Dive Site: North Island

About North Island

North Island is an exclusive dive location within the Seychelles, known for its pristine underwater environment and the opportunity to explore newly discovered sites. Located on the Mahé Plateau, the area boasts a dynamic topography that includes slopes descending to greater depths. The average dive depth ranges from 18 to 35 meters, supporting extensive hard coral formations, particularly fast-growing staghorn coral. The site's unique characteristics, combined with the efforts of resident diving instructors, mean that exploration often extends to previously uncharted areas, offering a truly distinctive diving adventure for guests. Marine life is abundant, with large schools of fish like blue-banded snappers and kingfish, various shark species, and round ribbontail rays commonly observed. While diving is possible year-round, conditions are optimal during transition months when visibility can reach up to 30 meters. However, specific seasons bring different marine megafauna sightings, such as whale sharks from August to November. Diving at North Island is primarily for those seeking an extraordinary experience, often involving strong currents that necessitate advanced diving skills. The focus is on discovery and encountering a rich, unspoiled ecosystem, making every dive a potentially unforgettable event.

Dive site facts: North Island

Depth

18–35 m

Current

Strong

Visibility

Often over 30 m

Water temperature

28–30°C

Entry

Liveaboard only

Level

Experienced recommended

Dive type

Reef, exploratory, pelagic encounters

Region / port

Seychelles

Coordinates

4.8988° S, 55.2158° E

Conditions & Currents

North Island frequently experiences strong currents, which can make diving here challenging and primarily suited for experienced divers. These currents necessitate careful planning and execution, potentially involving negative entries depending on the site and conditions. Visibility at North Island is generally excellent, often surpassing 30 meters during optimal periods, though heavy rainfall can cause runoff and reduce clarity in the inner islands, less so in the outer regions. Water temperatures are typically warm, ranging from 28°C to 30°C, but can drop slightly during the southeast trade winds season (May-September), where a 4mm wetsuit might be beneficial. Divers should be prepared for varying conditions, especially regarding currents, and ensure their gas planning accounts for potential increased exertion.

Marine life & sighting chances

Staghorn Coral

common

Sharks

common

Blue-banded Snappers

common

Kingfish

common

Round Ribbontail Rays

common

Whale Sharks

August-November · occasional

Hard Corals

common

Reef Fish

common

Moray Eels

occasional

Stingrays

occasional

Dive profile & how the dive runs

A typical dive at North Island begins with an assessment of the often strong currents, which dictates the entry method, potentially a negative entry. Divers descend to depths ranging from 18 to 35 meters, exploring the sloping topography and numerous coral pinnacles. The route will often involve drifting along the reefs, observing large schools of blue-banded snappers and kingfish, as well as various shark species and round ribbontail rays that frequent the area. The turn point is determined by air consumption and current strength, ensuring a conservative return or ascent profile. Safety stops are conducted in the mid-water column, carefully managing buoyancy and accounting for potential drift in the strong currents, allowing for a thorough outgassing while observing the active reef life.

Underwater photography

Capturing the dynamic underwater scenes at North Island, with its strong currents and pelagic encounters, benefits from a versatile setup. A wide-angle lens is ideal for showcasing the extensive hard coral gardens, vast schools of fish, and larger species like sharks and rays. Given the depth range of 18-35 meters, external strobes are essential to bring out the true colors of the corals and marine life, especially in deeper sections. Due to the prevalent strong currents, maintaining excellent buoyancy control is paramount, allowing photographers to stabilize themselves for sharp shots without disturbing the environment. Be prepared for fast-moving subjects; a quick shutter speed and responsive focus system are advantageous for capturing kingfish and snappers in motion.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• One Tree Island

  A shallow site focused on fish, with good visibility and granite substrate.

• Trois Bancs

  Features three granite-based reefs with steep drop-offs, vertical walls, and strong currents attracting large pelagics.

• Shark Bank (Mahé)

  Known for schools of fish, reef sharks, eagle rays, and occasional whale sharks.

• Baie Ternay Marine Park

  Shallow waters with spectacular coral reefs and abundant marine life, suitable for all levels.

Getting there & logistics

Access to North Island typically involves flying into Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) on Mahé, followed by a private transfer. The island is often visited as part of an exclusive resort stay, which includes dedicated dive operations. Trips are usually arranged directly through the resort, offering a highly personalized experience, including opportunities to visit newly discovered dive sites. Due to its private and exclusive nature, specific permits or fees beyond the resort's package may not be individually itemized for divers, but rather incorporated into the overall luxury experience. The dive operations are tailored to guests, focusing on bespoke itineraries rather than standard liveaboard routes, often employing smaller boats for intimate dive groups.

Safety & environment

Diving at North Island, especially with its often strong currents and potential for exploratory dives, requires adherence to strict safety protocols. Divers must carry valid dive insurance that covers recompression chamber treatment and emergency evacuation. The nearest recompression chamber is located on Mahé, which entails a transfer time that could impact critical care. Due to the remote and exclusive nature of the island, evacuation procedures would likely involve private air or sea transport. Site-specific hazards include variable and strong currents, necessitating advanced dive skills, excellent buoyancy control, and diligent gas management. Divers should always follow the guidance of local dive professionals, avoid touching marine life or corals, and stay within their training and experience limits, particularly when exploring new or challenging sites.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

North Island FAQ

Liveaboards diving North Island

These liveaboards may visit North Island on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Explorer 1

Seychelles

6 guests17 m

$522/day

Sea Pearl

Seychelles

16 guests36 m

$212/day

Sea Bird and Sea Star

Seychelles

18 guests42 m

$288/day