Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on February 2, 2023
Anse Caiman is one of the best shore snorkeling spots to see sea turtles in La Digue. Featuring granite rocks and coral patches, the cove is home to colorful fish species as emperor angelfish, bluespotted grouper and palette surgeonfish. This small cove located on the wild northeastern shore of the island is rather hard to access, and due to the relatively important depth in the area, is however not recommended for beginners.
Anse Caiman is located on the east coast of la Digue, some 3.5 km from the main jetty. It is a remote spot, with no direct road access. To reach this spot, you first have to rent a bike and head to Anse Fourmis, which is at the very end of the coastal road running along the northern side of the island.
Park your bike at the end of the road. At this point, you are approximately 400 meters from Anse Caiman. You then have three options to reach it:
If you choose option 1, you will enter the water from Anse Fourmis sandy beach, and swim south for 400 meters (on the right side when you are facing the sea) to Anse Caiman. Do not enter the water if there’s surf. If you choose the hiking options (options 2 and 3), enter the water from the rocks bordering the cove.
The main snorkeling area edges the cove, and is made of huge granite blocks immersed in 12 to 20ft of water (4 to 6 meters). This underwaterscape, with ray of lights of the sun breaking through the deep blue sea, is amazing.
Anse Caiman is renowned for snorkeling with hawksbill sea turtles. It is common to see 2 or 3 sea turtles resting at the foot of the granite rocks, or slowly swimming around them.
Most of the sea turtles are quite shy, and are not easy to get close to, contrary to the turtles you can encounter at Coco Island, Felicite Island or Grande Soeur, more used to snorkelers. If you wait for a little, you will probably see them coming up to the surface to breathe.
In some places, you will also find patches of healthy hard corals. Among the dozens of species of reef fish that you could see around are the oriental sweetlips, the goldbar wrasse, the lined surgeonfish, and schools of large orbicular batfish.
Shoals of palette surgeonfish, aka Dory, are often seen along the slopes of the reef.
Anse Caiman is a remote and natural site, with no water supply or restaurant. Along the road to the village, you will find some huts where you can get fresh fruit juices or snacks. Take water with you.
Hawksbill sea turtles are a familiar sight in La Digue and its neighboring islands. In order to be a responsible snorkeler, be sure to respect the following rules when observing them:
On La Digue main island, Anse Patates (free shore access) is another excellent snorkeling spot to encounter sea turtles.
These spots are only recommended to good swimmers, in good physical conditions, and with excellent snorkeling skills. These spots can experience currents, moderate waves, important depths, tight or narrow passages, or tricky water entrance, and can be located near hazardous areas (channels, boat traffic, strong currents…). The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas can be important - up to 500 meters. The “advanced” category includes drift snorkeling (transported by currents) and snorkeling off the coast. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell.You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
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