Coin de Mire: The best snorkelling site

There may be various snorkelling sites around Mauritius but this one will amaze you by the rich marine life. Coin de Mire island is indeed reputed for being the best snorkelling site in the north of Mauritius. 

A relaxing day admiring the waves and the birds or swimming into the warm Indian Ocean water and discover the magnificent underwater world. A boat trip to Coin de Mire island will definitely give you these amazing and once in a life time opportunities.

Also known as the Gunner’s Quoin, Coin de Mire island is locate at 8km from the coast of Mauritius. Either by speed boat or catamaran, it will take you around half an hour to reach the island. Once your boat drops the anchor near the island, it is time for you to get ready to take a dip into the turquoise lagoon and explore the stunning underwater world.

Whether you are a passionate snorkeler or a casual swimmer, Coin de Mire enables you to explore the wonderful marine world without the requirement of going diving. At an average depth of 6 meters and crystal clear water, snorkelling conditions there are nearly perfect all year round. 

Once you have your flippers, masks and snorkels on, dive in. You will discover that the waters and the reefs at Coin de Mire is home to various and most beautiful fish species. The variety of bright-coloured fishes of different shapes among Butterfly fish, Damselfish, Monkfish, Pipefish, the Picasso fish, school of carangue fish, and the large trumpet fish, as well colourful corals such as the spiral tube-worms, are all feast for the eyes. You better have a waterproof camera to capture the unique moment. 

If luck is on your side on your excursion day, you may come across sea turtles and even dolphins. Indeed, marine biologists have observed Stenellas dolphins, known as Spinner dolphins, in the waters near the islet. One piece of advice: Be careful of the currents which can be high at times. 

However, if you are looking for deeper exploration of the fauna, you can scuba dive to explore the wreck of the ‘Djabeda’ ship, which lies at 30 meters deep. The ship has been home to a huge variety of fauna and flora. You can also explore underwater caves and tunnels. 

If you have cold feet and prefer to stay dry on the boat, do not miss the spectacular and elegant bird show across the blue sky. Home to the famous National bird the ‘Paille-en-Queue’, Coin de Mire was in fact declared Nature Reserve by the government. The islet is also the nesting place of tropical birds such as Red tailed tropic, Wedged tail shearwarter and the White tailed tropic bird. So take your cameras out and capture the moment. You may also see birds diving into the translucent water to catch fish. 

On your way back, you will have stunning view on the north coast of the Mauritius and the panoramic lagoon view. The trip is soothing to the adventurous and sea lover souls and to those seeking a true moment of relaxation.