Where can I snorkel in Mauritius with a guide in the water?

The sessions offered by Andeor through its partners from Pointe d’Esny and the half day from Grand Gaube provide a guide in the water. The reefs visited are chosen according to the day’s conditions.

Is equipment provided?

Equipment is included on the Pointe d’Esny and Grand Gaube outings and the catamaran day from Black River. For the private outing from Grand Baie, you must bring your own snorkelling gear. Meals, drinks and towels vary by offer. Land transfers are excluded from all four options.

Is the Pointe d’Esny outing priced per person?

No. The MUR 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 rates, checked on 26 October 2026, cover the private boat for two, three or four hours, with up to nine participants. The total is confirmed before payment.

Can children or beginners book?

Tell Andeor each child’s age and the participants’ confidence in the water. The team confirms the outing’s suitability and necessary arrangements before booking. Having a guide does not automatically mean every ability level is accepted.

Andeor Journal

Where to Go Snorkelling in Mauritius

Compare snorkelling from Pointe d’Esny, northern departures and the west coast by guiding, equipment, timing and your confidence in the water.

By Andeor Editorial Team
- September 30, 2026

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For snorkelling in Mauritius, choose the type of outing as carefully as the region. At Pointe d’Esny, Andeor offers guided sessions on the reefs of Grand Port lagoon through its partner. In the north, excursions depart from Grand Gaube or Grand Baie. On the west coast, a catamaran day can combine sailing, lunch and snorkelling. Your confidence in the water, available time and how central you want snorkelling to be will help distinguish these options.

Choose how you want to explore the lagoon

To focus on reefs, compare the guided two-, three- or four-hour sessions from Pointe d’Esny. For two guided entries into the water and a return before lunch, look at the half day from Grand Gaube. To devote the day as much to sailing and a meal as to snorkelling, consider the private catamaran from Black River.

Take care not to confuse the services at the northern departures. The guided half day from Grand Gaube includes equipment. The separate private outing from Grand Baie requires your own snorkelling gear. Being in the same region does not mean identical inclusions or guidance.

Before searching for a supposedly unmissable location, note your three priorities. How long do you want to spend on the boat, how confident are you in the water and do you need explicitly provided guidance? Those answers are more useful than a list of beaches.

A boat day may devote more or less time to swimming. Compare catamaran departures to Île aux Cerfs if you also want a cruise and lunch, then check how much snorkelling is actually in the programme.

Grand Port for an outing focused on reefs

From Pointe d’Esny beach, Andeor offers private two-, three- or four-hour trips on Grand Port lagoon through its partner. A marine guide accompanies the skipper, gives the briefing and joins the group in the water. The guide chooses the reefs according to the day’s tide and visibility.

This format suits a morning or afternoon centred on snorkelling. Two hours provide a short outing; longer options allow more time to change areas and take breaks aboard. The boat accommodates up to nine people in one private group. It does not follow a list of spots guaranteed in advance.

The northern islands for a half day with several stops

Andeor offers, through its partner, a private excursion from Grand Gaube Public Beach, from 08:00 to approximately 11:30. Two guided snorkelling sessions are planned, with a guide in the water. Equipment, drinks and underwater videos are included. Lunch and hotel transfers are excluded. The two sites are chosen according to weather and sea conditions.

From Grand Baie, Andeor also offers a private speedboat outing to the northern islands through its partner, either a four-and-a-half-hour half day or a six-and-a-half-hour full day. The boat carries up to twelve passengers and the skipper chooses stops according to sea conditions. You must bring your own snorkelling equipment and arrange meals separately. The listing gives Sunset Boulevard in Grand Baie as the departure point. Grand Gaube and Grand Baie are different departure locations; use the one on your booking to plan the journey.

The west coast for sailing and snorkelling together

From La Balise Marina in Black River, Andeor offers a six-hour private catamaran day through its partner, from 10:00 to 16:00. The outing includes a snorkelling stop at La Preneuse and sailing towards Crystal Rock or Le Morne, depending on the skipper’s decision and the day’s conditions.

