Christmas in Seychelles

Christmas in Seychelles is the time for sumptuous feasts and family gatherings. On this festive occasion, every family member usually hosts a lavish dinner which is then followed by gift-giving and evening parties. With delicious food, games, and fun-filled activities, the celebrations in Seychelles are no less exciting than that in any other part of the world during this festival.


Christmas Celebrations

Beach parties:
Seychelles is known for its wonderful beach parties which are just ideal for adventure lovers. Whether it is sailing, diving, or fly fishing, you can actually indulge in a lot of activities while celebrating Christmas in this island country.

Colorful decorations:
The festive celebrations in Seychelles include decorating the interiors and exteriors of the malls, stores, homes, and commercial buildings with colorful lights. Even the pubs and restaurants are adorned with such lights. Homemade crafts and decorative items are widely used during Christmas celebrations in Seychelles.

Sight seeing:
On this festive occasion, people in Seychelles go sightseeing to catch a glimpse of the popular tourist locations in this island nation. Some of the places worth visiting here are Anse Lazio, Valle de Aldabra, and Valle de Mai where the coco palms grown in their natural state offer a spectacular sight to watch.

Anse Lazio is a crystal water lake with white sandy beaches and quiet waves. Aldabra is considered to be one of the largest coral reefs in the world, and it extends for 22 Km. Visiting these tourist attractions, especially during Christmas, will let you experience the joys and wonders of this festive season.

Shopping during Christmas: If you shop around, you will find unbelievable discounts and deals. Such deals will help you save more while you go shopping to celebrate Christmas in a very special way.

Should you wish to visit the Seychelles, at Christmas or any other time, contact us here, on Facebook, Twitter, or at www.seychellesyachtcharter.com

Season's greetings from all of us at Seychelles Yacht Charter!


Photos of Christmas time in Seychelles

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silhouette Island

Silhouette is Seychelles' third largest island, lying 30km off Mahé's western coast and in close proximity to North Island. Despite being Seychelles' largest island, it only a population of around 130 people. Silhouette’s verdant, mountainous profile dominates the view from Mahé’s Beau Vallon beach.

The Arabs used Silhouette as a base for their dhows, probably as early as the 9th century, a fact attested to by the ruins of Arab tombs at Anse Lascars.

Silhouette, together with North Island, was the very first Seychelles' island to be seen by the ships of the Sharpeigh expedition of 1609. It would have to wait until the early 19th century for a permanent settlement.

Protected by the Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles, Silhouette remains an untouched, living museum of natural history featuring many unique species of plants and trees.

Among these can be counted rare hardwoods, the amazing incense tree as well as the carnivorous pitcher plant. Silhouette is the only other island apart from Mahé to have a mist forest on its lofty 731m peak, Mont Dauban.

Silhouette’s primitive beauty is the ideal backdrop for hikers and walkers wishing to penetrate the mysteries of an island once reputed to be the home of the notorious pirate, Hodoul, whose hidden treasure may well lie there still.

A 116-room 5-star hotel – Labriz Silhouette – replaced the island’s original 12-room lodge.

Things to do

Dauban Mausoleum

The Dauban Mausoleum is built in a serene and secluded spot of Silhouette amid luxuriant vegetation of mainly coconut trees.

This imposing architecture, a special landmark of the island ranks high among the work of its kind in Seychelles.

One of its most distinct features is a set of six proportionally massive columns which are aligned on the façade and on part of the lateral sides. Besides its appealing structure, the mausoleum gives an insight into a series of social and economic aspects highlighting both the status of the Dauban family and the level of economic prosperity of the island at that time.

Plantation House

The old plantation house at La Passe is a building of great dignity and grace typifying the Creole architectural style of always including a spacious verandah extending all around the building, and a flight of steps on all four sides, affording more than one entrance or exit.

The plantation house at Silhouette was probably constructed around 1861 as the family home of Mr Henri Dauban, Sr, owner of the island who employed around 250 labourers on his 2,000 acre estate. At that time, copra was the main source of revenue for Seychelles, along with cinnamon oil, vanilla and hawksbill turtle shell.

