Mauritius is a tropical island located in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. People all over the world come here to enjoy the sun, sea, sand, and surf. Mauritius is renowned for offering a great selection of watersports for ocean lovers. In this post we look at the 5 best watersports to do in Mauritius.
1. Surfing
With its many reefs and a coastline stretching over 330 km, Mauritius offers up some impressive surfing. Most of the breaks are reef breaks, but there are also some point breaks.
Being in the Indian ocean you won’t have to worry about wearing a wetsuit. The water is warm enough for just a pair of boardies. The best surf spots include La Morna, Tamarin Bay, Black Rocks and Riviere Des Galets.
Be aware that Mauritius is notorious for localism. As a visitor, always respect others around you in the lineup and don’t snake any waves.There are many places to rent surf surfboards and take lessons in La Morne. The other surf spots do not offer such facilities, so if you plan on renting a board for your entire stay be sure to have a car that can comfortably accommodate your surfboard.
2. Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing is one of most popular watersports in Mauritius, as the island consistently gets winds throughout the year. In fact it is known as one of the best places in the world to kitesurf. This is because almost the entire island is ensconced by a reef offering up many large lagoons in which to kitesurf.
The best months to go are between June and September, although the rest of the year usually produces enough wind to still have fun. Le Morne is the epicentre for kitesurfing in Mauritius offering something for kitesurfers of all abilities.
3. Undersea Walk
Yes, there really are undersea walks without the need for Scuba gear. Enjoy a safe and fascinating underwater walk on the ocean bed. You go down as deep as 3-4 metres.
You’ll be able to see the magnificent marine life of Mauritius including a diverse array of tropical fish and coral. Qualified guides will take you along the course of the Underwater Sea Walk ensuring maximum safety at all times.
The Underwater Sea Walk does not require any previous diving experience and if you wear glasses you won’t even need to remove them. The excursion starts with a boat transfer from the center of Grand Baie to a platform situated inside the lagoon at the northern end of Mauritius.
Once you arrive at the platform you will receive a briefing on how the gear works, the local marine life, and on safety procedures during the underwater walking tour. Then, with your entrusted guide you will begin the adventure.
4. Kayaking
There is no better way to experience Mauritius’ lagoons than by kayak. The lagoon, white sand beaches, and some small islands surrounding Mauritius provide the great opportunity to relax and unwind.
While paddling, you might pass mangrove swamps or coral reefs of sublime beauty. Occasionally, you might even come across a pod of dolphins. Kayak tours in Mauritius last anywhere from 1 hour through to 4 hours. On the longer tours the guide will usually produce food and drinks.
5. Scuba Diving
Mauritius, like any other ocean paradise, offers scuba diving. Mauritius offers a unique combination of white sand beaches, warm blue waters, and well preserved coral reefs, making it one of the world’s top diving destinations. Mauritius is often regarded as a utopia for seasoned scuba divers who are interested in seeing large marine animals.
Compared to other Indian Ocean dive spots, the reefs in Mauritius might seem a little desolate. This can be attributed to the many cyclones it receives as well as over-fishing. Nevertheless, the diversity of the reefs is phenomenal, similar to other parts of the Indian ocean.
You can expect to see endemic angelfish butterfly fish, parrotfish, nudibranchs, peacock flounder, and even the rather rambunctious mantis shrimp. You will also most likely see many species of morays, striped eel catfish, lionfish, marlin, turtles, stingrays, scorpionfish, trevally, octopus, gray reef sharks, as well as over 185 species of coral in one dive! Soft and hard corals with novel shapes and colors are abundant.
