Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean, found east of Madagascar. The weather  is  sub-tropical, with air temperature along the coast usually in the mid-20's ( celcius ) during the daytime. During the summer this may rise to the mid-30's ( celcius ). Water temperature varies from 20 to 30 deg celcius depending on the season and diving location. 

For some time now, Mauritius has been regarded as a choice destination, mainly by European scuba divers. Many say that diving here ranks with some of their best dives in the Red Sea or the Maldives. Much of the diving done in Mauritius is on the west coast, and outside the coral reef which is ranked as the world's 5th largest. Altogether there are around 200 species of coral, including the famous black coral. The reef supports a wide range of marine fauna such as turtles, rays, eels, game fish, octopus, squid, lobster, sharks, rays and a myriad of tropical fish. It is also quite common to see whales and dolphins on deeper dives in the open water. 

Not all of the diving is based around the reef. Mauritius is a volcanic island by nature,  and there are numerous cliff faces and caverns to explore. There are hundereds of shipwrecks, some dating back to the days of the pirates. The most popular wreck with Mauritian scuba divers is that of the "Sirius", a 19th century British frigate which sank during a naval battle with the French fleet. Mauritius used to be a French colony until the early 1800's, and was a strategic point in the Indian Ocean.The battle was fought off the coast of the town of "Vieux-Grand-Port" and the British lost. The victorious French engraved the name of the town on the Arc of Triumph in Paris which can still be seen to this day. A few years later, however, the British managed to gain control of the island.

There are a number of artificial reefs along the west and north coasts. These were scuttled by the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society to relieve the increasing pressure by divers on the reef, and to help promote marine fauna around areas of the reef which have been damaged over the years. 

The Mauritius Underwater Group ( MUG ), is the oldest and probably the most renowned scuba diving club in Mauritius, with its roots dating back to the early 1960's. Its headquarters are at Railway Road in the town of Phoenix. You can't miss the building, a huge early 19th century  cannon and anchor mark the entrance. 

The club meets every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. All visiting scuba divers are welcome to attend. The evening is very entertaining with lots of beer and rum being served, along with a barbecue where members bring meat marinaded in their own special recipes.The club is governed by BSAC ( British Sub-Aqua Club ) rules. 

Dives are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays during the daytime. Thursdays are usually reserved for night dives. To participate one needs to be a BSAC sports diver, PADI open water diver, or CMAS 2 star. You will definately need a form of transport. I recommend you hire a Suzuki jeep which is available at most of the car rental firms. 

The MUG has several sets of regulators, buoyancy control devices, and air cylinders. You must have your own wetsuit. Equipment rental rates are fairly inexpensive.

Some members of the MUG have formed the Mauritian Marine Conservation Society which has scuttled several vessels off the coast to form artificial reefs.

Q: How do YOU know all this information ?
A: Because I am a Mauritian ( citizen of Mauritius ) 

Q: When is the best time of the year to dive in Mauritius ?
A: October, November, December, January, February, March and April. These months make up the peak summer season and the reefs thrive with life. Before going on holiday, make sure to check the weather for Mauritius as summer is the time when tropical storms are the most active in this part of the world. Cyclones ( Hurricanes ) can last for over a week !!!

Q: How safe is Mauritius ?
A: Mauritius is considered by many to be a paradise on earth and crime levels are low, but to be on the safe side simply leave the Rolex, the diamond rings and the gold at home, and please keep those massive wads of Dollars out of sight. D'ont divulge to anyone, no matter how friendly, the amount of money you have brought along on your trip. If anyone asks, act dumb, and say your company settles all your bills once you have returned. Just follow these simple precautions and you'll be alright.

Q: Mauritus is a small island therefore it must be a poor third world country ?
A: Err, no, Mauritius is considered an industrialised nation and ranks amongst the top African economies.

Q: How warm is the water on average ?
A: During the summer 20 to 30 deg Celcius, during the winter 20 to 25deg Celcius. The sea is  calmer and warmer on the west coast. The east coast is blown over by the Trade Winds which makes it colder and rougher. The east coast however, has some of the best dive sites in Mauritius.

Q: Where are the best dive sites in Mauritius ?
A: Depends on what you want to see ! Here is a list of some common dive sites around Mauritius. 
 

Location	Site	Description
Southeast	Le Morne	Coral, marine life
West	Flic-En-Flac	Wrecks, cliffs, caverns
West	Albion	Cliffs, caverns
North	Pereybere	Coral, marine life.
North	Trou-Aux-Biches	Wrecks, coral, marine life
North	Grand-Baie	Marine life
East	Vieux-Grand-Port	Famous wreck site
East	Blue-Bay	Coral, marine life

It is wise to seek advice before diving the east coast as the currents here can be quite strong.
In general, if you want good visibility and a warm dive, head for the west coast. The waters of the east coast are rougher, colder and have shorter visibility underwater !

Q: Does scuba diving in Mauritius compare to The Maldives or the Red Sea ?
A: From what I hear, diving here can be almost just as fun provided you come during the summer months i.e. October till April the following year. The geographical location greatly influences the type of diving done, with the west coast having numerous cliffs, and the north, south and east having an abundance of coral reefs. If you have little experience in diving Mauritius waters, it is wise to ask what you can expect to see in different regions.