Silhouette Marine National Park

Standing at a height of 740m, Silhouette Island has managed to escape the ravages of deforestation, which has sadly affected some islands.

Silhouette was designated as a Marine Park on 26th October 1987. It is the only “paper park” left in Seychelles and efforts are being sought to establish funds to effectively protect and manage the area.

Silhouette National Park

The Silhouette National Park was opened on the 07th August 2010 by the President, Mr. James Michel.

Silhouette Island is the third largest island of the inner granitic group of the Seychelles’ archipelago of which the government has designated 93% of the island as protected area.

Silhouette Island is known for its dramatic mountain peaks, Mont Dauban (740m), Mont-Pot-a-Eau (621m), Gratte Fesse (515m) Mont Corgat (502m),Mont Cocos Marrons (500m) and for being one of the richest biodiversity hot-spots in the western Indian Ocean. It is home to many endemic and threatened plant and animal species and has large areas of primeval forest, mist forests as well as breathtaking viewpoints. It is also home to last known Seychelles sheath-tailed bats.

The declaration of the Silhouette National Park reflects the importance of the survival of this important domain and its critically endangered species.

Photos of Silhouette Island...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: www.seychelles.travel.sc

 

 

 

 

Praslin

Praslin, with a population of 6,500 people, is Seychelles’ second largest island. It lies 45km to the northeast of Mahé and measures 10km by 3.7km. A leisurely tour around the island by car will take approximately 2 hours.

Praslin is the site of the fabulous Vallée de Mai, one of Seychelles’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The island features truly exquisite beaches such as Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, both appearing on the top-10 list of world’s best beaches in recent years.

Prior to settlement of the islands by the French in the mid-18th century, Praslin's Côte d'Or was a favourite haunt of pirates.

The island was named Praslin after the Duc de Praslin, the French minister of marine in 1768 when the original 'Stone of Possession' was erected on the island in what is still known as Anse Possession.

Almost a century and a half later the visiting General Gordon (of Khartoum fame) became convinced that the Vallée de Mai was the original site of the Garden of Eden. This is where the legendary Coco-de-Mer, the world's heaviest nut, grows high on ancient palms in a primeval forest. The Vallée is host to six species of palm to be found only in Seychelles.

Praslin stands at the forefront of Seychelles’ tourism industry with a strong tradition of hospitality and wide range of accommodation facilities. It also provides a base for excursions to neighbouring islands, some of which are important sanctuaries nurturing rare species of endemic flora and fauna.

Things to do

Vallée de Mai

Praslin's World Heritage-listed Vallée de Mai is one of only two places in the world where you can see the rare coco de mer palms growing in their natural state (the other being nearby Curieuse Island). If the entry price seems steep, remember this is a unique chance to experience a slice of Eden.

Three trails lead through the park, of which the longest takes around three hours. Signs indicate some of the other endemic trees to look out for, including several varieties of pandanus (screw pine) and latanier palms.


Nature Seychelles

About 2km southwest of Praslin, Cousin Island is run as a nature reserve by Nature Seychelles . The bird population is estimated to exceed 300,000 on an island measuring just 1km in diameter. It's an amazing experience to walk through thick forest with birds seemingly nesting on every branch.


Jungle (Nightclub)

 Nightlife in Praslin? No, really? It usually comes as a surprise to many visitors that the island rocks (by Seychellois standards) on Friday and Saturday evenings. Shakers and movers head en masse to the Jungle .

George Camille Art Gallery

Camille's work is inspired by the beauty and nature around him, incorporating stylised fish, geckos and coco de mer palms in his works, as well as more conventional scenes of rural life.

Photos of Praslin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources: www.seychelles.travel.sc

            www.lonelyplanet.com

 

La Digue - The Traditional Seychelles

A world away from the hustle and bustle of Seychelles’ capital Victoria (on the country’s main island of Mahé), La Digue basks in the ageless tranquillity of a Seychelles almost unchanged since the earliest settlers stumbled upon the islands and claimed to have discovered the Garden of Eden.

