From: mdyj@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Info Request:  Seychelles Islands
Date: 13 Apr 92 07:29:58 EDT
Distribution: rec
Organization: Dept. of Conformity

In article <9528@pluto.dss.com>,
ken@pluto.dss.com (Ken Adler) writes: 
> 
> I am thinking of going to the Seychelles on my Honeymoon (June 1-15).
> 
> Would like to hear any reports about diving there.
 
The Seychelles was the first and only place I have ever scuba dived and I
am going back this December for a PADI vacation (oops certification). Keep
in mind that I know no other diving spots, nor have I ever been to another
tropical spot, so I am a google eyed neophyte. I cannot speak precisely
about the details because of my lack of experience.

My wife, also a 1st timer, and I dove with the Seychelles Underwater Center
(address below) located at (but independent from) the Coral Strand Hotel.
The Coral Strand is a long stretch of beautiful beach on the opposite side
of the island Mahe from Victoria, the main town on the island. Altogether
we went on 8 dives of about 10 meters. The equipment we rented was well
used but not shabby to my eye. The owners are extremely pleasant and
patient people, and we felt quite safe. There were many experienced divers
who had brought their own regulators, etc. Each short dive trip had about
10-15 people going on a large boat, and there was a smaller powerboat for
longer trips further out or further up the coast. I always wore a full
length wet suit, only because I chill out quickly in water, but many people
wore short legged suits, and some wore this very thin material, but they
seemed to get cold. The corals are very unblemished and spectacular, and
the visibility is superb. Very close to the hotel, about 15 min. by boat,
is a marine park and a small lagoon. It is pretty shallow (5-15m) and
gorgeous. We saw several turtles playing around each time we were there. 
The fish are abundant at all locations. Sorry, I cannot name you the major
species, I just recall the names parrot fish, grouper, spiny (something),
red snapper(?). And Moray eels. There are a couple of sunken boat sites
that some of the more experienced divers visited. There was a long trip out
to one of the banks where the divers watched sharks and I think some
mammals (small whale species). 

The best dive of all was at night. The coral gets night active, and we
saw squid and spanish dancers and sleepy fish. We chased a 1.5 m shark
along the bottom. And then surfacing to a crystal clear sky of brilliant
stars is one of my most unforgetable, quasi-mystical experiences. That's
why I'm going back.

Snorkeling is quite good, but you have to hike away from the hotel for
about 30 minutes to get to some good spots from the beach. If you have the
time, I highly recommend going to Denis Island for a few days. It is a
small island about a kilometer in diameter, privately owned, about a 30
minute flight. Ten people can stay there at a time, as "guests" of the
owner, until the next plane arrives a fews days later. Or you can arrange
to go there by boat. The food is great (if you like superb fish and fresh
fruit). The snorkeling is the best I have ever experienced. The corals are
as virgin as you will probably ever see. We spent 3-4 hours a day
snorkeling. There are no scuba facilities, I believe, but if you bring your
own I think dives can be arranged.

Seychelles Underwater Centre, P.O. Box 384, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles.
Tel: 47357, fax: 44223, telex: 2215 Coral SZ
Glynis Sanders, David Rowat (Owners and instructors). Padi International
Training facility.

--   -.-
Mark Yeager  ->  yeager@cgeuge52.bitnet     yeager@sc2a.unige.ch
 University of Geneva, Dept. of Biochemistry, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland