Snorkeling in the Sainte Anne Marine Park

Snorkeling in the Sainte Anne Marine Park means coral reefs and seagrass meadows a short boat ride off Mahe. The Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA), which runs the St Anne Marine Park, describes corals “of all shapes, sizes and colours” and one of the largest areas of seagrass meadows in the granitic islands, where it is “not uncommon” to see green turtles feeding. The water is reached by boat only. Footprint Charter’s Mahe Island: St. Anne Marine Park Semiprivate Snorkeling Trip, from $177 per adult, two adults minimum (checked November 2026), spends about three hours on three snorkel stops with the gear provided; Vision Voyages DMC's reef safari, from $160 per adult (checked November 2026), includes a snorkel stop with gear and a semi-submersible for anyone who would rather stay dry.

The calendar above is Footprint Charter’s snorkelling trip, with 86 reviews (checked November 2026). Two adults paid $353.76 on 1 December 2026; one adult alone was refused.

What is in the water

SPGA’s park page names three things for snorkellers. The reefs, with their corals. The seagrass meadows, where green turtles feed. And, with luck, hawksbill turtles to swim with and bottlenose dolphins passing by. Around Cerf Island it describes shallow waters and reefs for snorkelling, swimming and scuba diving. Ile Cachee has a dive site that can be used only during the northwest monsoon.

Where each boat stops

Few of the boats name an exact snorkel spot; most give the number of stops and the islands around them.

• Footprint Charter’s snorkelling trip: three snorkel stops in four hours, then Long Island’s beach and sandbank, up to 10 people.
• Vision Voyages DMC's reef safari: a swim and snorkel over the coral, with gear, and the semi-submersible before it.
• SEY AMA's glass-bottom boat: two snorkel stops, a crystal kayak at the sandbank between Round and Long islands, and lunch on Cerf.
• Mae Guide's glass-bottom boat day: a first snorkel, then a second around Cerf Island and Ile Cachee for 30 to 45 minutes after lunch.
• Clear Boat Seychelles' clear boat: one swim stop at a site the skipper chooses, and a sandbank if time and weather allow.

Check the snorkelling trip dates

What reviewers found

Reviewers do not agree about the water, and the weather on the day seems to decide much of it. On the reef safari, a reviewer in July 2025 saw dolphins feeding just before the snorkel stop, and one in March 2024 called the spot great. Others were let down: a dead reef with poor visibility (November 2025), a spot close to the port with little to see (February 2026), and murky water on a day of bad weather (December 2025). Creole Travel Services' cruise drew the same complaint, dead coral and few fish within sight of the harbour and the hotels (October 2026).

The boats built around snorkelling make more stops. Footprint Charter’s trip has three, and its reviewers’ scores are high (4.8 from 86 reviews, checked November 2026). If snorkelling is the point of your day, that is the boat to look at; if you also want the islands and lunch, the full days give you one or two stops.

Pick by how much time you want in the water:

Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026). Operators change prices by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.

The park’s rules in the water

SPGA’s visitor page asks visitors to respect all marine life and not to fish or collect shells, plants, corals or other aquatic life, and it bars spear guns, fishing gear and fish traps in the park. Boats must anchor or moor in designated areas so as not to damage the reef, and water-skiing and motorised water sports are prohibited. The nesting beaches of Ste Anne island (Grand Anse, Gran Manon, Petit Manon and Anse Cimitiere) are closed to visitors.

Bring your own mask if you have one; Mae Guide provides gear but welcomes your own, and the reef safari, SEY AMA and Footprint Charter include it.