Atoll Divers Seychelles

Based in the Beau Vallon area of Mahé, Atoll Divers has been operating in the Indian Ocean since 2021. The centre has quickly established itself as a key operator for those looking to move beyond the immediate reef flats and explore the deeper, more challenging waters of the archipelago.

From the granite pinnacles of the local marine parks to the long-distance offshore expeditions, the centre caters to a wide spectrum of experience levels. They focus on providing access to sites that require significant travel, ensuring that divers can encounter the larger pelagics and untouched coral ecosystems that define the Seychelles.

The team is led by Arthur Anglade, a captain and instructor experienced in both scuba and freediving. The centre is a PADI official dive centre and also serves as the first Molchanovs freediving school in the Seychelles, offering Wave 1 and Wave 2 courses.

Instruction is conducted in English and French, with Spanish and Creole also spoken by the team. To maintain a high standard of safety and personalised attention, the centre operates with a strict ratio of one guide for every four divers, with a maximum of 12 passengers on any single boat trip.

Atoll Divers offers a comprehensive range of PADI training programmes. Beginners can start with the Open Water Diver course, progressing through to the Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver certifications.

For those looking to pursue a professional career, the centre provides Divemaster training. Additionally, they are a specialised hub for freedivers, offering the official Molchanovs Wave 1 and Wave 2 courses.

The centre's primary vessel is L'Étoile, a 14m catamaran powered by twin 350 HP V8 engines. This setup provides the performance and stability needed to reach the more distant, offshore dive sites that many other local operators cannot access.

L'Étoile is designed for comfort during long excursions, carrying up to 12 divers. On board, you will find snacks, fruit, juice, and water, along with towels and facilities including an electric toilet and shower. The boat is also equipped for snorkeling and can accommodate drone launches for underwater photography enthusiasts.

The centre's shop is located in the heart of Beau Vallon and maintains a wide range of high-quality diving and snorkeling equipment. All kit provided for hire is regularly maintained and certified to ensure safety and reliability.

Shore-based facilities include areas for rinsing equipment and changing. The centre is committed to marine environmental protection and uses its position to educate divers on the fragility of the local ecosystem.

The Seychelles waters are home to a vast array of large pelagics. Depending on the time of year, you may encounter whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), particularly between August and November, and October to December. Other frequent visitors include eagle rays (Aetobatus), hammerhead sharks, and various species of sharks, including grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), and reef sharks.

In the deeper waters and around the wrecks, you can find larger predatory fish such as tuna, jacks (Carangidae), and various groupers (Epinephelus). The presence of dolphins and occasionally whales adds to the biodiversity of the offshore sites.

On the reefs and granite formations, the marine life is incredibly diverse. You will see green sea turtles, stingrays (Hypanus americanus), and southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus), alongside colourful reef fish such as parrotfish (Calotomus), snappers (Lutjanus), and angelfish (Pomacanthidae). Large Napoleon wrasse are also a common sight on the local reefs.

For those interested in macro life, the crevices and coral structures host a variety of smaller creatures. Look out for frogfish, octopus (Octopus vulgaris), various species of moray eels (Muraenidae), and porcelain lobsters, as well as emperor shrimps and several types of scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae).

The best conditions for diving in the area are typically found between March and May, or from October to November, when the sea is generally calmer. The water temperature remains warm throughout the year, ranging between 27°C and 31°C.

Some offshore sites, such as Malgache, are known for demanding currents and require experienced divers to navigate safely. Other locations, like L'Îlot, tend to experience much calmer water conditions.