Home to the country’s most beautiful beaches – as the photo spreads which grace the pages of glamorous magazines around the world will testify – La Digue also boasts the friendliest people and most tranquil, serene and relaxing atmosphere in Seychelles. Where cars are shunned in favour of bicycles and ox-carts the pace of life is necessarily slower, whether it’s relaxing on the beach, pedalling to a restaurant for a light tropical lunch or donning your Sunday best to join in a traditional Church service.

La Digue’s more than just an island. It’s a way of life.

While Seychelles has forged ahead to join the ranks of the world’s developed nations – and today boasts the health, education and communications infrastructure to prove it – La Digue nonetheless managed to retain the Creole identity and traditions which have created its unique, island way of life.
From the sega, moutia and kanmptole rhythms strummed by the island’s musicians, to the late night clatter of a high-energy dominoes match (with accompanying rum consumption) in full swing, La Digue offers a traditional Creole experience, unchanged for generations. La Digue is where the old tales about Soungoula, the mischievous monkey, come to life and where every beach, hill top and old house has a story attached to it.
On La Digue the fishermen’s fresh catch is still sold directly on the quayside to a gaggle of expert buyers. On La Digue neighbours are still neighbourly and community is more than just a concept. La Digue is home to one of the last working copra mills in Seychelles, which still demonstrates to visitors to the island the traditional method of de-husking coconuts, drying the flesh and then milling it to create the once highly prized coconut oil.

Things To Do

Excursions

As well as being home to the charms and attractions of a small island community, untouched forests and unmatched tropical beaches, La Digue is also the perfect spot from which to explore many of the other islands and attractions of Seychelles. Within easy reach of numerous small, uninhabited islands, easily arranged short boat rides from La Digue bring to life rarely seen sides of the jewel like islands of Seychelles.
Snorkeling, diving, fishing, trekking and languidly relaxing are the most favoured options for those exploring the small islands off La Digue and an experienced boatman will be able to advise on the best spots for each.

Of course as a guest of Seychelles Yacht Charter we can either cater for all these activities or arrange it for you.

Walks and Trails 

Whether it's a leisurely walk through nature, a gentle cycle experiencing the gentle the sights and sounds of La Digue, or whether you prefer something far more challenging, there are many options available to you on La Dique.

Visit http://www.ladigue.sc/la-digue-island-official-website/walks-and-trails.aspx for more info.

Photos from La Digue...

 

 

 

 

 

 



Sources: www.ladigue.sc

 

 

 

 

 

Mahé - The Heart of the Seychelles

Mahé, measuring 28km long by 8km wide, is the largest island and cultural and economic hub of the Inner Islands, and the international gateway to Seychelles. It is home to the international airport and the nation’s capital, Victoria.

The island is home to almost 90% of the total population (or approximately 72,200 people) reflecting Seychelles' diverse ethnicity and descent from African, Indian, Chinese and European populations, and is the seat of government and the chief centre of commerce.

With a backdrop of towering 1000m granite peaks, Mahé is an extraordinary treasure trove of flora that has evolved over centuries of splendid isolation. Rare endemic plants found nowhere else in the world adorn Mahé’s mist forests in mountain strongholds, such as the Jellyfish Tree, the carnivorous Seychelles Pitcher Plant and the Seychelles Vanilla Orchid.

First visited by the British in 1609, Mahé was not visited again until Lazare Picault's expedition of 1742 when the gradual process of settling the island began, first by the French whose direct influence continued until 1814 and then as a British colony until Seychelles gained independence in 1976.

Mahé is the transportation hub for island-hops and day excursions to neighbouring islands and all other islands within Seychelles. All scheduled domestic flights by Air Seychelles originate from Mahé to the serviced islands.


A leisurely tour of the island by car will take 2 to 2 1/2 hours and reveal the lion’s share of Seychelles’ accommodation facilities, places of cultural interest and other attractions.

Things to do on Mahé

Refreshing waterfall

A nice walk starting at the church of Port Glaud. Take the path at the right of the church, walk through the beautiful landscape and through the houses until you see a sign "Welcome tourist". Go up the path until you arrive at the waterfall farm. Once you paid the entrance fee (25 rupees each), you can admire all the animals of the farm on your way to the waterfall. Among them some cute bats take a nap in a cage, but they need more than your presence to be disturbed! Follow the path guided by the sound of the water. Admire the beauty of the spot, sitting on a rock...Then take a swim in the water, so great and refreshing!

