Praslin and La Digue

Guided boat diving is the normal format here, and that is a good thing.

• Conditions can change quickly with wind angle and swell, especially around offshore banks and exposed granite pinnacles.
• June to August is the main caution window for rougher sea states, but any month can produce a no-go day on an exposed site.
• Carry an SMB, stay close to the briefing plan, and assume boat traffic around popular snorkel islets.
• Many beaches on Praslin and La Digue have no lifeguards. Official guidance highlights lifeguards at Anse Lazio and Cote d'Or on Praslin, but not across most other swimming areas in this island pair.
• Keep buoyancy tight over shallow coral and never chase turtles or sharks through tight granite spaces.

Medical support exists on both islands, but serious cases still need planning.

• Baie Ste Anne Hospital on Praslin and St. Mary's Hospital on La Digue can handle general medical needs and first response.
• More advanced care sits on Mahe, so severe trauma or suspected decompression illness may require transfer or evacuation coordination.
• Carry personal dive insurance and evacuation cover. DAN remains the most useful specialist backstop for remote diving incidents.
• Before diving, ask your operator how they currently coordinate oxygen, emergency transport, and referral pathways from the exact site you are visiting.

Protected areas are central to the trip, not a side note.

• Buy SPGA tickets through the official system for Curieuse, Iles Cocos, and reserve visits.
• Stay on marked trails on Curieuse and in forest reserves, especially where turtle nesting or sensitive vegetation is involved.
• Do not feed wildlife, touch corals, collect shells or reef pieces, or crowd tortoises and nesting turtles for photos.
• The Veuve Special Reserve exists to protect breeding and feeding habitat for the Seychelles black paradise flycatcher.
• The coco de mer occurs naturally only on Praslin and Curieuse. Buy only certified products if you are shopping for legal souvenirs.