Anse Source d’Argent is a legendary beach in the Seychelles. White sand, palm trees, turquoise water and impressive granite rocks – a postcard setting that’s famous all over the world. The beach is ideal for newcomers to snorkeling: unlike most of the other Seychelles spots, it is sheltered by a coral reef. Although the lagoon is shallow and there is little coral, you can still see many fish. Only the more experienced snorkelers can adventure out on the other side of the reef, when the sea conditions allows.
To get there from the little port of La Passe, it takes around 20 minutes by bike, the preferred means of transport on the island. Follow the main road south (towards the right when you get off the boat), and the beach is clearly signposted. After paying an entrance fee, you cross a large estate (vanilla plantations, a terrestrial turtle reserve) before arriving at the beach near the Lanbousir restaurant. Leave your bike there and continue on foot, following the path along the coast. Anse Source d’Argent is a series of 11 beaches and creeks. Don’t stop when you get to the first ones (the busiest), but carry on until the last beach, which is where the lagoon is best preserved.
You can enter the water anywhere along the sandy beach. At low tide, the lagoon can be too shallow to be snorkeled.
The area to be explored is between the beach and the coral reef, around 250 to 300 meters from the lagoon at this point. On your way to the reef, you will cross sandy areas (↕0-3ft/0-1m), then areas of seagrass, which gradually give way to a rocky seabed with small-sized coral here and there (↕3-5ft/1-1.50m).
Although it is rare to see small turtles, you can observe several species of fish, including butterflyfish, porcupine-fish, Moorish idols and damselfish. The water is shallow, so you should carefully explore the rocky crevices: small moray eels, groupers, pipefish and hermit crabs live there. Highly impressive and not particularly timid batfish will no doubt swim up to greet you. Leave them in their natural condition by not feeding them.
It will depend on the tides whether you can cross the reef and explore the other side. This option is reserved for experienced snorkelers and should only be done when the sea is calm and the currents are weak. The underwater seascapes are similar to other places on the island, including Anse Sévère, which is safer. When there are some surf or current in the lagoon, the visibility can be altered by stirred up sand.
The Digue Island Lodge offers accommodation closest to the spot (Union Chalet), some ten minutes on foot from the beach, but it is expensive. The area behind the Anse Source d’Argent beach is wild. Near the Lanbousir restaurant, you will find a number of places to eat, and a few fruit sellers. But you will have to walk 15 minutes or so from the last beach for the return. In the middle of the beach, a small shop sells fresh fruit juice and other drinks.
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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