Dive Site: Curieuse Marine Park

About Curieuse Marine Park

Curieuse Marine Park in the Seychelles offers a unique dive experience nestled among the Inner Islands, renowned for its diverse underwater topography. These islands sit on a shallow plateau, making for generally easy diving conditions with depths typically between 8 to 30 meters. The marine park is characterized by both granite-based and carbonate tropical reefs, flourishing with a wide array of marine life. Divers can expect to encounter common reef fish like angelfish, butterflyfish, and batfish, along with octopus, lionfish, and moray eels. Green and hawksbill turtles are frequently spotted, contributing to the park's vibrant ecosystem. The park's underwater landscape is further enhanced by impressive granite boulder formations, some covered in corals and various marine life. These unique formations add a dramatic flair to the dive sites, creating interesting swim-throughs and habitats for smaller creatures such as nudibranchs and mantis shrimp. While the Inner Islands generally offer calmer conditions suitable for various skill levels, the pro-active government has designated over 50% of the country as National Parks and Reserves, ensuring a protected and thriving environment. While currents are generally manageable in the Inner Islands, making it suitable for certification training and fun dives, the region still offers ample opportunities for exploration. Visibility is typically excellent, especially during the calmer months, providing clear views of the abundant marine life and unique geological features. The ease of access and relatively shallow depths make Curieuse Marine Park an appealing destination for divers seeking a rich and comfortable underwater adventure.

Dive site facts: Curieuse Marine Park

Depth

4–30 m

Typical dive

8–20 m, 45–60 min

Current

Mild to occasional strong

Visibility

15–30 m

Water temperature

27–30°C

Entry

Boat / Tender

Level

All levels

Dive type

Reef, wall, drift, night

Night dive

Possible

Region / port

Praslin, Seychelles

Coordinates

-4.28, 55.74

Conditions & Currents

Currents within Curieuse Marine Park are generally mild, making it suitable for divers across various experience levels. However, certain areas or specific dive sites within the park, such as Sister Bank, can experience stronger currents, which are ideal for exhilarating drift dives. Visibility is typically good, often exceeding 15 meters, but can vary with plankton blooms that attract larger pelagic species. Entry is usually from a tender boat, and divers should be prepared for potential mild surge near rocky outcrops. Due to the varied conditions, divers should always check with their dive operator for site-specific current forecasts on the day of the dive, ensuring appropriate gas planning and buddy procedures.

Marine life & sighting chances

Green turtle

common

Hawksbill turtle

common

Whitetip reef shark

common

Grey reef shark

occasional

Spotted eagle ray

common

Whale shark

October-February · occasional

Giant moray eel

common

Napoleon wrasse

occasional

Bumphead parrotfish

occasional

Yellowfin soldierfish

common

Boxfish

common

Octopus

common

Lionfish

common

Spiny lobster

occasional

Dive profile & how the dive runs

A typical dive within Curieuse Marine Park often begins with a boat entry directly over a sheltered reef or granite boulder field. Divers descend along a gradual slope or wall, exploring the vibrant coral formations and seeking out macro life among the crevices. The route might follow a specific contour, traversing through swim-throughs formed by the massive granite boulders. Depths are generally kept between 10 to 20 meters, allowing for extended bottom times and thorough exploration. Turn points are typically determined by air consumption or time, with a slow ascent back towards shallower areas for the safety stop, often in the 5-meter range, where abundant reef fish are observed. The dive concludes with a boat pick-up.

Underwater photography

Curieuse Marine Park offers exceptional opportunities for both wide-angle and macro photography. For capturing the grand granite formations and schooling fish, a wide-angle lens is recommended, ideally paired with external strobes to bring out the vibrant colors of the corals and reef inhabitants. For macro subjects such as nudibranchs, pipefish, and smaller crustaceans, a dedicated macro lens will yield stunning detail. Pay close attention to buoyancy control, especially around delicate coral structures, to avoid accidental contact. When photographing marine life, maintain a respectful distance and avoid harassing subjects, allowing for natural behavior. Divers with cameras tend to spend more time closer to the reef, so maintaining excellent buoyancy is crucial for minimizing impact.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Red Point

  Southernmost tip of Curieuse Island, known for eagle rays and whitetip sharks.

• St. Pierre

  Within Curieuse Marine Park, excellent for night dives and macro photography.

• Ave Maria (Praslin)

  Between Praslin and La Digue, features vertical walls and diverse fish life.

• White Bank

  East of Praslin, with submerged granitic rocks, sponges, and corals.

• Channel Rocks

  Submerged granite reef east of Praslin, with limited coral but abundant fish.

• Sister Bank

  Known for drift diving over dramatic rock formations and rare angelfish.

Getting there & logistics

Access to Curieuse Marine Park is typically via liveaboard or day trip boats departing from Praslin Island. Major international airlines such as Air Seychelles, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways fly into Mahé's Victoria International Airport (SEZ). From Mahé, domestic flights or high-speed ferries connect to Praslin. Most dive trips combine dives within Curieuse Marine Park with other nearby sites around Praslin and La Digue over several days. While equipment rental is generally available, divers are encouraged to bring their own gear, particularly for specialized items. Marine park fees are usually included in liveaboard packages, but day-trippers should confirm.

Safety & environment

Safety in Curieuse Marine Park involves adherence to standard dive practices, including thorough pre-dive checks and maintaining good buoyancy control, especially given the prevalence of coral reefs. The nearest recompression chamber is located on Mahé, necessitating efficient evacuation procedures in case of a dive emergency. Divers should always carry valid dive insurance that covers medical emergencies and evacuation. Site-specific hazards are minimal, but strong currents can occasionally occur at some locations, requiring divers to be proficient in drift diving techniques. Dive operators will provide comprehensive briefings on local conditions and emergency protocols.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Curieuse Marine Park FAQ

Liveaboards diving Curieuse Marine Park

These liveaboards may visit Curieuse Marine Park 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