Not far from La Digue, the rich depths of Coco Island are a real natural aquarium. Around this idyllic isle bathed by crystal-clear waters, you can swim amid turtles and hundreds of fish above a wealth of coral. Top-quality sites are not rare in the Seychelles, but lovers of snorkeling should not leave the archipelago without exploring this exceptional spot.
Coco Island lies a few miles from La Digue. Unless you have your own boat or you are visiting the Seychelles in a catamaran, you will need to book a half-day tour from a local operator to visit the spot. Excursions to Coco leaving from La Digue generally include a stop on Félicité Island. Since the spot is part of the Coco Island Marine Park, there is an entrance fee (included in the price of your tour) and the area is regulated.
You enter the water from the boat, jumping into the water at the spot shown by your tour organizer.
The area to explore is at the edge of Coco Island (facing the small white sandy beach) and near the islands surrounding it. During an organized excursion, there is little scope for independence and you will generally be accompanied by your guide throughout the exploration. He can show you the most interesting areas and give you a good glimpse of underwater life.
Near the small islands, you will alternatively cross clear areas interspersed with spectacular granite rocks and impressive coral beds (↕12-24ft/4-8m). Near the beach, it is less deep (↕3-10ft/1-3m) and the coral is rarer, but there are just as many fish.
The underwater life in this spot is impressive in density and variety. Shoals of powder blue tangs, hawksbill sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, parrotfish, blue damselfish, and deep red anthias… The coral (mainly of the acropora type) is very well preserved.
At this spot, the water is particularly clean and clear (less so close to the beach). Sea conditions can vary, on the other hand. Follow your tour guide’s instructions.
Coco Island is an unspoiled spot, and there are no restaurants. Although tour organizers sometimes provide drinks and snacks (check beforehand), you are better off taking your own water at least.
Hawksbill sea turtles are a familiar sight in La Digue and its neighboring islands, like Coco Island. In order to be a responsible snorkeler, be sure to respect the following rules when observing them:
On La Digue main island, Anse Patates and Anse Caiman (both with free shore access) are also excellent snorkeling spots to encounter hawksbill 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.
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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.