Few people know about this waterfall, maybe that's why it is so peaceful. You may find the price expensive, but believe me, this place is really worth a visit!


Victoria – the Market and the Bazar

The Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Bazar was built in 1840 and was renovated in 1999.This is the place to go on Saturday morning! Really colourful and typical, the market located in the Bazar on Market street is a pleasure to the senses. Listen to the locals arguing about the price of mangos, bananas or chilis, and buy some refreshing fruits yourself. Watch the birds waiting for some fish to eat on the stalls, then go upstairs to the numerous shops selling souvenirs, local work or clothing, and have a drink at Jolie Rose. The market stretches in Market Street as well.

The Bazar is open from Monday to Friday from 7 am to 4 pm, and on Saturday from 6 am to 12 but it’s more animated on Saturday morning


Victoria – The National Botanical Gardens

Buildt in 1901, this 5 acre park located in Mont Fleuri, on the outskirts of Victoria, houses various endemic species of plants as well as other exotic species brought to the Seychelles by its founder, who used to bring back trees and plants from its travels. It is one of the only places on Mahé where you can see the Coco de Mer tree, only growing in the Vallée de Mai on Praslin Island. Fruit bats in the trees high above your head, and giant turtles of Aldabra also live in the park.

If you are hungry, you can eat excellent sandwiches in the little cafeteria in the middle of the park.

Open every day from 6 to 6, entrance 25 rupees


Le Jardin du Roi (King's Garden)

This is a spice garden situated at Anse Royale, at the feet of Mont Gratte-Fesse. The first one to have the idea of creating such a garden was Pierre Poivre, who in 1771 introduced spices in the Seychelles.

Follow the numbers indicated on the plan you receive at the entrance, they will guide you through this beautiful garden full of tropical fragrances. You'll discover 50 varieties of plants and trees with exotic names, such cinammon tree, cardamom, nutmeg tree, avocado tree, orchids... And of course, the Coco de Mer tree.

A drink on the terrace is then highly reccommended, with beautiful views and fresh fruit cocktails setting the mood.

Open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, entance 25 rupees


The Tea Factory

A drive into the mountains through the lush vegetation and tea plantations is an absolute must when visiting Mahe. One can buy and sample all the exotic teas once at the factory, and the views are quite breath-taking.


Beaches

There are so many beaches on Mahé, it’s really difficult to choose between all of them.
Anse Major and the beautiful walk to get there, Baie Lazare and its turquoise water caressing the island… And Anse Intendance with its rolling waves and a long stretch of shoreline, Anse Intendance is one of the most beautiful beaches of Mahé. It is situated on the south west coast at the foot of the beautiful Banyan Tree Resort.

Then there is beautiful Anse Royale and Anse Soleil. Beaches in the area of Port Glaud are great too. Very often, you can find tiny little beaches all for yourself, just walk till the end of the beach, and climb the granite boulders, almost every time, another little beach is hidden behind. And of course, there is the well-known beach of Beau Vallon. A very long beach, and good for swimming, because there is no strong current over there. It can be very "touristy" however.


Points of Interest

Carnaval - Feb 2013

When the Seychelles Islands were first settled, it was by a blend of varied ethnicities possessing different customs and ways of life. Throughout its history and down to this very day, Seychelles has continued to be a melting pot of peoples from the four corners of the earth who have each contributed their particular thread to the fabric of this vibrant society, adding to it and being themselves subtly transformed in return. Against this background of multi-culturalism, diversity and the coming together of peoples, it is fitting that Seychelles should once again be the focal point of an annual ‘Carnaval des Carnavals’ – bringing representatives from the world’s best carnivals to participate in 3 days of celebration alongside cultural groups from the community of nations.

The Seychelles International Carnival of Victoria will be held over a three-day period in February 2013, when it will become a focal point for representatives from the world’s most famous carnivals who will be invited to the islands to take part in this exciting international event.

