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For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 |
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"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other source dares to publish" -- Forbes |
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For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 |
Members' Area
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other source dares to publish" -- Forbes |
| Seychelles | |
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Billed as 3000 miles from anywhere, this group of islands
has been trying to promote itself to divers as THE place to see whale sharks,
but this is unproven. From time to time live-aboards run to the out-island of
Aldabra, which is reported to have excellent diving.... Island prices are high....
Seychelles, December 1997, Hank Silver, Dallas, TX. I've been diving in 1951 when snorkels were unheard of. With this trip I satisfied my ambition of diving in all the word's oceans and seas. . . . Part of a Renaissance cruise package-five day safari at Maasai Mara in Kenya, six day cruise in the Seychelles Islands, a three day visit to Luxor, Egypt, 17 day journey. . . . I arranged my first dives via e.mail with David and Glyns Rowat of Seychelles Underwater Centre. In Victoria, on the island of Mahe, I taxied to their dive shop next to the Coral Strand Hotel. A massive storm washed out diving and almost wiped out Mahe, causing floods that stopped traffic and washed every rat and cockroach plumb out of town! We beat a hasty retreat back to the ship. Next day was bright and sunny, and we were picked up at the ship by the dive boat. First dive at White Bank, not a five star dive but stony corals provide a habitat for shoals of reef fish; few soft corals, some anemones with clown fish, some tunicates, hydroids. Endemic fish are mostly butterfly, angel, and damsels, unicorn, parrot, grouper, snapper, and wrasse. Water 86 degrees F. Afternoon: Channel Rocks, similar to the first. . . . The next day the ship moved near Praslin island, and a new dive operation picked me up at the transom of the ship. Now Bubba would take over for Octopus Divers. His first site was White Bank, deeper, less current than before, better visibility, tons more fish. Two minutes into the dive a 20-ft whale shark cast its shadow. Visibility 40-50 ft. Bubba took us to Ave Maria, between the islands of Praslin and La DiQue next morning because we asked for a five star dive. Heaven! White tip shark, a Hawksbill turtle, a bumphead parrot, Big potato grouper, batfish, and the usual reef fishes. Rockswere fluted, giving more surface area for attaching organisms, and gave the appearance of a lush community. . . . Coral Garden near Curies Island was a mundane low profile reef. Photographers prefer vertical structure for the ease of shooting, so this was a poor choice for me, but everyone else loved it. A juvenile eagle ray followed us around. Water 86 degrees, vis 50-60 ft, 45 ft deep, hour dive. . . . Overnight we moved the ship to the island of Desroches, a low lying coral island. I was met at the ship by Gary in his 20 ft skiff for the best dive of the week, the Canyon, a wall of considerable beauty and depth. 105', clear water, several grouper (cod) larger than I approached and made fine photos. No current, I released bubble rings that the fish swam through! What a trip. . . . Would I recommend this trip? It's more than a dive trip, it's an adventure to the dark continent. Reach me at hankswim@aol.com, if your readers have any questions. Renaissance Cruises 1/800-251-8098 ask for Kathy. Make your diving trip arrangements with Mark, the cruise director aboard the Ren VII. Cabins begin at $4295. (E-mail: divesey@seychelles.net) Underwater Center/Coral Strand Hotel, Mahe, April 1998, Marilyn Koukol, FPO, AE. The Coral Strand was comfortable, clean and air conditioned. The buffet evening meal was plentiful and varied. Water and soda was expensive ($4 for a lg. bottle of water). Surf and waves limited water clarity and made entering and exiting the boat from the shore difficult. The coral was mostly hard. Few gorgonia. Several crowns of thorn starfish. Usual tropical fish were plentiful. Turtles, rays, zebra moray eel, and a blue shark. The dive operation was smooth, the guides knowledgeable (especially Jude) and they enjoyed what they were doing. Water: 80 degrees, vis: 30-50 ft. They were helpful in getting my camera to the boat and back through the surf. People were friendly, happy, and helpful. A fun trip! (Ph/Fax: 011-248-344223, e-mail: divesey@seychelles.net, Website: www.diveseychelles.com.sc) .
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