Mayotte, the Island of Perfumes

Nestled between the African continent and Madagascar, the island of Mayotte is a true paradise for divers and freedivers. A lagoon of 1300 km², double coral barrier, mangroves, and seagrass beds characterize Mahoran ecosystems, which are home to species as emblematic as they are threatened: turtles, whales, dugongs,… But don’t forget to take a look on land between dives, the island holds beautiful surprises.From underwater wonders…Mayotte, the first overseas marine nature park and one of the largest protected marine areas in France, is home to one of the largest lagoons in the world, with sometimes more than 4 km between the coast and the double coral barrier, and up to 70 m in depth in places. This haven of calm hosts a very diverse fauna and flora: more than 300 species of corals, mangroves that serve as nurseries for fish (surgeonfish, boxfish, clownfish, butterflyfish, pajama fish, parrotfish, triggerfish, groupers…), humpback whales that come to give birth from July and stay until October with the calves, green or hawksbill turtles that come to lay eggs on the beaches, manta rays, grey sharks…
About ten dive clubs, scattered all around the lagoon, allow you to quickly access the thirty spots accessible to novice and experienced divers. The majority of sites are located in the N’gouja area, named after the most beautiful beach in the southwest of the island, with the S pass (13 different dive spots) and the Bandrélé pass to the east of the island.…to terrestrial splendorsAmong the many hikes in the heart of the island, the ascent of Mount Choungui, an emblematic mountain peaking at 594 meters and offering a 360° panorama of the lagoon, remains essential. On your way, you may encounter the endemic lemur of Mayotte, commonly known as « Maki. » Let yourself be enveloped by the luxuriance of nature as you cross the rainforest, which is home to a dense vegetation composed of palms, mango trees, vines… as well as more than 50 different species of orchids. But it is the ylang-ylang that has made the island famous: this tree with intoxicating scents covers hundreds of hectares on the island. Discover the rich and mixed Mahoran culture, at the maritime crossroads of the Indian Ocean, which has been enriched over the centuries with the arrival of Africans, Arabs, Persians… Visit a banga, a picturesque bamboo hut, meet the « mama shingo » who will explain the art of Bandrélé salt and attend the Milatsika music festival, which highlights artists from the Indian Ocean and celebrates its 10th anniversary in October 2016.In practice
Best time to go : from April to November.Water temperature : from 25°C in the austral winter to 29°CMinimum level required : from beginner to advanced. Dive sites from 7 to over 60 meters deep (possibility to dive with a rebreather in some clubs).Time difference : + 2h in winter, + 1h in summer.Formalities : valid passport or ID card, no visa or mandatory vaccinations required.Prices : For 10 days, 9 nights, and 15 dives, budget around €2500 including flights. From June 10, 2016, Air Austral will offer two non-stop flights per week: from Paris-CdG (21:30 – arrival at 8:05 the next day), on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and from Dzaoudzi-Mayotte (21:20 – arrival at 6:10 the next day), on Tuesdays and Fridays, round trip from €785.
For more information: http://mayotte-tourism.com/en/The cover photo is by Gaby Barathieu.