Level: Resort nearby
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Last updated on August 17, 2023
Anse Petite Cour is a small beach nested on Praslin Island’s north coast, with a gorgeous view of Curieuse Island. This little piece of Heaven also is a renowned snorkeling spot. Getting there requires organization since the beach is private, but the spot is worth the effort. Underwater life includes diverse species typical from Seychelles reefs, such as butterflyfish and surgeonfish.
Anse Petite Cour is located on Praslin Island’s north coast, along the road leading from Anse Volbert and the village of Côte d’Or to Anse Lazio. The beach is privately owned by Domaine de la Réserve, which is its only entry point. Theoretically, the beach is open to visitors but their number can be limited during high season. We advise you to call the hotel before coming to ensure you can access the site.
Anse Petite Cour is just a few minutes’ car drive from Cote d’Or (less than 2 km) but finding a parking space is not easy.
Anse Petite Cour is a small beach (less than 200 meters long), and half of it disappears at high tide. Enter the water wherever you like from the sandy beach.
The whole bay can be snorkeled. It is not sheltered by a coral barrier, unlike many spots on Seychelles, so you will be free to venture on the outer reef. The depth reaches 18ft/6m in the center of the bay. Coral’s health is overall fine but they are damaged in places.
A diversity of fish can be spotted at reef, including several species of butterflyfish (including the very common melon butterflyfish), bluefin trevally and bluespotted cornetfish. Small groupers and octopuses are also common in the shallows.
Anse Petite Cour is generally sheltered from waves and strong currents. Don’t get out of the swimming area as there is an important boat traffic in the bay.
The only accommodation near the beach is the Domaine de la Réserve, whose restaurant is open to non-residents if they book in advance. Cote d’Or village, only a few minutes’ drive from the beach, has a choice of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. 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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