WHAT TO EXPECT ON A LA DIGUE LIVEABOARD

Liveaboards to La Digue are a great option for divers looking for a range of diverse marine life along with exciting top-side activities. Seychelles liveaboard itineraries include a visit to La Digue, the country’s fourth-largest granitic island, which is located to the east of Praslin. Most liveaboards in Seychelles will depart from nearby islands of Mahe or Praslin. La Digue boasts one of the most photographed beaches, Anse Source d’Argent, known for its powder sand and pink granite boulders, a must-see especially at sunset, making liveaboard diving in La Digue all the more special. Aside from superb beaches and timeless Creole architecture, visitors are curious to see the native black paradise flycatcher in Veuve Nature Reserve. The leisurely lifestyle is reflected also in its mode of transportation, bicycles replacing cars, and time-honored traditional ox-carts offering visitors a relaxing tour around the island.

Despite daily ferries from Praslin to La Digue, liveaboard diving remains the best way to visit the surrounding dive sites in the same relaxed manner. Whatever your budget, Liveaboard.com offers a great range of liveaboards to La Digue, some more dive centered than others, so please choose accordingly.

LA DIGUE UNDERWATER

Liveaboard diving in La Digue offers year-round good weather and crystal clear waters. Breathtaking granite formations above and underwater, its abundance of marine species and unique dive spots, make La Digue an excellent addition to a diver’s liveaboard itinerary.  The reefs and lagoons of La Digue offer a great range of flora and fauna. From colorful angelfish, parrotfish, and octopus to whitetip sharks, eagle rays and hawksbill turtles. On a rare occasion, it is possible to see whale sharks in season (August – October).

The underwater terrain is just as fascinating as some of its’ sister islands, large granite boulders creating swim-throughs, cavern-like formations, adorned with hard and soft colorful coral create a palette for the eyes.

Currents vary from mild to strong depending on the time of year and depths remain with recreational limits.

DIVE SITES OF LA DIGUE 

There is a range of dive sites suited to all levels around La Digue, from offshore to longer range. Closer to shore Pate Anse Severe is an ideal drift dive boasting a long granite stone wall where Moorish idols, surgeonfish, turtles and eagle rays are often seen. Nearby and often visited from Praslin are the dive sites of White Bank and Ave Maria.

Farther out from the mainland, the pinnacle shaped rocks of South Marianne Island form an underwater maze that attracts grey reefs, eagle rays, and barracudas. Nearby, divers can explore Marianne Rocks where schools of grey reef sharks are known to congregate as well as the elusive whale shark.

To the west lies Coco Rocks where a plethora of marine life can be found, such as hump-head parrotfish, napoleon wrasses, turtles, schooling snappers, octopus, reef sharks, stingrays, eagle rays, lionfish, scorpionfish and stonefish to name but a few.

The mid-channel rocks aptly named Channel Rocks, between La Digue and Praslin, provide a series of gullies and holes that shelter large groupers, snappers, and smaller reef fish. Batfish, giant moray eels, parrotfish, napoleon wrasses, clownfish, reef sharks, stingrays, eagle rays, and turtles can also be seen here. 

TOP TIPS FOR DIVERS

The best time to dive La Digue is from October to May when the water temperature is at its warmest of 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit) and visibility remains good (up to 30m).

It is possible to rent equipment on most cruises although it is recommended to have your own gear.

GETTING TO LA DIGUE

Air Seychelles, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways, Air Berlin, Kenya Airways, all fly into Mahé’s Victoria International Airport. Liveaboard.com itineraries covering La Digue depart from either Mahé or Praslin. Air Seychelles, operates domestic flights from Mahé to Praslin. Alternatively, a fast catamaran operates at regular intervals throughout the day from the Mahé inter-island quay to the Baie Ste. Anne jetty on Praslin. There are different diving liveaboards available to La Digue, to suit all budgets and styles sailing through Seychelles.