Scuba Diving in the Seychelles Islands

 The Seychelle Islands, set in the warm crystal clear Tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, 1500 kilometers off the coast of Africa and Madagascar, is a paradise island country, where life is relaxed and total enjoyment is the only way to live, the perfect location for scuba diving. The pure clarity of the water makes the Seychelles one of the only places left on the Earth which can offer underwater visability as far as the eye can see. The literally crystal clear waters are warm and inviting, offering qualified and novice scuba divers alike, the opportunity to absorb the wonders of this underwater kingdom in all of its natural beauty and glory. Scuba diving in the Seychelle Islands is like visiting another world, one of mystery and awesome beauty, filled with marine life covered in all the colors of the rainbow.

Scuba Diving in the Seychelles is classed as an extreme sport, and for the novice scuba diver, it will be an enthralling adventure never to be forgotten. There are many scuba diving schools around the islands offering induction courses for first timers. Depending on what your choice is, some schools offer a full days diving after a one or two hour training session, some offer a twenty minute briefing with an hour out to sea, to scuba dive amongst some of the reefs to view all sorts of marine and plant life abundant in these waters. If you are heading to the Seychelles to become a Paddi registered qualified diver, so you can wreck dive and scuba dive in every part of the world on your own, then these courses are offered as well, and are recognised qualifications around the globe. As well as induction courses, you will also be taught a brief equipment profile on how to use various scuba diving equipment, and an insight into local underwater vegetation, marine life and sharks.

For many experienced and novice scuba divers, it has always been an emotional yet scary experience to sit on the ocean floor and have the sharks fed all around you. This adventure is available throughout the Seychelles with qualified scuba divers. You will be taken out to sea by a boat and will be escorted to the sea bed, where you and the whole scuba diving party will sit in a circle on the sandy ocean bed. The shark feeder will begin to take out chunks of fish from his special net and wave it about. At this point, you do not start to move your arms about, you must stay as still as possible. Sharks of all sizes will begin to circle around and above your group, swimming so close you could easily stroke them. but don't. Sharks are there for the free and easy food being offered to them, if you raise your arm, a shark might think that you are offering your arm as the food, and take a bite from your arm, so always stay still. Sitting there, helpless in a circle whilst man eating sharks swim around you, and sometimes they knock into you, or their tails may slap against your face, is a moment not many people will savour, but what an experience to have, and it can all be video taped for you.

 When scuba diving in the Seychelles, it is a must to visit some of the reefs that are still there. The underwater beauty is astounding, with tropical fish of many different variations, and the occasional hammer head shark and even a sting ray may swim by. The coral reefs are alive with hidden natural treasures as the oceans currents sway the plant life in a melody of tranquility, as lobsters and other crustaceans amble by on their way in search of food. This underwater life is as amazing as the first Jules Verne's novels about captain Nemo, capturing you undivided attention and imagination. The weather is usually very warm and dry, but if you are lucky, you may catch the odd rain shower, and if you are under the  water when the rain drops bounce on top of the ocean, it is an incredible sight to witness, as it looks like upside down rain.

 Professional Scuba Divers or Padi registered divers, will enjoy the tranquility of the Seychelle Islands, and the abundant supply of scuba diving equipment available to hire on most beaches. Identification and a credit card are essential to hire out any scuba diving equipment, but the prices are very reasonable and all the equipment has weekly safety checks and are fully inspected prior to your hiring out of the equipment. For adventures more apt for the professional, there are daily trips further out to sea for wreck diving or even closer to shore for cave diving and exploring. There are metal detectors also for hire, including the new underwater designs for the treasure hunters in all of us, seeking out the gold and silver coins or even the odd cannon left over from bygone eras.

WOW, some of these hotels are famous world wide and offer pure luxury, including Sandals all inclusive resorts, offering the best accommodation. Choices for your stay in the Seychelle Islands can include hotels, villas, beach front apartments, and even accommodation sitting on the ocean, so when you wake up in the morning you can just dive straight out of your bedroom window and into the ocean. Vacationing in the Seychelles used to be a luxury only the super rich could indulge in, and now it is open to all to sample the delights of a piece of the Earth which is still unspoilt.