Barbecue lunch, drinks, snorkelling equipment and towels are included. Transport to the marina still needs to be arranged. This format is aimed at a group wanting to share a sailing day and a meal aboard. If your priority is in-water guidance and several reef-focused sessions, the specialist outings from Pointe d’Esny or Grand Gaube address that wish more directly.

For a family wanting to try two activities, our guide to family fishing from Black River presents an outing combining lagoon fishing and snorkelling. Its programme differs from a reef-focused trip.

How much time and budget should you allow?

The advertised duration covers the entire outing, including boat journeys, briefing and breaks. A four-hour excursion therefore does not mean four hours in the water. Add the journey from your accommodation and the arrival arrangements at departure as well.

As a reference, the Pointe d’Esny options checked on 26 October 2026 cost MUR 8,000 for two hours, MUR 10,000 for three hours and MUR 12,000 for four hours. Each amount reserves the private boat for your group of up to nine people. These are not per-passenger prices. The total and date are confirmed before payment.

The proposed two-hour slots are 08:00, 11:00, 13:30 and 16:00. For three or four hours, the proposed departures are 08:00 and 13:00. These times describe the options; they do not guarantee availability on your chosen date. Full-day sailing offers and other boats have their own pricing.

A fish beside coral beneath the lagoon surface

Choose according to your confidence in the water

For a first outing, favour a package explicitly providing a guide in the water. The Pointe d’Esny sessions and the Grand Gaube excursion presented here do so. Tell Andeor about your sea experience, swimming confidence, children’s ages and any assistance needs before booking. A child being accepted aboard does not automatically mean they can join every entry into the water.

Follow the briefing, stay with the group and check your mask’s fit before moving away from the boat. Do not head off alone. A guide does not replace an assessment of your ability to participate in the day’s conditions. If you cannot swim or feel uneasy at sea, Andeor must have suitable arrangements confirmed before accepting your booking.

Equipment, conditions and respect for the reef

Snorkelling equipment is included in the outings from Pointe d’Esny and Grand Gaube and in the catamaran day from Black River. For the private outing from Grand Baie, bring your own gear. Pack swimwear, a hat and suitable sun protection. Bring a towel for the Pointe d’Esny, Grand Gaube and Grand Baie departures. Towels are provided on the catamaran day from Black River. Drinks and fruit are included in the Pointe d’Esny outing, while lunch is included on the catamaran day.

To choose the day, rely on local conditions and the team’s assessment rather than a promise of calm seas throughout a season. Wind, swell, tides and visibility can change the stops or lead to rescheduling. An accessible beach alone does not establish a suitable place for unaccompanied snorkelling.

Observe animals without chasing, touching or feeding them. Keep your fins away from coral and do not stand on the reef. A turtle, ray or any other species cannot be promised for your outing.

Arrange your departure with Andeor

First choose a short reef-focused outing, a northern half day or a west-coast sailing day. Then send your preferred date, participant count, children’s ages and accommodation address. Andeor helps confirm the option and meeting point.

Land transfers are not included in the outings presented. Andeor can arrange a transfer as a separate service according to the departure point and confirmed time. Plan this part of the journey before scheduling another activity immediately after your return.

In the northeast, our comparison of trips to the Île d’Ambre mangroves distinguishes pirogues, private boats and catamarans, particularly for lunch.

If you are looking for a towed activity rather than a snorkelling outing, our guide to wakeboarding, waterskiing and tubing at Le Morne describes a separate private session.

View the private catamaran day from Black River

References for preparing your outing

British Sub-Aqua Club snorkelling tips (https://www.bsac.com/advice-and-support/club-support/snorkelling-support/snorkelling-tips/) Observing the marine environment with advice from DAN (https://world.dan.org/safety-prevention/diver-safety/divers-blog/environmental-stewardship-for-divers/)