AFRICA
Seychelles
By IMRAN AHMAD
A remote archipelago of more than 100 islands in the Indian Ocean, around 1,500 kilometres
east of mainland East Africa, the Seychelles is every inch the island paradise you imagine it to
be. With its sun-drenched white sand beaches, clear topaz water, and laidback vibes, it’s the
perfect setting for some of the planet’s most awesome dives.
Submerge in its gin-clear waters and you’ll discover miles of beautiful and colourful soft
coral reefs, schooling fish in abundance, myriad graceful sharks, WWII wrecks, numerous
interesting freshwater pools, and a stunning underwater topography of pinnacles, walls, dropoffs, swim-throughs and canyons.
When it comes to the big boys, it doesn’t come any bigger than the world’s largest fish, the
whale shark, which can be found year round across the Inner Islands. The more isolated Outer
Islands are where you’ll likely meet larger species of grouper, squadrons of migrating rays,
and dolphins, as well as whitetip, blacktip, grey reef, and nurse sharks – with an occasional
hammerhead thrown in for good measure.
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