Water Sports

Mauritius is a perfect destination for different water sport activities. In the following article I will give you an overview about different water sport possibilities:

SURFING

Surfing is possible in the sea on the west coast of Mauritius. The season for surfing is principal in the wintertime in the months from May to October. Still in the rest of the year you will get some good waves in Mauritius.
The surf, especially in Tamarin Bay, became famous in Mauritius in the late 60th when the Hippie-surfer mainly from Australia came to Mauritius. Tamarin Bay was a very good and unknown spot at that time. But still today there are some good surfing places on the west coast of Mauritius. These places are not that special anymore than they have received a regard as in the 60th and also the climate change brings out that the conditions for surfing decreases.

The best spot for surfing in Mauritius is still Tamarin bay where the Black River flows into the Indian Ocean. Tamarin Bay provides good conditions for beginners who can stay close to the mouth of the river where the water is shallow and the ground is sandy. Profs on the other hand can surf further outside on the riff on the left hand side of the river’s mouth. There you can found quite high clean left braking waves. If good conditions are given, you will see many surfers in the sea. It is also interesting for non surfers to come and watch them.If you don’t have your own equipment you can rent a board at the Tamarina Hotel for roundabout € 20 for four hours. The friendly water sport team of the hotel offers also lessons for beginners and if you want to get information about the wave conditions you can ask them every time.

In addition Le Morne, which is located south, about half an hour by car from Tamarin provides a good surfing spot called One Eye Wave. This spot though, is only surfable for Profs because of the highness of the waves, the strong current and the riff close under the wave. Furthermore the spot is located quite far away from the beach with the result that most of the surfers reach the spot One Eye by boot. Surf clubs don’t teach at this sport and even don’t allow surfing there with their rented equipment.
If you still want to surf in this spot I would recommend you to go only together with local surfers who know one’s way over there.

The third known surfing spot is located approximately 15 km south of Le Morne in the Riviere des Gallet in front of the small island Ilôt Sancho. This spot is also not suited for beginners because of the strong current and the shallow water over the riff.
On the Ilôt Sancho there is given local surf competition sponsored by Billabong and Quicksilver once a year in November or December where you can look at Mauritius best surfers.

Dangers
In Tamarin Bay are founded the so called „White shorts“which are active on worldwide known surfing spots. The “White Shorts” concerns about a group of surfers who surf quite unfair and also bully tourists. They can be very brutal in other countries but in Mauritius they are relatively harmless. Nothing really happened even to foreign surfers since they exist here. As long as you meet them with respect and share the waves fairly with them there is no need to worry. If you want to surf every wave yourself and don’t give other surfers the chance to catch them, than you could get in a difficulty which is a matter of course!

SNORKELING

Where to go snorkeling? After so many questions being asked I decided to find it out myself.
First I had to get used to the glasses, and the snorkel and so I found out that it is really as easy as it looks and everyone says. Probably really everyone who can swim is able to snorkel and should not miss the chance to see all that is hidden in the sea! Here you can find some hints and an overview over the spots that I have tested.

- The chance to get a sunburn under water is really extremely high. Even with waterproof sunlotion with the highest sun protection factor you should not stay too long in the water. The best idea probably is just to take on a T-Shirt. Please even then do not forget to put sunlotion danger to be heavily burnt quite high.

-It is obvious, but was not clear to me at first, that the most fish can be seen where the reefs, plants and stones are. The beach of our dreams does often not have easy accessible snorkling spots. Especially water sports like water skiing does not really help for a colorful underwater world. So it can be helpful to swim at the edges of the beaches and bays.

- If the corals are too far away you can try to dive. Just keep your breath and try to dive down. Please don’t forget to equalize the pressure by breathing slowly out and keeping your hand on your nose. Please do not try on your own and start slowly.
On this card you can find the places that I have already tested. Just click on the places on the map and open the window and a window will open which contains some more information. If you zoom a bit closer you can als see places that I highlighted.

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