Bordered by takamakas and bathed in a small closed lagoon, the white sand beach of Anse Sévère is one of the most accessible and appreciated of the island of La Digue. Located less than one kilometer north of the village of La Passe and the pier, it gives access to a famous snorkeling spot. Once on the outer side of the reef, you can see, over the sandbanks and corals, spotted rays and a myriad of tropical fish.
Anse Sévère is located on the northern tip of La Digue, about 1 kilometer north of the pier, between the Domaine de l’Orangeraie and the Patatran Village Hotel. The bike is, as often at La Digue, the easiest and most pleasant way to reach the beach (10min.), but the distance can also be traveled on foot. The coastal road, which runs alongside beautiful lagoons and a breathtaking view of Praslin, is an attraction on its own.
You can enter in the water anywhere along the beach, then swim to the reef. Be careful, because at low tide, the low water level can make the water entrance tricky. In this case, you can use the passage at the southern edge of the beach (see map below).
The exploration area includes the shallow flats extending in front of the beach, but also the outer reef (beyond the area where the waves break). Keep in mind, however, that although it is relatively easy to pass on the other side of the reef (the height of the water allows), it is not advisable to do so if the waves are too high.
Close to the beach, the seabed is sandy (↕0.5m), then gradually cover corals as you move away from the shore. It is in the wave zone, about 50 meters from the edge that the bottoms are the richest (↕0.5-1 m): hard corals of the acropora type, particularly dense in places, proliferate there. They are a popular habitat for white-breasted fish-surgeons, bird-wreckers, and sergeant major-tailed scissors.
If sea conditions allow you to explore the outer side of the reef, you will enter a deeper sandy area (↕2-4m) after crossing the wave’s area. If the seabed is poorer, it is on the other hand in this area that you will have a good chance to encounter leopard rays. Many of them rest on this spot, especially at the end of the day. Hawksbill sea turtles are sometimes seen at Anse Severe, but randomly. If you want to be sure to see turtles on the coasts of La Digue, go for Anse Patate (250m north of Anse Sévère), or especially Anse Caïman (4km east of Anse Sévère, but reserved to experienced snorkelers). Alternatively, book a snorkeling tour to Coco Island, which is one of the most popular snorkeling spots in the Seychelles.
Two guesthouses and a snack bar (sometimes also a fruit merchant) are located just behind the beach. However, the spot is very easily accessible from the village of La Passe, where you will find a large choice of accommodation, restaurants and souvenir shops.
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.
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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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