Promising to be the focus of international as well as local attention, the Seychelles International Carnival of Victoria will feature a procession of colourful floats representing the various participants’ national carnivals, as well as a raft of other dedicated activities all of which will fall under the carnival’s theme.

Widespread international press coverage is expected for this colourful event which is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, as it brings the lively ambiance of international carnival time to the islands.


Victoria Memorial Clocktower

It is the oldest historical feature in Seychelles and our most popular landmark. TONY MATHIOT tells the story of the Victoria memorial Clock Tower:

In the afternoon of Wednesday April 1st, 1903, a large crowd gathered in town to attend the inauguration of the Clock Tower by Ernest Beckham Sweet Escott (1857-1941), who was then the Administrator of Seychelles. The women were sprucely decked out in their full-skirted crinoline dresses and broad-brimmed white hats while the men cut an elegantly dapper figure in their long khaki trousers, white shirts and boaters.

They had come from near and far for that patriotic occasion, travelling on foot, by boat and on horseback. Except for a few landowners, most of the men were plantation workers, blacksmiths and fishermen. And of course the women were, as in accordance with tradition of that epoch, managers of household affairs engaged in the daily task of domestic chores, housewives.

Magnificently draped with the flags of the United Kingdom, the Clock Tower was unveiled and was solemnly declared a memorial to Queen Victoria Alexandrina who had recently passed away in January 1901 at the age of 82 years. The crowd listened in veneration to lengthy and magniloquent speeches extolling her Reign (1837-1901) and “the full measure of her devotion” as Empress of India (1876-1901). Needless to say, very few people present had ever seen the photograph of the pudgy and diminutive queen who had achieved the longest reign, 64 years, more than any other English Sovereign. At the risk of insulting their naïve ignorance, we can tentatively assume that no one had any idea of the imperial scope of the British Empire. They showed reverential admiration for the imposing black coloured structure with four clocks.


The Home of Seychelles Yacht Charter

Perhaps the top feature of Mahe, in our opinion of course, is that is it also the home of Seychelles Yacht Charter! We are based at The Wharf Marina, please do contact us and come visit!



Some photos of Mahe...











































All images owned by Seychelles Yacht Charter

Sources: www.seychelles.travel.sc www.virtualseychelles.sc

Is Seychelles Expensive?

We are often asked about the "cost of living" in the Seychelles when on holiday. Whilst certainly not the cheapest location on earth, the prices compare relatively well with those in Europe.

The main expense for any holiday-maker (excluding accommodation and flights of course) are food and drink. I am certain that in places like Thailand, one can get meals and drinks for next to nothing, and that is certainly not the case in Seychelles, however there is good reason behind this. Tourism, along with fishing, is the main driving force behind the Seychelles economy, accounting for over 20% of the overall GDP for the small island nation. The Seychelles is a naturally beautiful place, but with any natural beauty, it takes work and money to keep it beautiful. As we all know, man destroys, and it takes a large effort on the part of the Seychelles government to ensure the correct conservation measures are in place. Without conservation being enforced, the natrual beauty will slowly erode, and along with it the tourism industry and the GDP.

Another reason behind the "European prices" that one experiences in the Seychelles, is quality. The standard of accommodation, service, and food is incredibly high. Not only with us at Seychelles Yacht Charter (which is naturally of the highest standard!), I personally have been mightily impressed by every restaurant I have visited both on the main island of Mahe as well as the surrounding islands. The Asian-African fusion cuisine will truly blow you away, or if the you're more the basic fish & chip type person, there is plenty of that too!

So whilst the prices in the Seychelles compare more with a European holiday than a Hangover-type party in Thailand, you can rest assured that you will receive more than your fair share of value for money.

Below are some is a comparative table of prices of general day to items, courtesy of www.seychelles.travel.com as well as some photos of what to expect.

Chat soon!

