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. Resort nearby
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Last updated on July 25, 2023
Fringed by granite boulders and coconut trees, Anse Patate is a beautiful Seychelles beach. Although it is more exposed to waves than nearby snorkeling spots, it is a very nice location when the sea is calm. Anse Patate is popular for its many hawksbill sea turtles, sometimes seen really close to the shore, and a relatively well-preserved coral reef starting about 30 meters from the beach.
Anse Patate is located at La Digue Island’s northern tip, just 400 meters north of Anse Sévère, next to the Patatran Village hotel. It is just a 10 minutes bike ride from La Passe village. Just before the Patatran Village, you will see below the road a small beach bordered by granite rocks. Take the stairs down to get there.
Enter the water directly from the small sandy beach. Do not snorkel here if the sea is rough.
Two snorkeling areas are recommended at Anse Patate:
1. The moderately deep rubble area which is found along the rock boulders, west of the beach. Once in the water, swim past the granite boulders and along the shore on your left. The seabed is badly damaged but hawksbill sea turtles can often be seen there. As always in La Digue waters, they are very easy to spot. Spotted eagle rays also visit this area.
2. The coral reef facing the beach. After swimming over coral debris for 30 m or so, you will reach a healthier coral reef. The reef is quite deep (↕12-18ft/4-6 m) but worth exploring. It features a diversity of fish species such as the green humphead parrotfish, the palette surgeonfish, different types of wrasse and very abundant sergeant majors.
When the sea conditions are perfect, good swimmers can consider snorkeling from Anse Patate to Anse Sévère and its far more spectacular reef (approx. 500 meters).
The Patatran Village overlooks Anse Patate beach. Several guesthouses are also available nearby. The island’s main village, where you will find all basic amenities, is just a 10 minutes bike ride from the beach.
Live a close encounter with a barracuda at Anse Patate 👇 in this video shared by Reisedachs!
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 Caiman (free shore access) is another excellent snorkeling spot to encounter sea turtles.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. 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.
We were there in March 2020 and it was the best snorkelling place we had in the Seychelles. Our highlight was a 1.2 m Barracuda, but we also had a stingray, big swarms of pompanos and all the other usual reef fish.
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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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