An underwater safari
Mauritius is almost completely encircled by one of the world’s finest coral reefs – creating an underwater world in which thousands of marine creatures live among brightly coloured coral gardens.
Divers and snorkellers need not venture far in search of trumpet, clown and boxfish, moray eels and hundreds of other reef residents, and non-swimmers can still experience the wonders of lagoon life by taking a trip in a glass bottom boat.
Another fun option for those aged over 12 years, is to pilot your own submarine scooter for a unique underwater experience with local tour operator, Blue Safari Submarines.
Two riders sit comfortably in each subscooter, one behind the other, breathing normally with their heads covered by a transparent dome. As there is no need for a breathing regulator, the riders can communicate with each other throughout the 30-minute dive.
The subscooters descend to a maximum depth of three metres, supervised at all times by two qualified dive guides.
The fun begins at the Blue Safari reception centre at Mont Choisy, to catch the 10-minute boat transfer across the lagoon to the operations platform. The group is then outfitted with a wetsuit for warmth and given a safety and operating briefing, before hopping on the scooter to be gradually submerged.
The subscooter is easy to pilot, with a steering wheel and two accelerator pedals, so with a touch of the throttle – you’re off on a thrilling underwater cruise to enjoy an up-close perspective of the island’s diverse marine flora and fauna.
The subscooter ride costs around $160 per couple. More details at http://www.blue-safari.com
Tourists should be aware that the sale of shells on beaches is banned because shell collecting has resulted in a serious population decline, and that shells found in shops, or being offered for sale by beach hawkers, are most likely to have been imported from the Philippines.
Liz Sinclair