St Anne Marine Park Small-Group Snorkelling Trip from Mahe

4.8 (81 reviews) from travellers who booked this experience

DailyGroup

St Anne Marine Park Small-Group Snorkelling Trip from Mahe

Overview

This St Anne Marine Park snorkelling trip is a four-hour boat trip from the marina on Eden Island, Mahé, limited to ten guests so everyone gets the skipper and guide's attention in the water. Departing at 09:00 or 13:00, the boat crosses into the oldest marine park of the Indian Ocean and anchors at its best reef spots, where you snorkel over coral gardens and seagrass meadows with turtles, rays and shoals of fish. Snorkelling equipment, local snacks on board and a bottle of water per person are included; the marine park fee is paid locally per adult and hotel pickup is not included. It suits couples, friends and families with children from four years who are comfortable in the water, and beginners who want a guide beside them.

Highlights

Small group limited to ten guests for personal attention in the water
Guided snorkelling at the best reef spots of St Anne Marine National Park
Coral gardens, seagrass meadows, turtles, rays and shoals of tropical fish
Professional skipper and guide who choose the sites by the conditions of the day
Snorkelling equipment, local snacks and a bottle of water per person included
Morning or afternoon departure from Eden Island marina
Views of Cerf, Moyenne, Round and Ste Anne islands from the boat
Only four hours: leaves the rest of the day free on Mahé

Full Description

Eden Island marina: an easy start a few minutes from Victoria

The trip leaves from the marina on Eden Island, the man-made island joined by a bridge to the east coast of Mahé just south of Victoria. It is easy to reach by taxi, hire car or bus, and there are cafés and shops around the marina if you arrive early. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included; we confirm the exact meeting spot on the marina after booking, and you should arrive about fifteen minutes before the 09:00 or 13:00 departure.

After a safety briefing the group of at most ten boards the boat and our skipper hands out masks, snorkels and fins; try them on at the pontoon so that any swap is done before you leave. The park lies only a few kilometres offshore, so within fifteen minutes of leaving the marina you are moored over the first reef. For a half day of things to do in Seychelles close to the capital, this is hard to beat.

St Anne Marine National Park: why the snorkelling is so good

St Anne Marine National Park was declared in 1973, the first marine park in the Indian Ocean, and covers the shallow lagoon around six small islands off Victoria: Ste Anne, Cerf, Moyenne, Round, Long and Île Cachée. Fishing and jet skis are banned, boats use fixed moorings and the park lies in the lee of Mahé, so the water is calm and the fish are tame. The park fee, paid locally per adult, goes to its management; entry to the islands themselves is not part of this trip.

The lagoon mixes coral heads, granite boulders and wide seagrass meadows, which is exactly the habitat green and hawksbill turtles like, and they are seen on most trips. A St Anne Marine Park snorkelling trip is the best way to see this variety, because the boat can move between habitats in minutes rather than you swimming from a beach.

The snorkelling sites: coral gardens, turtles and rays

Our skipper and guide choose two or three sites according to the wind, tide and visibility of the day, which is why no two trips are identical. Typical stops include the coral slope off Round Island, the boulders and fans along the shore of Moyenne and the sandy channel between Cerf and Ste Anne where eagle rays and stingrays glide over the bottom. At each site you snorkel from the boat for about forty-five minutes with the guide in the water pointing out what to look for.

Expect parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, sergeant majors, moray eels, octopus if you are lucky and the slow silhouettes of turtles grazing the seagrass. With only ten guests, beginners get real help with their mask and breathing, and confident snorkellers can range a little wider under the guide's eye. Please float above the coral, never stand on it and keep a respectful distance from turtles.

On board: snacks, water and the islands around you

Between sites the boat drifts past the islands of the park and the guide tells their stories: Ste Anne, the largest and once a whaling station; Cerf with its beach homes; tiny Moyenne with its giant tortoises; and Round Island, the smallest with a resort. Local snacks are served on board, usually savoury Creole bites and fruit, with a bottle of water per person; lunch is not included, so eat before the afternoon trip or after the morning one at the marina.