Item	Retail (Euro)	Hotel (Euro)
Bottle of water	1.00 – 1.69	1.60 – 6.54
Bottle of Seybrew (local beer)	1.25	2.45 – 7.00
Bottle of wine	5.31 – 14.25	15.00 – 116.00
Bottle of champagne	9.06 – 21.74	20.00 – 1235.00
Bottle of soft drink (e.g. Coca Cola)	0.81 - 1.05	3.00 – 6.00
Pizza (for 1)	5.00 – 6.00	5.62 – 17.74
20 cigarettes	2.62	5.00 – 19.00
Whisky	18.11 – 26.58 (per bottle)	5.00 – 41.00 (per tot)
Litre of petrol	1.18
Luncheon	2.18 – 2.81 (takeaway)	9.00 – 59.38
Taxi Int’l. Airport to Victoria	13.00
Taxi Praslin airport to Côte d’Or	18.75
Car hire per day	40.00 – 55.90
Ferry to Praslin(Return)	82.00
Air Seychelles flight to Praslin (return)	176.00
Bus fare	0.31 – 0.63
Bike Hire per day	6.25

 

The Marvellous Granites of Seychelles

The Seychelles are the only granitic oceanic islands in the World. Formed millions years ago, the size and shapes of some of these granites are truly mindboggling. TONY MATHIOT tells us about a few of them.

ANSE L’UNION GRANITE BOULDER (at Anse L’Union, La Digue)

Granite. Our glorious granite. Forty islands in the Seychelles archipelago are granitic. The fascination of the Seychelles lies not only in its resplendent greenery or in its pristine beaches or sunshine. The granite is awesome. Majestic. One admires and gasps. Yes, it’s PLUTONIC! But can one go dithyrambic over the granites of Seychelles without venturing into the recondite science of geology stratigraphy or Petrogeny?!

The granites of Seychelles date back to millions of years ago to the Mesozoic era… to the time of Gondwanaland, the time of the first amphibians, the first winged insects, the first dinosaurs.

Granite is an igneous rock that formed by solidification from a molten state (igneous comes from the Latin word ignis: to inflame). It is made up mainly of crystals of quartz, feldspar and mica. And it was formed deep in the earth. And while the magma, that is, the molten matter, was forming, fragments of materials called xenoliths were trapped in the magma before it crystalised – yes, like dust of glitter in a bath of hot treacle!

Since granite was formed deep beneath the earth’s crust, it is because the rocks lying on top of it have been worn away or because it has been pushed upwards by movements of the rocks long ago.

Yes, long ago. And now when one beholds this grandest scenery of granite covering over one acre of land, here on the west coast of La Digue, it is almost stupefying to realize that we are the only oceanic granite islands in the world.



ROS KOSON (at Anse Louis)

On the beautiful west coast of Mahé, one finds this marvelous monstrosity! A veritable natural wonder! Yes, this is Ros Koson (Pig rock) aptly named because it certainly resembles a crouching snarling hog in profile. One can distinctively make out the sunken eyes, the cartilaginous snout over the mouth baring the teeth in a rictus of rage. Definitely one of our most common ungulate mammals!

Of course with so much granite around, it is not uncommon nor unusual to come across boulders or shapes of some recognizable representation.

But upon seeing this particular ‘pig’ up there, one is naturally inclined to wonder just how long has it been perched up there on that giant boulder?

We’ve been told by scientists that once upon a time, meaning so many millions of years ago when all continents were joined that Seychelles, a tiny fragment of the earths crust halfway between Africa and India became isolated during the so-called continental drift… could that rock have landed up there on that boulder during the upheaval and then over the centuries it was shaped into a pig by the ravages of time? Fascinating!

One thing for sure. This is one pet porky that future inhabitants of Anse Louis will certainly inherit and learn to like!.


ROS LESKALYE (ROCK STEPS) (at Port Launay)

The resplendence of Port Launay in North Western Mahé is breathtaking. Here along the boulder-strewn coast the waves of the Indian Ocean come to nudge themselves against the rocks after having spent their rage further away. But amidst this sublime scenery there is a particular feature that certainly can be baffling to the lonely peasant who happens to venture along this part on an afternoon when looking for limpets (bernik).
These steps are mind-boggling. Almost like a gateway to the backwoods used by undersea aliens! Fascinating! Well, geology IS fascinating.
This rather unusual feature is known as a dyke. It is typically the result of igneous intrusion: a long mass of igneous rock that cuts across the structure of adjacent rock. This happens when magma or molten rock move upwards by injecting into cracks at higher levels in the earth’s crust, forcing the sides apart. Magma solidifies in the crack to form a dyke, and in the case here at Port Launay, the dyke do look like a row of steps.

