The most beautiful anchorages in the Seychelles by catamaran

The Seychelles rank among the most beautiful anchoring grounds in the Indian Ocean. Between Mahe and Praslin, the shallow waters - usually 3 to 10 metres - offer a reliable anchor hold over sandy bottoms that you can spot with the naked eye from the deck. The archipelago is made up of 115 islands, including 40 granitic ones, separated by short distances: Mahe to Praslin is only 25 nautical miles. This overview presents the five stops that the Sailoe team recommends to every crew setting out from Mahe, along with the seasonal conditions to choose the right shelter.

The Sailoe fleet has been based in Mahe for more than 20 years. Our skippers and crews know each of these anchorages by heart, in every season. To set off and discover these stops at your own pace, explore the Seychelles catamaran charter packages.

Why do the Seychelles offer such exceptional anchoring conditions?

The Seychelles are one of the few tropical archipelagos where an anchorage is at once easy to find, easy to read and easy to hold. The shallow depth of the inner lagoons, the clarity of the water and the short distance between the main islands make it an ideal cruising ground for sailing and dropping anchor each evening in a different bay.

A continental shelf that shields you from deep swells

The archipelago sits on a granitic continental shelf that breaks deep swells before they reach the anchorages. The sandy bottoms generally lie between 3 and 10 metres on the recommended spots: an ideal depth to set the anchor, check the hold by eye from the swim platform and adjust the length of chain. The clarity of the water - visible even at 8 to 10 metres of depth - lets you spot the dark patches (coral, seagrass beds) to avoid and aim for the light areas (sand) for a clean anchorage.

Two seasons, two anchoring strategies

The south-east trade winds blow from May to October, between 10 and 20 knots, and shelter the north and west coasts of the islands. The north-west monsoon sets in from November to March with lighter winds, between 8 and 12 knots, but it exposes the bays located to the north: you then have to move towards the south and east coasts. The April and October shoulder seasons offer the best all-round conditions: almost no wind, glassy sea, maximum underwater visibility. Choosing your season already means choosing your anchorages.

The Sainte-Anne Marine Park: which is the ideal anchorage to begin the cruise?

The Sainte-Anne Marine Park is the first anchorage our skippers recommend to every crew leaving Mahe. Located less than 3 nautical miles from Victoria, it offers a perfect warm-up: calm waters, abundant wildlife, mooring buoys available to protect the seabed.

Created in 1973, it is the first marine reserve in the Seychelles. The park covers between 1,400 and 1,500 hectares of protected waters and is home to more than 150 species of fish - green turtles, stingrays, leopard rays, parrotfish, angelfish. In this area, anchoring on coral is strictly forbidden: mooring buoys are provided in the protected zones. The sandy space between the reefs remains accessible for those who prefer to anchor, provided they aim for the light patches. From the swim platform, immediate snorkelling is one of the first surprises of Seychelles cruises.

Curieuse Island and Baie Laraie: where to find the giant tortoises at anchor?

Baie Laraie, about 2 kilometres north of Praslin, is the anchorage our skippers rank first for the quality of the shelter and the richness of what awaits ashore. Curieuse Island, reachable from Praslin in less than an hour by dinghy, combines a well-sheltered anchorage, a giant tortoise sanctuary and one of the last mangrove forests in the Seychelles.

Around 500 giant Aldabra tortoises live in semi-freedom on the island. The guided walk crosses the preserved mangrove and links Anse Saint-Jose to Baie Laraie. One practical point not to overlook: Anse Jan-Jose is a no-anchoring spot near the beach to protect the seabed. The 3 mooring buoys available in the bay let you moor without risk. Booking and paying for the landing online are recommended in high season.

Two kilometres offshore from Praslin, the islet of Saint-Pierre naturally rounds off the Curieuse stop: its bottoms between 4 and 8 metres mix sand and granite and host surgeonfish, jacks, whitetip reef sharks and eagle rays. If you would like to learn more about the marine life around Curieuse, read our article on the tortoises of Curieuse in the Seychelles.

Port Launay: why is this anchorage the only marine park reachable by land and by sea?

Port Launay, on the north-west coast of Mahe, is the only marine park in the Seychelles accessible both from the sea and by road. It is also the shelter our crews appreciate in the shoulder seasons and during the north-west monsoon: the bay is well protected whatever the wind regime, unlike more exposed bays such as Anse Lazio during the NW period.

The mangroves of Port Launay are among the best preserved on Mahe and shelter rare endemic species. The calm, crystal-clear waters of the bay welcome coral reefs, angelfish, green turtles and, in season, manta rays and whale sharks. Anchoring on coral is forbidden as in every marine park: the sandy zones are recognisable by eye. A restaurant reachable by dinghy from the catamaran lets you have lunch ashore without leaving the cruise behind.

Anse Lazio on Praslin: how to anchor facing one of the most beautiful beaches in the world?

