Created in the early seventies, the Saint Anne Marine Park has been protected and sculpted to perfection. Just 5km from the shores of Mahe, this watersport paradise has six islands and reefs that capture every shape and size and colour possible. While watersports are certainly on the cards, everything is geared towards protecting the area and the wildlife that call these waters home. Fishing and waterskiing are banned but snorkelling, diving, and kayaking are world class. Coral gardens, turtles, and fish along with over 75 different species of flora make for a fascinating water safari. Dolphins and reef sharks are also regular explorers around these parts. You will find the best snorkel spots at the Saint Anne Channel where visibility is mirror-like and there’s never any shortage of characters to swim alongside.
One of the most secluded islands in the Seychelles, Silhouette Island boasts only a handful of residents, a singular resort, and plenty of wide and wild open space. In fact, the island is 90% natural park meaning protected corners can be found at every turn. From walking trails to white sand beaches, cinnamon trees, and giant tortoises - everything on these shores seem to be carved from a dream. Grab a snorkel and plunge into the welcoming warm shades of blue where curious parrot fish, rays, and white tipped sharks get up close and personal. Silhouette Island is also a first-class nesting spot for turtles too and with a dedicated research center you can get an in-depth understanding of these ancient and wise creatures.
A stone’s throw from Mahe’s west coast you will find the tiny remote island of Ile Therese. A sister of Conception Island and part of the Port Glaud District, Ile Therese is a living breathing example of paradise. Completely uninhabited, this island isn’t an easy reach but the journey is well worth it. As soon as you catch sight of the island with its twin rocky peaks kissing the sky and resembling a giant staircase, you are sure to fall in love. Reaching just over 1.6km long and coated in climbing palm trees and tropical foliage with bone white beaches and waters full of sparkling fish, there’s so much beauty crammed into such a small space. Boulders adorn the corners of the beach and the waters are a tapestry of turquoise and sapphire blue. While tourism is scarce on the island, there’s plenty of opportunity for watersports including deep sea fishing, snorkelling, and more.
A charming half moon bay with luminescent shallow waters for swimming, the Bay of Anse in Baie Lazare boasts a beautiful chilled out atmosphere backed up by a gentle sea breeze and plenty of wild nature. The beach gradient ebbs out in shallow limpid pools meaning you can walk for seeming miles out into the blue. Snorkelling here is a popular pastime with shoals of silvery and bright painted fish flitting to and fro beneath the surface. Giant boulders (atypical to the Seychelles) also dot the beach along with tall palm trees and draping greenery. Spend a day lounging on the sand, snorkelling in the shallows, and seeking shade beneath the splayed palm throngs.
A truly inspired private Island in the sweet Seychelles, Fregate is a fantasy land brimming with five-star style. This idyllic resort boasts a handful of private villas and is home to one of the world's best beaches. Perfectly named, the island is also home to an essential nesting spot for Frigate birds and is a heavenly home for Aldabra giant tortoises. For those charter guests looking to balance absolute luxury bliss with the company of some of the Seychelle's most exciting wildlife, Fregate is sure to strike a chord. Days are spent hiking the atmospheric trails and snorkelling in the pristine waters and eves are spent dining on organic dishes and watching falling stars thunder overhead.
With fiery red soil and a natural coco del mar forest, Curieuse is a curious little island stashed away in the Seychelles. The smallest of the 115 islands that make up the Seychelles, Curieuse is less than 3 square meters but has so much history and beauty already swaddled in its name. Between 1829 and 1965, it was a leper colony and you can still see a collection of stone buildings used to house residents.
These days it is home to ongoing conservation work dedicated to protecting the fragile ecosystem of the natural coco forests and the colony of giant tortoises. On the nearby island of Praslin you will find one of the world's best beaches at Anse Lazio. Boulders, Takamaka trees, a beachside restaurant, and blue and white shades set the scene for sandy days laced with saltwater.
For those charter guests who dream of swimming alongside sea turtles, the Iles Cocos & Felicite are a must. This small selection of islets sit a few miles north of La Digue in the sweet Seychelles Archipelago. Iles Cocos is a first class spot for snorkeling. With crystal clear waters and hundreds of turtles, it’s a dream locale for dropping anchor and plunging into the perfect shades of blue. A little further along and you find Felicite Island. A vision of forest and granite, this island was once a coconut plantation but has now been turned into an intimate resort. As part of the protected marine park you can snorkel and dive in pristine surroundings with just a few boats for company as fellow sailors find themselves smitten by the wealth of water life and the native turtles.
Despite being the Seychelles' second-largest island, Praslin has a small population. When you arrive here, you'll see a jungle-covered mountain ridge rising from the ocean, with a few low-rise houses and a tiny jetty. The typical tropical-island triad of sun, sea, and sand is a major draw, but there are also botanical wonders, amazing birdlife, and the slow speed of traditional Seychellois island life to be found.