catamaran sailing. These activities have proved to not only attract more dive tourists but also retain them for longer.

4. Mauritius dive resorts/centres certifications

Since dive tourism involves a relatively high level of risk, safety and reliability become very important. Most dive centres in the developing countries often have to fulfil the local minimum requirements or preferably those of the international dive organizations. Mauritius prides itself as one of the few dive destinations whose dive centres are managed by CMAS or PADI international diving instructors. Consequently, divers who are still beginners can easily take a course, and the experienced ones upgrade their certification. According to statistics, over 15,000 divers get registered every year in about ten diving centres. 5. What are the end-market prices for Mauritius dive tourism products? While dive tourism is a relatively pricey tourist activity, the wide variety of dive sites in Mauritius makes it quite affordable. With over 27 dive sites, you can pay as little as 55 Euro for a single dive. However, the prices also depend on various factors such as the dive site, modes of transport, the period of travel, number of travellers, length of stay, type of accommodation, and activities included. Therefore, it is vital to shop around to get the best price.

Final verdict

Overall, Mauritius is home to beautiful beaches that are home to some of the best diving activities in the world. It is an underwater haven full of beautiful sights of shipwrecks from the 18th century, 430 different marine animals, and over 200 types of corals. Whether you’re a diving expert or have never tried scuba diving before, this is an excellent place to experience it all. The best part is that you will find the best Diving anywhere and everywhere throughout the island.

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Our club consists of experienced divers who can do deep-sea diving, shark diving, night diving, wreck diving, and underwater photography & water videography. We intend to cater for all arrangements during the stay of our customers in Mauritius.
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