Diving Discovery Expedition In The Seychelles
Emily C, Jacqui and Rachel are here to help give you the inside track.
On this exclusive 12-day exploratory trip, dive some of the most remote reefs in the world in Cosmoledo, Astove and Alphonse, located 700 miles south of the main island of Mahe in the Seychelles. With wild, uninhabited islands and virtually virgin waters, this is a real Jacques Cousteau experience.
Itinerary at a Glance:
- Explore the little known and even less dived waters surrounding Cosmoledo and Astove Islands, led by expert guides and dive guides
- Stay at Wizard Island's exclusive eco-lodge in the Cosmoledo atoll, one of the only properties in the uninhabited atoll offering the ultimate Robinson Crusoe experience
- Relax on the wild yet luxurious private island escape Alphonse, sharing the beach with ancient and enormous Aldabra tortoises
Why Book with Original Diving?
When To Travel
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
Day 1: International Flight
Your direct overnight international flight departs from London for Mahe in the evening. The flight takes 10 hours, more than ample time to power through your favourite box set.
Day 2: Arrive in Mahe
The flight touches down in Mahe in the morning. Once you have cleared customs, you will be met by an Original Diving representative and privately transferred to the hotel for the night.
Spend the afternoon at leisure, whether catching up on some sleep by the pool, kneading out any tension in the spa or toasting your holiday with a cocktail (or two).
Day 3: Astove
It's an early start this morning as you are privately transferred to the IDC Hangar for your small plane flight to Astove. Departing in the morning, the flight arrives in Astove just before lunch.
On arrival, you will be privately transferred to Coral Lodge. The only accommodation in the atoll, this is a real Robinson Crusoe experience, coconut fringed beaches and all. Once you've settled into your room you will meet the team and have your briefing over a delicious local lunch. After fuelling up it's time to start exploring beneath the waves.
There is a wealth of dive sites within a 15-minute boat of the shore, and with walls, caves, channels and sloping reefs in abundance, there is more than enough to keep divers underwater all day.
Freshen up back at the hotel before meeting for sunset cocktails along the beach followed by a super-fresh seafood supper.
Days 4 - 5: Astove
Spend the next two days exploring the different dive sites that pepper the Astove atoll.
An impressive wall extends down the west side of the atoll. At low tide you can walk from the shore up to the edge where it drops dramatically down to over 100 metres. The marine life is just as impressive, with turtles, groupers, Napoleon wrasse, dogtooth tuna, wahoo, dorado, sailfish and even hammerheads (predominantly found at the aptly named site Hammer Time). Manta rays have also been known to make an appearance. You will complete three to four dives on each of these days.
Day 6: Astove to Cosmoledo
Rise and shine for a final dive in Astove before you depart for the next leg of your adventure.
You will board the transfer vessel to cruise to your next destination: Cosmoledo. The journey will take approximately three hours, although you'll hardly notice the time pass as you take in the endless aqua-vistas.
You will be staying in an exclusive eco-lodge on Wizard Island which opened its doors for the first time in November 2018. Once you've settled into your room, refuel on lunch before hitting the seas for an afternoon dive, heading back to the island in time for sundowners and supper.
Day 7 – 9: Cosmoledo
You will spend the next few days exploring the atoll's virtually virgin waters.
One of the world's last undiscovered frontiers, the Cosmoledo atoll comprises 19 uninhabited, wild islands packed with wildlife both above and below water. There has been relatively little diving here and so there are a lot of areas of reef that have yet to be discovered - and with up to three dives per day there is ample opportunity to attempt to imitate Jacques Cousteau and uncover the ocean.
Day 10: Alphonse
After a leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred back to Astove for your seaplane to private island paradise Alphonse, departing around midday. Make sure you look out the window for mesmerising views over the archipelago before touching down in Alphonse in mid-afternoon.
Untamed and devastatingly beautiful, Alphonse is an island where white sandy beaches are separated by towering boulders and thick tropical vegetation. After dropping off your luggage in your room, it's time to hit the seas just before sunset for an exhilarating night dive before supper on the shoreline.
Day 11: Alphonse
After breakfast it's time for your last dives - a double tank on the best sites that Alphonse has to offer. We could tell you more but you'll leave that for you to discover (trust us, it's worth it).
The afternoon is all about relaxation. Wander around the island to find ambling ancient giant Aldabra tortoises, snorkel straight from the beach, try a spot of fishing or perhaps head out sailfish snorkelling.
Savour your final sunset with a cocktail or two before tucking into a fresh seafood supper.
Day 12: Home Time
Sadly it's the end of your adventure as you depart for home. Spend a lazy morning on the island before you board the seaplane, arriving in Mahe in the afternoon.
On arrival, you will be transferred from the IDC Hangar to the international terminal in good time for your flight home.
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, with economy flights, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels.
From
£12,375pp
Bare Necessities
If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.
From
£12,375pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special and would like to add business or first class flights, stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.
From
£12,375pp
Emily C, Jacqui and Rachel are our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers they have the inside track on the most memorable adventures.