Diving in Blue Bay in Mauritius

Diving in Blue Bay in Mauritius

Diving at Blue Bay in Mauritius gave us our first experience of diving in strong currents with some tricky tunnels to navigate!

After our first dive in over a year and our appetite whetted, we were eager to go underwater again in Mauritius. After moving from the north of the island to the quieter and relatively undeveloped area of ​​Blue Bay in the south, we organized our second dive through our hotel.

There are fewer wrecks in the south, but the marine life around Blue Bay is protected by the Blue Bay Marine Park and is considered the most pristine and diverse in Mauritius. We arranged a single tank dive just outside the bay in an area known as Roche Zozo, known for its tunnels and canyons.

alt="Diving-in-Blue-Bay-Mauritius-Rest-Bat">Atlas & BootsBlue Bay is a calm and protected water area framed by long sandy beaches

Blue Bay is a calm and protected water area framed on all sides by long sandy beaches. However, once you leave the bay and enter the open water, the environment changes quickly. It wasn't long before our little ship was launched up and down in the surf as we headed out to sea.

“Not like the sea to the north, is it?” our divemaster grinned at us. "Don't linger on the surface. Once we're inside, descend as quickly as possible."

He wasn't wrong. It really wasn't like the sea in the north! On the surface we were tossed around like flotsam and below the surface it wasn't any easier. As soon as we descended, we encountered strong currents which made maneuvering particularly difficult - not ideal for diving through canyons and tunnels!

It was certainly a more challenging dive than ours at Trou aux Biches. While our first dive in Trou aux Biches was calm, slow and deliberate, diving in Blue Bay was hectic, fast and improvised. Although the tunnels were only a few meters long, the strong currents made them difficult to navigate.

All the grace and suppleness we had relearned during our first dive in the north quickly evaporated. I had to concentrate hard on controlling my breathing to keep from rushing through my air with the extra effort of fighting the currents.

alt=“Diving-in-Blue-Bay-Mauritius-9″>Atlas & BootsA Moorish idol fish darts in front of the camera

The terrain was hilly and constantly changing: rocky peaks rose from the sea floor and steep ravines cut into dark abysses. As the seabed became shallower and the currents fluctuated, there was an opportunity to see some of Blue Bay's famous marine life.

Distinctive yellow and black Moorish idolfish darted around the reef while oily manta rays silkened along the seabed. But it wasn't the coral reef or the marine life that stole the show.

My memories of diving in Blue Bay are the strong currents, choppy seas and annoying tunnels, which were in stark contrast to our slow and calm dive in the north of the island. It was one of the most invigorating dives we have ever been on and a real workout.

As our time passed and our air supply dwindled, I was somewhat relieved when it was time to ascend, take a break for our safety check, and resurface. The dive was great fun, but I was out of practice and tired!

“How was that?” our divemaster asked as we surfaced again.

“Not like in the north,” I replied with a smile.

“Yes, that’s what they all say!”

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Diving Blue Bay: The Essentials

What: Diving in Blue Bay, Mauritius.

Where: We spent three nights at Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa. Located on a private peninsula lapped by Blue Bay Marine Park, making it one of the island's best areas for marine life.

The hotel offers three exclusive beaches to choose from and many water sports included in your booking. We took the small Hobie catamarans around the peninsula several times. Kayaks, pedal boats and snorkeling trips are also available.

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Atlas & Boots

The hotel also has four restaurants, our favorite of which was the à la carte restaurant Le Sirius, which serves international and Mauritian specialties. Set back from the main grounds, it feels more intimate and the calamari was delicious!

When: The best time to visit Mauritius is from October to April, when temperatures are hot, albeit humid and rainy. This is a good time for diving, but be aware that hurricanes can occur from January to February. Winter on the island lasts from May to September. Temperatures are still warm, but it's not the ideal time for diving.

How: We organized our dive through the dive center at Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa.

Blue Bay is just a 10-minute drive from the airport, making Shandrani the ideal hotel to start or end a Mauritius odyssey.

Transfers can be organized through your hotel or a local driver (approximately 400 MUR / 12 USD). We recommend Stelio (+230 52 5084 97) for longer transfers around the island. A sample transfer to the northern beaches costs approximately 1500 MUR / 45 USD.

We had a long layover before our connecting flight from Kuala Lumpur, so we settled into a private relaxation suite in the Plaza Premium Lounge in the airport for the night - a godsend considering Peter was recovering from a Burmese virus and the alternative would have been eight long hours in uncomfortable chairs.

Mauritius is served by several international airlines. Book via skyscanner.net for the best prices.

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Lonely Planet Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles is a comprehensive travel guide to Mauritius, ideal for those who want to both explore the main attractions and take the road less traveled.
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