Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee. Resort nearby
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Last updated on February 2, 2023
Anse Soleil, nestling in tropical vegetation, is a small haven of peace that the people of the Seychelles adore. The 300 meter-long beach, lined on either side by granite rocks, opens on to a small bay with calm, turquoise waters. With its perfectly preserved coral beds and a rich and varied undersea life, Anse Soleil is one of the best snorkeling spots on the Mahé coast.
Anse Soleil is on a small peninsula at the far southwest of the island of Mahé. From Victoria, cross the island from east to west via Fairview and Souvenir towards Anse Boileau, then continue south along the West Coast Road. Just after the Anse à la Mouche, Anse Soleil is well signposted on the right.
From the airport, the shortest route goes through Anse Royale. It takes about thirty minutes by car in both cases. The Anse Soleil Café is on the Anse Soleil beach. It is a useful landmark if you can’t find your way.
The left part of the little cove, as you are facing the sea, has the best reputation for snorkeling. Get into the water on this side of the beach, near the rocks.
In Anse Soleil, the beach is not sheltered by a barrier reef, and so the spot is directly open on the sea. From the beach towards the sea, the water level rises progressively, while the sea bed slopes gently downwards. The water level quickly reaches 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 metres) in the central part of the area, as far as the rocky point encircling the bay.
The location includes varied sea beds: superb branching coral beds of fluorescent blue, sheer granite rocks next to the sandy seafloor or immaculate sandy beds, where only a few jacks venture.
Anse Soleil hosts a wide range of multi-colored coral. Get closer to admire the green or pink polyps, a favorite subject for underwater photography.
Try to spot the three species of angelfish living in Anse Soleil: the semicircle angelfish, the colorful emperor angelfish or the more discrete threespot angelfish, with its lemon color. Shoals of silver moony and sergeant major live near the shelter of the granite rocks, while surgeonfish and wrasse dart above the coral. It is also quite common to see a spotted eagle ray venture into the bay.
From June to October, this side of the island is exposed to winds, and sea conditions deteriorate. Snorkeling is not recommended in this period. Don’t hesitate to combine this visit with an exploration of Baie Lazare, a few minutes drive from Anse Soleil. It is only a mile away, but on foot, it can be grueling due to the steep climb.
The Anse Soleil Café is located right on Anse Soleil beach. Here you will find a fair choice of dishes, snacks, and cold drinks. A good deal of mid-range accommodation is available in the area, but the Anse Soleil Beachcomber has the best location, just next to the snorkeling spot.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
The entire reef has suffered waves of bleaching, crown of thorns damage and damage by careless tourists.It no longer resembles the photos on this site. The whole reef structure has collapsed and is now spread across the bay as grey rubble. Small patches of new growth can be seen on some of the dead reef, but will no doubt be killed off by the next bleaching event. There is still a healthy population of interesting fish which can provides some interesting snorkeling. Rays and reef shark are relatively easy to find. 3.5 star max.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