Q: What kind of marine life is present around Mauritius ?
A: Several species of shark, barracuda, tuna, red-snapper, rays, eels, bass, whales, dolphins, turtles, over a hundred species of coral, octopus, crabs, squid, lobsters, gorgonias, lionfish, angelfish, parrotfish, grouper, seargent-major fish, ancient ship wrecks, cliff faces, caverns, coral reefsand loads more.

Q: Which airlines serve Mauritius ?
A: Air Mauritius, Air France, South African Airways and British Airways are the most popular ones. As far as I know, there are no charter flights.

Q: Do the sharks bite ?
A: Sharks in these waters are relatively tame due to the plentiful fish stocks. Heres a bit on the side: the worlds largest Mako shark was caught in Mauritian waters and weighed in at 1500 pounds (600 kg). Luckily sharks of this size are a very rare occasion !!!

Q: Are there poisonous fish in Mauritius waters ?
A: Yes, namely lionfish and stonefish. You could also get stung by a ray if you accidentally trod on one lurking beneath the sand.

Q: What equipment do I need to bring with me ?
A: Most hotels and dive operators in Mauritius have their own equipment, but I recommend you bring your own wetsuit, buoyancy control device, regulator, fins and mask.

Q: What kind of wetsuit do I need ?
A: 3mm neoprene should do the trick.

Q: Is there a re-compression chamber in Mauritius ?
A: Yes, full hyperbaric facilities and medical care are available on the island. However, getting to them is a slow process as there is no helicopter service. Divers with the bends are driven to these centres, usually by their dive buddy, as there is no ambulance service !  This can take from 30 minutes up to an hour. As a precaution many divers perform a 2 minute safety stop at 6 metres. In many cases this can easily be acheived by grabbing hold of the dive boat's anchor line !

Q: Are mixed gases available ?
A: No, not officially, although you might encounter some Mauritian divers who do prepare their own NITROX mixes by first partially filling their cylinders using a standard air compressor, and then topping up with clinical grade oxygen. Unless you have know these guys for a long time ( a few years ), trying their mixes is NOT recommended !!!

Q: How much does it cost to dive ?
A: On average, fees per dive are around 600 rupees (15 Pounds Sterling or 25 USD)

Q: Are there any shipwrecks and how many are there ?
A: Yes, there are over a hundred wrecks littering the coast of Mauritius. Some dating from the days of the pirates till nowdays. The most famous wreck with Mauritius divers is that of "The Sirius" a 19th century British frigate which sank during a naval battle with the French navy. She lies at a depth of 28 metres. Nearest launch site is off Vieux-Grand-Port.

Q: Do I need to hire a car ?
A: Yes, Mauritius might be a tiny speck on the world map, but it  takes a whole day to drive round it. If you are diving with a club, dives are usually conducted all over the island and a form of transport would be imperative. Dive operators and hotels usually dive close to their bases or provide some form of transport.

Shop name	Location	Phone	FAX
Island Dive	Grand-Baie	263-5120	263-6847
Easy Dive	Le-Morne	683-6800	683-6070
La Pirogue	Flic-En-Flac	453-8441	453-8449

The dive shops are run by hotels and dive operators. I do not recommend you buy diving equipment in Mauritius as it is VERY EXPENSIVE when compared to Europe, Asia or America. 

Almost any beach hotel you stay at will have a diving centre. If you want to dive with an independant operator, the dive master at the hotel will be able to point you in the right direction. Here is a list of some of the diving hotels and operators in Mauritius. 

	The North
Atlantis Diving Centre Trou aux Biches Tel.: 265 7172 Fax: 263 7859	Blue Water Diving Trou aux Biches Tel.: 265 7186 Fax: 265 6267	Cap Divers Ltd. Anse La raie Tel.: 272 6511 Fax: 262 7736
Diving World Ltd. Pointe aux Piments Tel.: 422 4837	Dolphin Diving Grand Baie Tel.: 263 7273	Merville Diving Centre Grand Baie Tel.: 263 8621 Fax: 263 8146
Sindbad Ltd. Cap Malheureux Tel.: 262 8836 Fax: 267 7407	Turtle Bay Nautics Maritim Hotel Balaclava Tel.: 261 5670 Fax: 261 5670	Diving World Ltd. Grand Baie Tel.: 421 4629 Fax: 263 7888
	Nautilus Diving Centre Trou aux Biches Hotel Tel.: 265 5495 Fax: 265 5495
	The Southeast
Coral Dive Centre Blue Bay Tel.: 631 9041 Fax: 631 9603		Shandrani Diving Centre Plaine Magnien Tel.: 637 3511 Fax: 637 4313
	The Southwest
	Easy Dive Le Morne Tel.: 683 6800 Fax: 683 6070
	The East
East Coast Diving Poste de Flacq Tel.: 415 1825 Fax: 415 1983	Neptune Diving Centre Belle Mare Tel.: 415 5101 Fax: 415 1082	Pierre Sport Diving Trou d'Eau Douce Tel.: 419 2451 Fax: 419 2025
	Sea Fan Diving Centre Hotel Ambre Belle Mare Tel.: 415 1545 Fax: 395 3202
	The West
Black River Diving Centre Rivière Noire Tel.: 6836503 Fax: 683 6318	Exploration Sous Marine Flic en Flacq Tel.: 453 8450 Fax: 453 8807	Klondike Diving Centre Flic en Flacq Tel.: 453 8335 Fax: 453 8337
Sofitel Diving Centre Flic en Flacq Tel.: 453 8700 Fax: 453 8320		Sun Divers Flic en Flacq Tel.: 453 8441 Fax: 453 8449