The trip returns to Eden Island about four hours after departure. The best time of day is the morning, when the sea is usually glassier and the sun is high enough to light the reef, though the afternoon departure is a good choice for guests arriving from Praslin or spending the morning in Victoria.

Itinerary

Meet at the marina on Eden IslandArrive about 15 minutes before the 09:00 or 13:00 departure, meet our skipper and guide, pay the park fee and try on your snorkelling gear.
Cross into St Anne Marine National ParkA short crossing of about 15 minutes with a briefing on the park, the sites and snorkelling safety.
First snorkelling siteAbout 45 minutes in the water over coral gardens with the guide beside the group.
Second snorkelling siteThe boat moves to a different habitat, often seagrass or granite boulders, for turtles and rays; another 45 minutes.
Snacks on board and a third stop if conditions allowLocal snacks and water while cruising past the islands; a shorter third stop when time and weather permit.
Return to Eden IslandBack at the marina about four hours after departure.

What's included

Boat trip in St Anne Marine National Park limited to ten guests
Professional skipper and guide
Snorkelling equipment
Local snacks on board
One bottle of water per person

Not included

Marine park fees (paid locally per adult)
Lunch
Entry to nearby islands
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting point

Meet our skipper and guide at the marina on Eden Island, on the east coast of Mahé just south of Victoria, about fifteen minutes before the 09:00 or 13:00 departure; the exact spot on the marina is confirmed after booking. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and the marina is a short taxi ride from Victoria and reachable by bus or hire car from anywhere on Mahé.

Important information

The marine park fee is not included and is paid locally per adult before departure; bring cash or a card.
Lunch and hotel transfers are not included; local snacks and one bottle of water per person are provided on board.
Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a rash vest or T-shirt for the water and a dry bag for valuables.
Snorkelling equipment is provided; bring your own mask if you prefer a perfect fit, and tell us if you need a flotation vest.
You should be comfortable swimming in open water; the guide stays with the group, but there is no beach at the sites.
The sites are chosen on the day by the skipper according to sea conditions and may differ from those described.
Do not touch or stand on coral and keep your distance from turtles and rays.
Children from 4 years are welcome; adults are aged 13 and over for booking purposes.

Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.

Is this a shared or a private tour?

It is a shared small-group trip limited to ten guests, which keeps it personal without being a private charter. If you want the boat for your party only, contact us and we will check a private option.

Can we change the itinerary or the pace?

The skipper chooses the sites by the conditions of the day, but with a group this small the guide adapts the time at each site to the group, and you can rest on the boat whenever you like.

How many people fit on the boat?

The trip is limited to ten guests plus the skipper and guide, so everyone has space on deck and attention in the water.

Is the price per person or per group?

Per person, with a child rate for ages 4 to 12; the booking panel on this page shows the current price of each option.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. The trip starts and ends at the marina on Eden Island, which is easy to reach by taxi or hire car from anywhere on Mahé.

What is included in the snorkelling trip?

The boat trip in St Anne Marine National Park limited to ten guests, a professional skipper and guide, snorkelling equipment, local snacks on board and one bottle of water per person. The marine park fee (paid locally per adult), lunch, entry to the islands and hotel transfers are not included.

How long is the trip?

About four hours from the marina and back, with departures at 09:00 and 13:00.

Is it suitable for children and people with reduced mobility?

Children from 4 years who are comfortable in the water are welcome, and the guide can stay close to young snorkellers. Boarding is from a pontoon and all snorkelling is from the boat, so guests with reduced mobility should contact us first.

What should I bring?

Swimwear, towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a T-shirt or rash vest, a dry bag, cash or card for the park fee and your own mask if you have one.

When is the best time to snorkel in St Anne Marine Park?

Mornings are usually calmer and clearer. Visibility is best from April to May and from October to November, and the park is sheltered from the south-east winds between June and September.

Will we see turtles?

Green and hawksbill turtles feed on the seagrass of the park and are seen on most trips, but sightings depend on the day and are never guaranteed.

How do I book and confirm?

Choose your date and departure time in the booking panel and send the request; our team confirms on WhatsApp within minutes with the exact meeting spot.