Types of Tourism in Mauritius
DIVING
Mauritius Island Surrounded by the third largest coral reef in the world. Almost all types of tropical fish of the Indian Ocean are found here, including black and blue marlin, bonites, barracudas and sea bream. All coastal hotels have diving equipment available for rent. Diving in Mauritius is possible all year round. Underwater visibility here is from 20 to 25 m.
In the northern part of Mauritius, places of interest are Whale Rock, where hammerhead fish appear, Flat Island, the wreck of the Silver Star ship and the coastal waters of Grand Bay and Pörøbø beaches.
West of Mauritius the most popular diving site is Flic-en-Flac. Here, when diving, you can see moray eels, lionfish and stone fish. Of the dive sites in this region, one can distinguish “Cathedral” and Rempart Serpent, as well as the Saint-Jacques Strait and 4 sunken ships of the 19th century, which lie at depths from 20 to 40 m. In Tamarin Bay, you can swim with dolphins, and on those lying off the coast of Albion reefs during night dives you can see a lot of spiny lobsters. Check top-medical-schools.org for travel information in Mauritius.
The underwater world of the south coast is characterized by many caves, tunnels, crevices and underwater walls.
In the east of Mauritius among divers, the most popular lagoon is Belle Mare. When diving here you will see sharks, barracudas, kingfish, rays and tuna.
Rodrigues Island
On Rodrigues Island, small islands such as Ile Cocos and Ile aux Sables are suitable for diving, as well as the dive sites of Point Colon and Point Rocher Noire.
SURFING AND WINDSURFING
Surfing and windsurfing are best practiced in winter between June and August. The most suitable place for surfing is Tamarin Bay, where the wave height exceeds 2 m, and for windsurfing – the Le Morne peninsula and the vicinity of the city of Mahebourg where strong winds blow in winter.
FISHING
Mauritius’ coastal waters are considered one of the best places in the world for deep sea fishing, and international competitions are held here every year. Fishing takes place on the high seas outside of coral reefs and only with a special permit. You can catch big fish such as blue and black marlin, sharks, yellowfin tuna, barracuda, sailfish and dorado. The best time for fishing is from November to April, and the best places are located on the west coast of the island of Mauritius – this is the RivièreNoire Center da Peche, Le Morne Peninsula and Tamarin Bay .
VOLCANOES
The islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues are of volcanic origin, so their relief is mountainous. Traces of volcanic activity can be found in the landscapes of these islands. On the island of Mauritius near the city of Curepipe is the crater of an extinct volcano Trou aux Cerfs. The volcano has not erupted for a long time and its slopes are covered with forest. The depth of the crater is 85 m, and the diameter is 200 m. If you climb up to the crater, you will have a magnificent view of the surroundings and the ocean. Also in Mauritius, on the territory of the Black River National Park, Grand Bassin Lake is located., which was formed in the crater of an extinct volcano.
HIKING
The Central Plateau of Mauritius is great for hiking, with the region’s main trails being in the Black River National Park, around the town of Moka and in the Mahabee Forest. On the island of Rodrigues, you can take a trip through the Limon and Malartic mountains, which are over 350 meters high, go to the caves of Cover Pathet, which are covered with stalactites and stalagmites, and just walk along the coastline.
EXCURSIONS
In Mauritius, you will be offered many excursions – visits to protected areas, sugarcane plantations, colonial cities and of course an underwater walk on a boat with a transparent bottom.
RODRIGUES ISLAND
Rodrigues Island lies 560 km east of Mauritius. It is a volcanic island 18 km long and 8 km wide. Lemon Mountain (393 m) rises in the center of Rodrigues, which, together with Malartic Mountain, provides excellent opportunities for hiking. The capital of the island is the city of Port Mathurin. – the only port on the island. There is almost no transport in Port Mathurin, the houses here are built in the old style and painted in bright colors. Although this is the capital of the island, it is still very quiet and calm here. From here you can go to the most popular beach of the island – Coton, to the bay of Grand Baie, to the deserted beach of Gravier and to the island of Ile Cocos. Ile Cocos is located 4 km west of Rodrigues. Its dimensions are 1500×250 m. The island is a nature reserve where many birds live, including rare white terns and mandarin birds.