Anse Lazio is regularly ranked among the ten most beautiful beaches in the world. Our skippers never miss it for lunch at anchor: the panorama of white sand, coconut palms and turquoise water is the one crews photograph the most over the whole Seychelles cruise.

The sandy bottom slopes gently, which makes setting the anchor easier and lets you choose the depth according to the catamaran’s draught. The exposure is excellent in the south-east trades, from May to October. On the other hand, the bay is exposed and best avoided during the north-west monsoon from November to March: the swell rolls straight into the bay and the anchorage becomes uncomfortable. The gentle slope means you have to anchor at a distance from the beach: a dinghy is essential to land and explore this beach on foot. For a complete overview of the archipelago’s finest shores, our article on the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles presents other must-see stops.

Coco Island and the Sisters: which is the best snorkelling spot at anchor in the Seychelles?

Coco Island is the stop that surprises crews the most. This islet of about 1.8 hectares, located 1 kilometre north of Felicite, has been protected since 1996. You only have to put your head under the water from the swim platform to dive into what our crews call a life-size aquarium.

The bottoms of Coco Island vary between 4 and 8 metres and mix sand, granite rocks, seagrass beds and coral. The wildlife is dense: eels, rays, sea turtles, and whale sharks in season. It is one of the most renowned snorkelling spots in the entire archipelago. The anchorage requires a dinghy to reach the islet, and park fees are to be expected. Coco Island fits naturally into the Praslin to La Digue route and can be combined in the same half-day with Felicite and the Sisters. To plan your underwater stops, our article on snorkelling in the Seychelles details the spots accessible from a catamaran.

How to choose your anchorage in the Seychelles according to the season?

Choosing the right anchorage in the Seychelles depends directly on the current wind regime. A crew that ignores this rule may end up in a bay exposed to the swell when a sheltered bay lies less than 5 miles away. Here is the logic our skippers apply systematically.

South-east trades (May to October): which anchorages to favour?

From May to October, the south-east trade winds blow between 10 and 20 knots and shelter the north and west coasts of the islands. The anchorages recommended in this period are Anse Lazio, Anse Major and Port Launay on Mahe, as well as Baie Laraie on Curieuse. July and August are the windiest months: sailing is a delight, but the bays exposed to the north-west are choppy in the evening.

North-west monsoon (November to March): where to find a safe shelter?

From November to March, the north-west monsoon sets in with winds between 8 and 12 knots. The north and west coasts become exposed: Anse Lazio in particular should be avoided. You have to move towards the south and east coasts: Anse Volbert (the Cote d’Or, with its 2.5 km of beach) and Baie Sainte-Anne on the Praslin side offer reliable shelter. The sea is generally calmer in this season on the east side, which makes up for the loss of certain northern anchorages.

Shoulder seasons (April and October): the ideal months to anchor everywhere

April and October are the months when every bay is accessible at the same time. The wind is almost nil, the sea glassy, the underwater visibility at its maximum. It is the ideal period for crews who want maximum comfort at anchor and the best snorkelling conditions. For those who would like to enjoy these anchorages without worrying about the navigation, Sailoe offers organised Seychelles cruises with a skipper and crew on board - an all-inclusive option ideal for first catamaran trips.

Frequently asked questions about anchorages in the Seychelles

What is the best season to sail in the Seychelles?

April and October (the shoulder seasons) offer the optimal conditions: light wind, calm sea, maximum underwater visibility and all the bays accessible at the same time. From May to October, the south-east trade winds between 10 and 20 knots are favourable for sailing and shelter the north and west coasts. From November to March, the north-west monsoon leaves certain northern anchorages exposed: you should then favour the south and east coasts of the islands.

Can you anchor freely anywhere in the Seychelles?

No. Several zones are regulated by the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA). In the marine parks - Sainte-Anne, Curieuse, Port Launay, Coco Island - anchoring on coral is strictly forbidden. Mooring buoys are available in certain protected zones. Outside the buoy zones, the anchor must imperatively be set on the light sand patches (recognisable by eye in calm weather). Some landings require prior booking and payment of a park entry fee.

What are the risks linked to anchoring in the Seychelles?

The Seychelles lie outside the cyclone belt. The main risks at anchor are seasonal exposure (north-west swell that rolls into the northern bays during the monsoon) and coral bottoms. The basic rule: aim for the light turquoise patches (sand) and avoid the dark zones (coral, seagrass beds). In practice, let out a chain equal to 4 times the depth and test the hold in reverse before cutting the engine.

What is the best time to snorkel in the Seychelles?

The April and October shoulder seasons offer the best underwater visibility on every spot at the same time. From May to September, the waters are slightly cooler but the clarity remains excellent. The spots of Sainte-Anne (Mahe), Saint-Pierre (Praslin, 2 km offshore) and Coco Island (bottoms of 4 to 8 metres) are accessible in calm conditions all year round from a catamaran.