Most visitors arrive through Seychelles International Airport on Mahe, then either stay on the island or continue by domestic flight or ferry to Praslin and La Digue. Mahe is the most efficient base if you want a mix of ocean time and land activities because you can land, clear formalities, and be at Victoria or Beau Vallon quickly. Regional and long-haul access commonly includes Air Seychelles, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines, while Air Seychelles also links Mahe and Praslin on short domestic hops.

The main international gateway for Seychelles and the normal arrival point for Mahe dive trips, resort stays, and island-hopping connections.

Rental cars are the easiest way to combine dives, early hikes, and remote beaches, and prior booking is recommended at the airport. Taxis wait outside arrivals and are fine for point-to-point transfers, especially if you are staying in Victoria, Beau Vallon, or a resort corridor. Public buses are cheap and usable for simple routes, with airport access outside the terminal area and bus cards available online during Travel Authorisation or on arrival. For intensive dive weeks, staying near Beau Vallon reduces daily transit time more than any transport mode choice.

No visa is required for ordinary tourism, and a visitor's permit is issued on arrival for the intended stay.
All travelers must complete the official Seychelles Travel Authorisation before departure.
MFA guidance says you may apply up to 10 days before your flight and recommends applying as early as possible, while the official e-border platform also guides travelers to submit within the 30 days before arrival.
You will need a valid passport, selfie, contact details, trip details, flight confirmation, accommodation proof, and payment card.
Your passport should have at least six months validity and remain valid for the duration of your stay, including re-entry into your home country.
Yellow fever proof is required only if you are arriving from, have recently visited, or transited more than 12 hours through an endemic country.

Mahe is easy for dive logistics by Indian Ocean standards. Tanks, weights, rental gear, and guided boat diving are widely available around Beau Vallon and Bel Ombre, so many travelers only bring personal kit, computers, masks, and cameras. If you plan to island-hop, verify baggage rules carefully for domestic flights because small-aircraft allowances can be tighter than international baggage. A dry bag, soft-sided camera carry solution, and lightweight wind layer are useful on both dive and ferry days. Finish your diving with a safe no-fly margin before onward domestic or international air travel.

Cards are widely accepted at resorts, supermarkets, larger restaurants, and many dive operators, but cash still helps for buses, market snacks, small takeaways, and some taxis or beach purchases.

ATMs are available at the airport, in Victoria, and around the main resort corridors. Official tourism guidance notes that ATMs dispense only Seychelles rupees.

Seychelles uses the British-style three-pin square plug. A simple Type G adapter is usually all you need, and most camera or laptop chargers are dual-voltage.

Communications

Free Wi-Fi is available at Seychelles International Airport, with access details from the Information Desk. Most hotels, guesthouses, and many cafes around Mahe offer Wi-Fi, while Airtel and Cable and Wireless services are available at the airport for SIM or telecom needs. Coverage is generally good around Victoria, Beau Vallon, and main roads, but remote trails and isolated coves can be patchier than visitors expect.

Language

Seychellois Creole is the mother tongue, but English and French are also official and widely used in tourism, transport, and day-to-day service interactions.

Insurance

Carry normal medical travel insurance plus dedicated dive accident and evacuation coverage if you will be diving or freediving. DAN advises contacting local emergency medical services first in an emergency, then DAN, and notes that covered evacuation transport normally needs to be arranged through the insurer. On Mahe, insurance matters less for routine care than for diving incidents, inter-island logistics, and any need for specialist evacuation.

Packing list

3mm suit for most divers, with a 4mm option if you tend to get cold in August or on windy two-tank days.
Dive computer, SMB, save-a-dive kit, and motion-sickness tablets for boat-heavy weeks.
Low-volume mask, long fins, and buoy setup if freediving.
Rashguard, reef-safe sunscreen, and a dry bag for snorkel and boat days.
Trail shoes, light rain shell, insect repellent, and a refillable water bottle for hikes and viewpoints.

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