A Truly Exceptional Scuba Diving Destination

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An Aquamarine Spectacle Like No Other

Located at the centre of a coral atoll and natural marine sanctuary. Blessed with flourishing marine life and coral outcrops. Glide between turtles and schools of multi-coloured fish within the vast virgin reefs.

Incredible Diversity of Diving Adventures

Explore over 30 scuba dive sites. Sheer drop offs, rich currents and abundant sea life. At your doorstep. No lengthy boat rides, all only 5 – 30 minutes away.

Personal, Safe and Unforgettable

Certified team of experienced and attentive professionals. Caters for all levels and types of diving experience. PADI dive courses with full instruction available. Scuba Diving Gear and equipment is kept in top condition.

Spacious and Comfortable Accommodation

Great accommodation options for couples and larger groups alike. Very spacious and private. Your own piece of paradise, a few steps away from the beach. Nestled within nature.

Popular Sightings

Sightings during scuba diving excursions range from pelagic fish and big predators to reef species and macrolife. Divers will get to view countless Green Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles during the dives as they make their way along the coral reefs. There are also up to 15 different species of moray eels to be spotted in the cracks and crevices of the reef. Our dive sites are teeming with large groups of schooling fish like Barracuda, Bigeye Trevally, Batfish, emperor and fusilier as well as Bluelined, Humpback and Bohar Snapper which often encircle divers - this is quite an experience! 

Divers who enjoy the thrill of viewing predators can feast their eyes on large Dogtooth Tuna, Napoleon Wrasse, Giant Sweetlips, Potato Cod and a variety of grouper. Most sites hold stunning drop-offs which increase the chances of spotting pelagic species out in the blue. Be sure to also keep an eye out for the different sharks of the Seychelles found in these waters including Hammerhead, Bull, Silvertip, Tawny Nurse, Whitetip Reef and Grey Reef Sharks.

Macro-enthusiasts is assured of a real treat as they can spot a host of creatures like Leaf Scorpionfish, Longnose Hawkfish, Pipefish, Tasseled and Devil Scorpionfish, Seychelles Anemonefish and Porcelain Crab. There is also an array of Nudibranch, Flatworm, Coral Whip Goby and shrimp species such as Peacock Anemone Shrimp, Cleaner Shrimp, Peacock Shrimp and Tiger Mantis Shrimp.  

Soft Corals
Soft Corals
Eagle Ray
Eagle Ray
Meyers Butterfly Fish
Butterflyfish
Nurse Shark
Nurse Shark
Green turtle
Hawksbill Turtle
Nudibranchs
Nudibranchs
Bluestrip snapper
Bluestripe Snapper
Lion Fish
Lionfish
Scorpion Fish
Scorpion Fish
Octopus
Octopus
Marbled Ray
Marbled Ray
Butterfly Fish
Butterflyfish
Bottlenose Dolphins
Spinner Dolphins
Eyestripe surgeon fish
Eyestrip Surgeonfish
Oriental Sweetlips
Oriental Sweetlips

My Experience on Alphonse Island

Incredible Natural Beauty and Protected Marine Life

Alphonse Island Lodge is an intimate, secluded lodge situated on Alphonse Island, the largest in the Alphonse group of atolls. This group of atolls is considered one of the most pristine, untouched Eden’s of the world, making it a nature lover’s paradise. The magnificent island threesome comprising of Alphonse, St. François and Bijoutier lies in the very heart of the Indian Ocean as part of the Seychelles outer islands.

This is a truly remote destination of incredible natural beauty with miles of soft, sandy beaches, lush tropical forests and a pristine and vibrant marine ecosystem offering world-class scuba diving, not to mention a wide range of other superb water and land based activities.

We are committed to protecting the unique fauna and flora of the area with ongoing research, rehabilitation and monitoring programs, focusing especially on nesting sea turtles, giant tortoises, sensitive marine habitats and forest rehabilitation. Fishing is done on a strict catch-and-release basis, with environmental fishing practices consistently practiced.

Safe and Private Paradise

Alphonse Island is an incredibly safe and intimate paradise to enjoy your holiday!

There is no malaria in the Seychelles and no vaccines are required when visiting, although some travellers elect to protect themselves against hepatitis A with an immunoglobulin injection (short-­term protection) or the longer lasting vaccine. Alphonse Island has no cyclones and is considered sheltered from extreme weather with predictable weather conditions, no poisonous snakes or spiders, no dangerous animals and no cars.

With only one intimate lodge on the entire atoll, you will experience a great sense of space, both indoors and out, with ocean views from your patio or deck and unblemished beaches just a few paces away.

Scuba Diving Gear, Equipment and Boats

The Dive Centre at Alphonse Island ensures that all of our equipment and scuba gear is perfectly maintained and kept in top condition. During your stay all scuba diving gear and scuba diving equipment is provided by the Dive Centre. This includes wetsuits (3mm short and full suits), masks, fins (assorted sizes), weights, cylinders aluminum, regulators, BCD’s, dive computers and torches. The Dive Centre has partnered with Paralenz to provide guests with the perfect camera for scuba diving. These specialist cameras can be rented on a daily basis or as part of a scuba diving package. 

Alphonse has two purpose-built dive boats, the Amirante Cat and Zanbren, which ensure that guests reach the diving destination quickly and comfortably. The two twin engine, 225hp vessels are covered to protect you from the sun and has towels, drinks and snacks on board for in between or after dives. The number of divers on a trip are kept to a minimum on each trip with a ratio of a maximum of 1 guide to 5 divers. All of our skippers are fully licensed and endorsed for driving dive boats and are divers themselves, which means they know the sites and their attractions well.