MIRAY DEMON (at Anse Déjeuner)
Miray demon? (the devils wall?) Why on earth would he build a wall here on earth in Paradise?!

Yes, this is certainly a mind-boggling sight. One gets the impression that these different sizes and shapes of granite boulders have been gingerly arranged to rest on top of one another to make a crude wall.

Well, some inhabitant of Anse Déjeuner must have appreciated the extraordinary strength of the devil and gave this bizarre heap of boulders an appropriate appellation!

In fact, once upon a time, a long long time ago, this was one single huge boulder. The ravages of time which spanned thousands of years, created fissures and clefts in it and gradually it was divided into separate pieces of rock which have more less remained in place like interlocking pieces of a gigantic jigsaw puzzle. That’s the mystery of the devil’s wall… For sure, those boulders will never be taken to the crushing plant located a mile away to be turned into aggregate!

Article first appeared on Virtual Seychelles. Original article can be found here: http://www.virtualseychelles.sc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=842:the-marvellous-granites-of-seychelles&catid=51:additions

 

Scuba Diving in the Seychelles

Perhaps one of the most alluring characteristics of the Seychelles is the clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean which surround the islands. The stunning topography of expansive reefs, walls, pinnacles, drop offs, wrecks and canyons make for one of the most diverse marine environments around, teeming with both fish and coral life.

Coral bleaching in the Seychelles in 1998

In 1998, the coral reefs of the Seychelles were affected by the El Nino Southern Oscillation. The exact cause for this event is unknown but it is thought global warming was primarily to blame. The changes in the atmosphere caused an increase in sea temperatures, resulting in significant consequences for the surrounding coral and marine life. The warmer waters caused the coral to repel the bright algae (which gives the coral its vivid colours) from their tissues, thus causing them to take on a pale and white appearance (hence the commonly used term “coral bleaching”). The inner reefs were hit harder than the outer reefs, however the granitic nature of the reefs meant they were not as badly affected as first feared, and 11 years on from the event there has been a remarkable recovery and the diving generally remains excellent.

When to go scuba-diving in the Seychelles

With dive sites ranging in depth from 8m to 30m there are options for both beginners and experienced divers to enjoy. It is possible to dive throughout the year in the Seychelles – however waters are calmest during the months of March, April and May and September, October and November. During these months visibility can reach a staggering 30m and with water temperatures reaching 29oc it makes for a very pleasant and relaxed diving experience. The calmer waters also mean dive boats can reach the more remote sites, where encounters with mega fauna such as sharks and manta rays are common – these sites are particularly good for experienced divers.

During the months June, July and August the south-east monsoon brings stronger winds making access to the more remote dive sites difficult and unreliable. Cooler waters are blown in and temperatures drop to around 25oc. These cooler waters are filled with nutrient rich plankton so visibility can be significantly reduced; however these nutrients encourage the appearance of whale sharks, which can reach an incredible 10m in length. Local dive shops offer specific whale shark programmes during these months, so the chance to snorkel or even dive with these magnificent creatures is very high.

Marine life

Around the inner reefs, marine life you can expect to see among others includes – angelfish, butterflyfish, octopus, lionfish, nudibranchs and mantis shrimp. Slightly further out, napoleon and humphead wrasses, schools of humphead parrotfish, stingrays, reef sharks and green and hawksbill turtles are common.

Sailfish, silvertip, oceanic whitetip and nurse sharks, manta rays and whale sharks are more common around the remoter outer islands – you may even be able to spot the occasional hammerhead shark if you're lucky!

Where to go diving in the Seychelles

When you are a guest with us, we will have all the equipment on board and take you to the best spots. We will of course have the relevant dive masters/instructors available to you as well.

Other local dive schools are also available on the various islands.

Some photos of what to expect

 

 

Many thanks to http://www.expertafrica.com/seychelles/info/diving-in-the-seychelles