L'Ilot
Depth is the range from the top of the site to its usual maximum; "recommended cert" is the mainstream-agency level operators usually ask for, not a legal rule. Currents and visibility change daily — treat everything here as planning ranges.
L'Ilot is the postcard granite islet off Mahé's North Point, and its charm underwater is density in miniature: swim one lap and every crevice is packed with glassfish that part around your torch, every shaded face hung with gorgonians and cup coral, every ledge hosting a moray, lobster, or hunting lionfish. Turtles pass through, and at dusk the site turns properly theatrical as the glassfish clouds pull in jacks. It is small enough to know by the second dive and rich enough to justify a third — a favorite for night dives and for photographers chasing color rather than scale.
The moment you come for: Glassfish-stuffed crevices; gorgonian color; superb night diving
Topography: Palm-topped granite islet ringed by boulders, gullies, and glassfish-filled crevices
Current: The islet stands off Mahé's northern tip where tide squeezes past; flow can pick up mid-dive.
Know before you splash
Hazards: Tidal current past the islet and boat movement close to shore.
Conservation: A compact site that shows wear quickly — fins up and off the rock.
Who you'll meet
Giant Moray Eel
Hawksbill Turtle
Lionfish
Nudibranchs
Porcupinefish
For photographers
Wide angle: ★★★★☆ · Macro: ★★★★☆ — editors' 1–5 rating of what this site gives each style of shooting