If you visit Praslin Island, it is quite likely that Côte d’Or (Anse Volbert) will be the place you stay during your trip. It is true that this site is not exceptional for snorkeling and that the Seychelles are plenty of world-class snorkeling spots, but don’t hesitate to pay it a visit. Although the sea bed is not very interesting, you may come across a wide range of fish, colorful starfish and even young sea turtles.
Anse Volbert is a stunning 2km stretch of pristine white sand. Cote d’Or village, running along the beach, is the main seaside resort in Praslin, where most of the hotels, guesthouse and restaurants are concentrated. From the airport, head east and follow the signs to Grande Anse, then Sainte-Anne, and finaly Côte d’Or. If you reach Praslin by boat, you will arrive at the little port of Sainte-Anne. Head north, by following the signs to Cote d’Or (well signposted). In Praslin there are pretty much just two roads, don’t worry about getting lost ! It is also easy to get there by bus (approximately 0.5 euro each way), but be sure to return before 5pm. A good landmark to look for on the beach is the Berjaya Praslin Resort, which is across from the spot.
Enter the water directly from the beach, in front of Chauve Souris island. Keep an eye out for small fishing boats sailing nearby.
The area to explore covers a wide area between the beach and Chauve-Souris island, some 200 yards away. Once you are in the water, swim toward the island. The area has a constant sea level (↕2-5ft/0.5-1.5m) and the seabed is entirely made up of sand and seagrass. Close by Chauve-Souris island, you will come across large blocks of granite, which provide small areas of sea life that are interesting to explore.
You will come across a good variety of fish, such as parrotfish and butterflyfish. Look for Red-knobbed starfish. They like the dense seagrass covering the seabed only a few dozen yards from the beach. By crisscrossing the area and keeping a good eye out, you will soon spot them.Also, it is not unusual to see immature hawksbill sea turtles, which come to feed on the seagrass.
Côte d’Or is the main seaside resort in Praslin. Near the beach, there is a whole host of restaurants, supermarkets and accommodation for all budgets.
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.