Scuba Diving for Everyone

Of the 30+ scuba dive sites around the Alphonse Atoll, 15 are suitable for all categories of divers, which makes diving at Alphonse an exciting experience for both beginners as well as advanced divers who can enjoy the various drift dives on offer. The sites are easily accessible and vary between five and thirty minutes from the dive boat mooring site.

Considered to be one of the last true paradises on Earth, Alphonse Island in the Seychelles is blessed with sheer drop offs, rich currents and abundant sea life. This makes the Alphonse group of Atolls one of the most exciting and diverse dive destinations in the Seychelles. The pristine sites around both Alphonse and St. François are famous for not only its warm water and great visibility, but also its unbleached corals and a diverse range of fish species comprising of reef, pelagic and shark species.

Best Dive Sites

The below-mentioned scuba dive sites are only a small selection. We have many more world-class and certified dive sites to visit around our atolls. Below are articles about the areas we typically dive at.

We have many more world-class and certified dive sites to visit

Along the wall, at roughly 22 metres, there is a big coral outcrop which continues slightly deeper to 30 metres where there is a slight step-off with a sandy bottom. There are many overhangs with pink sea fans along the wall. There are possibilities of viewing schools of snappers and emperors, big Potato Groupers and Oriental Sweetlips. Also frequenting this site are pelagics such as shoals of tuna and various species of sharks. This site is loved by underwater photographers for its impressive scenery.

Sometimes we come across sleeping Nurse Sharks here or turtles that were searching for a quiet place to rest.

You will find very big pink, orange and white sea fans and whip corals along the wall, with many holes and overhangs present. Towards the end of the dive the topography changes and more structured coral covered rocks provide shelter for many snappers, Bluefin Trevally, Eagle Rays, turtles and sleeping Nurse Sharks. This is a great drift dive along the 90-degree wall with impressive fan corals and a good chance of seeing big fish out in the blue.

Grey reef sharks and turtles may also swim your way

There are big coral head formations on the plateau where you can see a great variety of schooling reef fish and turtles. A good place to find Scorpion Fish, moray eels, lobsters and jacks, as well as sharks. A beautiful dive site with so much life and colour to see. This is an excellent spot for macro photography and ideal for beginners.(5 - 15 m plateau; slopes to 30 m)

Once outside again, the water is full of fusiliers, snappers and young Barracuda.

Open water raised reef with its top at 16 metres covered with big colourful sea fans, schooling fish such as emperors, fusiliers, snappers, jacks, Potato Groupers, moray eels, and Napoleon Wrasse. Underwater photographers will be completely captivated by this dive site. This is a top spot around Alphonse, but only for experienced divers in ideal weather conditions. Sometimes this site has very strong currents, so a fast descent is necessary to hit the spot. This site can only be dived during periods with small tidal differences.

Spot special kinds of nudibranchs or snails as well as a variety of moray eels.

This site features sloping bottom topography covered in hard coral which continues along the vertical wall starting at 16 metres. On the plateau you have a good chance of finding Scorpion Fish and turtles sleeping under coral heads, as well as Grey Reef Sharks. The “Arcade” itself is U-shaped and consists of holes and overhangs where Napoleon and groupers seek shelter from the gentle current. Schools of Dogtooth Tuna, Chevron Barracudas and jacks frequent this dive site.

The fish life is remarkable on this dive site: big shoals of snappers and fusiliers, Sweetlips, sleeping stingrays and especially Nurse Sharks.

PADI Scuba Diving Courses & Instructors

Dive Straight In

The dynamic and professional team at the Alphonse Dive Centre offers a wide variety of scuba diving courses. With several years of international and local diving experience, the team has the utmost enthusiasm for sharing memorable underwater encounters with guests of all ages. We are committed to making guests’ scuba diving training personal, safe and unforgettable.

Beginners can choose from a selection of PADI Beginner Courses on offer, whilst a refresher course is available to those who haven’t dived in a year or more. These scuba diving courses are great for guests new to the sport as well as for children and include the Discover Scuba Initiation Programme and the PADI Bubble Maker course.

For those with experience under the belt, the team offers a full range of Advanced & Beyond PADI accredited scuba diving courses.



Let us help you create the ultimate diving getaway

Browse the Accommodation

Alphonse Island features one intimate lodge with accommodation perfectly suited to your needs. After a mesmerising dive, find your perfect haven just few steps away from the water’s edge.

Beach Villa

2 adults, 2 children
From 2,575 pps

View Room

Beach Bungalow

2 adults, 1 child
From 1,175 pps

View Room

Beach Retreat

8 adults
From 7,950 per night for up to 4 pax pps

View Room

Experiences on the Island

Besides outstanding diving, Alphonse Island is an outdoor enthusiast and nature lover’s paradise with miles of white sandy beaches, indigenous forests and protected coral reefs. Take advantage of all the diverse experiences this island paradise has to offer.

  • Permit
    Fly Fishing
  • Sailfish
    Bluewater Fishing
  • The sheer drop offs, rich currents and abundant sea life that surrounds the Alphonse group of Atolls makes it one of the most exciting and diverse dive destinations in the Seychelles.
    Scuba Diving
  • Beautiful snorkelling conditions
    Snorkelling
  • Kayaking
    Ocean Experiences
  • Cycling around the island
    Island Experiences
  • Sunset Cruises
    Sunset Cruises
  • Dining

Fly Fishing

Permit

Bluewater Fishing

Sailfish

Scuba Diving

The sheer drop offs, rich currents and abundant sea life that surrounds the Alphonse group of Atolls makes it one of the most exciting and diverse dive destinations in the Seychelles.

Snorkelling

Beautiful snorkelling conditions

Ocean Experiences

Kayaking

Island Experiences

Cycling around the island

Sunset Cruises

Sunset Cruises

Dining

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