ACTIVITIES

Diving
The Seychelles offers some of the best dive sites to be found anywhere in the world. Diving is available throughout the year, but the best visibility is during the periods March to May and September to November, the season change-over periods, when the sea is at its calmest. There are numerous certified dive centres and PADI dive schools offering lessons and excursions which are open to all. There are also excursions available on live-aboard boats to the remote islands of the Amirantes and Aldabra where there are spectacular sites on the deep drop-offs.

Fishing
The March to May and September to November calm seas are the best periods for bottom fishing for snapper, grouper, job fish, etc. Big game fishing, which includes blue marlin and sail fish of record sizes, tuna, wahoo, barracuda and many others, is good all year round. The Seychelles offers some excellent sport fishing from modern, well run game fishing motor launches, some of which have on-board accommodation. Most of the remote island resorts have their own boats for day excursions for guests. Saltwater fly fishing, which has become very popular amongst enthusiasts, is catered for on the islands of Alphonse in the Amirantes group and on Denis Island.

Bird Watching
May to September is the nesting period for seabirds. Bird Island hosts some two million of them, mostly Sooty Terns in the earlier part of the period. Other locations are the bird sanctuary islands of Aride, and little Cousin under the care of Robbie, close to Praslin. Aride is one of the nesting grounds of the rare Red Tailed Tropic Bird. On Cousin the birds are extraordinarily tame, allowing you to approach their nests very closely. It is one of only three islands where you can see the very rare and endemic Magpie Robin, the others are the private islands of Frégate and Cousine where there are small, luxury 5 star resorts. Two other endemic rarities are the Black Parrot of Praslin Island which can be seen in the Vallee de Mai and on the south west tip of the island, and La Digue's Black Paradise Flycatcher. No description of the birds of the Seychelles can be complete without mention of the lovely pure white Fairy Tern with its deep blue beak and legs, commonly seen flying in groups of two or three amongst the palm and Takamaka trees on the beaches. The motif on the tail fin of Air Seychelles aircraft is taken from Fairy Terns in flight..

Sailing
With the most spectacular of the rocky islands and their beaches, reefs and coves lying within a diameter of only 50 miles, the Seychelles offers one of the world's most fantastic cruising grounds. The sailing season is during the South East Trades period when the winds are at their most consistent. This is the best period for anchorages off the west coast of Mahé, Anse Lazio on Praslin and La Passe


harbour on La Digue. Nevertheless, sailing is good all year round. The Seychelles offers fabulous conditions and cruising, with numerous islands to explore, secluded and isolated beaches and fascinating snorkelling amongst rocks and coral reefs in clear blue warm water.

Bare boat and skippered yachts are available, or you can charter a luxury blue water yacht and sail off to a deserted coral island or Aldabra Island for some of the world's best diving, fishing and deserted beaches. For those who would prefer to relax with an all-inclusive cruise there are boats with set itineraries available; please refer to the Yacht Charter and Cruising section.