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Reunion West Coast

Volcanic reef diving, serious apnea and carefully regulated lagoons on Reunion's west coast.

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Destination Guide Sources For Reunion West Coast

Reference links used to build and maintain this guide.

44 sources • Updated Oct 29, 2026

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Oct 29, 2026.

Reunion National Marine Reserve: diving and apnea rules - Reserve authority. Confirms majority boat dives, sanctuary no-entry rules for scuba, apnea and snorkel, moorings, and authorization obligations for professional/association activity.
Reunion National Marine Reserve - Reserve authority and dated public education program updates; consult its current zoning and event guidance.
Prefecture: 13 February 2026 swimming and nautical activity order - Official 2026 administrative-register entry for the 300 m coastal bathing and wave-sport restrictions; current signed order controls over older web summaries.
La Possession municipality: order 180 of 13 February 2026 - Municipal publication reproducing the 2026 prefectural prohibition on swimming and wave-powered sports in the coastal 300 m band subject to authorized exceptions.
Centre Securite Requin: exclusion nets - Explains that net presence does not imply operational status, and daily inspection and posted signaling control access.
West Reunion tourism office: beach weather and flags - West coast tourism office beach condition and supervised-zone status service; check on the actual visit day.
Prefecture: cetacean approach and in-water rules, June 2026 - Current 25 June 2026 prefecture summary of 2025 order 1098; July-September whale encounter season, three vessels, seven people including guides, time windows and speed restrictions.
CEDTM: organize a responsible cetacean trip - Conservation NGO current guidance: water-entry for cetacean viewing is prohibited inside the Reunion marine reserve; permitted approaches outside are subject to the current prefectoral rules.
French Biodiversity Agency: cetacean local regulations - Public conservation-agency explanation of approach windows and calm periods; the later prefecture summary controls where details diverge.
Reunion Tourism: underwater activities - Island tourism authority lists dive shops, accessible local reef and wreck dives, and whale presence June-October; cetacean access subject to newer regulation.
Reunion Tourism: Bleu Ocean Saint-Leu - Current official tourism listing verifies Saint-Leu marina departure, scuba, dedicated apnea, advanced profiles, and operator information; mobility claims inconsistent within listing.
Searun diving: Saint-Gilles activity and prices - Independent direct operator receipt for Saint-Gilles scuba, guided exploration, FFESSM training, apnea initiation, sample EUR prices and equipment/RC insurance inclusion.
Escapade Plongee: Saint-Gilles - Additional independent local operator offering Saint-Gilles day-boat scuba; availability is not independently guaranteed.
Mascareignes Plongee: Saint-Gilles dive centre - Additional Saint-Gilles marina boat-diving operation and equipment evidence.
O Sea Bleu: apnea and diving - Saint-Gilles operator offering dedicated apnea and diving instruction; check current course calendar and conditions.
L Effet Mer: local apnea club - Local recreational apnea club with contingent Saint-Gilles / Saint-Leu outings, initiation, association membership and medical formalities.
West Reunion Tourism: dive sites and clubs - West regional tourism office profiles Saint-Gilles and Saint-Leu diving, including Cap La Houssaye and advanced sites.
West Reunion Tourism: five dive spots - Tourism office names Sec Jaune near Saint-Leu and other volcanic west-coast reef spots.
West Reunion Tourism: signature sights - West-office selection includes Cap La Houssaye, lagoons and west-coast visitor landmarks.
West Reunion Tourism: lagoon beaches - Tourism office describes west-coast lagoon beaches and family activities.
Reunion Tourism: Hermitage lagoon and pass - Official visitor notice for L Hermitage lagoon near its pass; warns of powerful currents and unsuitable open-pass crossings.
West Reunion Tourism: Saint-Leu beach - Local tourism guidance for the supervised Saint-Leu beach, family lagoon and shore activity context.
Reunion Tourism: Hermitage guided underwater trail - Marine-reserve educational guided snorkel trail at Hermitage; calendar and booking must be reconfirmed.
West Reunion tourism: snorkel recommendations - Published conflicting Trou d Eau activity-use advice; do not treat it as unrestricted snorkel permission.
West Reunion tourism: Trou d Eau beach - Separate local-office account of Trou d Eau beach activities conflicting with snorkel page; municipality confirmation needed.
Meteo-France La Reunion: tropical seasonal climate - Primary meteorological authority: January-March main rainy season, May-November long dry season, April and December transitions, strong wind variability and relief effects.
Reunion Tourism: seasonal travel climate - Official tourism climate guidance, leeward western coast differences, wet and cooler seasons; reconcile with Meteo-France definition.
Roland Garros airport: public transport - Airport authority lists Car Jaune line T toward Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and Saint-Leu, advertised EUR 2 base fare; live timetables matter.
French Civil Aviation AIP: Roland Garros FMEE - Official 1 October 2026 French aeronautical publication confirming Roland Garros ICAO FMEE.
France-Visas: short-stay and overseas rules - French government: French overseas territories are separate from the Schengen area for visa decisions.
Reunion Tourism: entry formalities - Tourism guidance for Reunion-specific passports, nationality and visa questions; defer to official French immigration portals.
Territoire de la Cote Ouest: 2026 fixed stay taxes - Local government 2026 chart: classified hotel/accommodation per person per night EUR 0.80-4.00 depending on category; exemptions and collection rules.
Territoire de la Cote Ouest: 2026 unrated lodging tax - Local government January 2026 notice: defined unclassified accommodation rate 5% of ex-tax room night per person with EUR 4 cap.
CHU La Reunion: hyperbaric medicine and wound care - Official CHU medical unit in Saint-Pierre, including 24-hour emergency referral through SAMU 15; not a west-coast walk-in service.
Prefecture: CROSS sea rescue number 196 - Government confirmation of maritime emergency number 196 and VHF channel 16.
DAN World: flying and driving to altitude after diving - DAN recommendations after diving: suggested no-fly interval and risks from driving uphill, relevant to Maido excursions.
Reunion Tourism: Maido viewpoint - Official visitor guide to the west-highlands Maido panorama into Mafate; plan mountain outing clear of recent scuba.
Reunion Tourism: Kelonia marine turtle observatory - Official visitor listing of Saint-Leu education and turtle rehabilitation facility.
Reunion Tourism: West coast museums and gardens - Tourism itinerary for Saint-Leu Kelonia, Stella Matutina, Museum of Salt and botanical garden.
West Reunion Tourism: local markets - West office calendar and visitor advice for Saint-Paul market and local markets.
Reunion Tourism: tandem paragliding in Saint-Leu - Operator listing for Saint-Leu tandem paragliding; check medical/weather rules and postpone after scuba due altitude.
DAN World: 2026 flying after diving intervals - DAN current minimum surface interval suggestions after no-decompression and decompression diving.
Prefecture: swimmer checks for water and currents - Government public-safety checklist: inspect flags, lifeguard guidance, after-rain turbidity, currents and water quality. Regulatory details on this page predate 2026 and should not supersede latest order.
Destination hero photo by Tropic Alizé - Unsplash License. Photographer profile: https://unsplash.com/@tropicalize | Location: Boucan Canot, Saint-Gilles les Bains, La Réunion