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Last updated on June 26, 2023
Located on the southwestern part of Seychelles, Assumption is a remote (and little-visited) island in the Aldabra Group. Good snorkeling is found along its northwest coast, which forms a bay sheltered from the currents. Fusiliers, sweetlips, angelfish and hundreds of other types of fish are easy to see around the coral patches found in front of the beach.
Assumption Island is an outer island of Seychelles, located some 1300 km southwest of Mahe (the capital island) and 30 km (18 miles) south of the world-famous Aldabra Atoll.
Assumption Island has no tourist facilities (only scientific and military installations) and can only be visited aboard expedition cruise ships or private yachts.
The main snorkeling spot on the island is located along its northwest coast, in which a small bay, well sheltered from the currents, has formed.
The water entrance is easy, from a sandy beach. Follow the advice given by your guide.
The snorkeling area is located in the small bay found on the northwest coast of the island. Sheltered from swell and currents, it offers most of the time good snorkeling conditions. However, avoid drifting too close to the northern tip of the island, where strong currents occur.
Assumption Island’s seabed, gently sloping from the beach, features seagrass beds, coral reefs, and sandy areas. This diversity of underwater environments supports hundreds of species of reef fish, which benefit from the calm and oxygenated waters of the bay.
Some of the most common fish in Assumption Island’s shore waters include butterflyfish (several species – see list at the bottom of the page), pufferfish, surgeonfish (including the pretty powder-blue tang), and angelfish. Fusiliers are schooling above the seagrass, while giant sweetlips and groupers shelter near the reef.
On this spot, the corals are in quite bad condition due to recent bleaching events. There are still plenty of healthy corals to see, mostly massive coral and finger coral.
There are no tourist facilities on Assumption Island. Expedition cruises are all-inclusive.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. 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.
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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.
