On March 19, 1973, Seychelles designated six islands about 5 km from Mahé, opposite Victoria, as a marine park. It was one of the first marine protected areas in the Indian Ocean, according to the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA), which still manages it.
Our old page sold a “secure setting” and “calm waters” without specifying the season. It placed the Esmeralda turtle on the wrong island.
We have redone everything. Here you will find the official park figures, a grid for level, current, season, supervision, and fallback plan, the state of the corals after 1998 and 2016, then the dated entry formalities.
Where is the Sainte Anne Marine Park located and what does it protect?
The Sainte Anne Marine National Park covers 14.53 km² about 5 km from Mahé, about ten minutes by boat from Victoria according to the SPGA. It includes six islands: Sainte Anne, Moyenne, Ronde, Longue, Cachée, and Deer Island. The SPGA describes it as a sanctuary for sea turtles and seagrass beds.
Our previous version announced 14.43 km² and a creation “in the 1970s,” so we corrected it with the figures published by the SPGA in March 2023, for the park’s 50th anniversary. Not all islands are freely accessible. Sainte Anne and Ronde have restricted access: the first hosts a private hotel, the second protects turtle nesting. On Moyenne, a trail of about thirty minutes passes near giant land tortoises, which should not be confused with the marine turtles of the lagoon.
Esmeralda, meanwhile, lives on Bird Island, far from the park.
To enter, the SPGA charges a fee of 200 Seychellois rupees per non-resident aged 12 and over (page consulted on October 3, 2026). And the schedule varies from one page to another on the same site. Have the return time confirmed by the operator. The published rules are brief: anchoring in designated zones, no fishing, no collecting shells or corals, no motorized water sports. Nothing is mentioned about the depth of the sites.
What level and supervision are required to dive in the park?
No page can say remotely if an outing suits you. Official sites present the park primarily as a snorkeling spot, with scuba diving among the permitted activities. For depths, currents site by site, and required levels, we found no official dated data. It is impossible to decide from here.
| Criterion | What we know (dated sources) | What you should ask |
|---|---|---|
| Level | no official level published by the SPGA | the required level site by site, in writing |
| Current | strong currents reported on some beaches, especially from November to March (Exteriores, 07/28/2026) | the expected current and tide of the day |
| Season | northwest monsoon from November to March, southeast trade winds from May to September (Seychelles meteorological services, 2011) | the sea state the week of departure |
| Supervision | anchoring mandatory in designated zones (SPGA) | the guide-to-diver ratio and the support boat |
| Fallback plan | only one hyperbaric chamber, at Mahé hospital (France Diplomatie, valid as of 07/23/2024) | the alternative sheltered site and evacuation procedure |
The current decides more than the photo.
Our old page spoke of an ideal place for a beginner dive, with guaranteed calm waters. We removed the promise. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes, in its fact sheet updated July 28, 2026, strong currents on some beaches, especially between November and March. The southeast trade winds make the sea rougher in July and August. Clear water says nothing about the outing, nor the current waiting for you on the return to the boat.
However, the proximity to Victoria works in your favor for the fallback plan, since Mahé hospital, where the only hyperbaric chamber in the country is located according to France Diplomatie, remains a few minutes by boat then by road. Still ask how evacuation is organized.
Which season to choose between northwest monsoon and southeast trade winds?
The Seychelles meteorological services describe two regimes. From November to March, the northwest monsoon brings lighter winds, generally calm seas, and the peak of rainfall in January. From May to September, the southeast trade winds blow regularly, with a maximum in July and August and moderate to strong seas. April and October serve as transition months.
These benchmarks date from a 2011 report. They describe an average climate. The same report presents April as the hottest month, with generally calm winds at the time they shift from northwest to southeast, and October as a month with weak and variable winds. Yet, the northwest monsoon, calmer in terms of wind, coincides with the season when Madrid reports the strongest currents on certain beaches. No quantified visibility is given, due to the lack of dated records.
A flat sea is not worth a briefing.
The park faces Victoria, and its exposure to the two wind regimes depends on the site chosen by the center, and this choice changes from day to day (we prefer to tell you frankly). If you are hesitating between several islands in the Indian Ocean, our page on diving in the Baa Atoll in the Maldives applies the same framework.
What remains of the corals after the bleaching events of 1998 and 2016?
In 1998, the reefs of the granitic islands of Seychelles, including Mahé, lost more than 90% of their live coral cover. A study published in Nature in 2015 followed 21 reefs: 12 returned to their pre-1998 state, 9 shifted towards fleshy algae. No figure specific to the Sainte Anne park was found.
The detail of this study deserves attention because it breaks a common misconception about protected areas. The reefs that recovered were more complex in relief and deeper. They also had more young corals and herbivorous fish, with fewer nutrients in the water. The no-fishing reserve status did not change the trajectory of the studied reefs. A marine park protects the reef against anchors and nets, but it cannot do anything against a sea that heats up for weeks.
In 2016, a new episode struck the archipelago.
Thus, the report submitted by Seychelles to the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) in November 2016 describes a May 2016 monitoring on 17 sites, where 50 to 95% of the corals at each site were bleached to varying degrees, with an average of 70%. The same report notes that some experts considered this episode less severe than that of 1998. The mechanism was explained in our article on coral bleaching.
For you, the consequence is simple. Don’t touch anything, don’t stand on the reef, and read why you should never touch marine life. Regarding sunscreen, our overview on sunscreen and marine environments sorts out what is established and what is not.
What formalities to enter Seychelles in 2026?
Before boarding, you must obtain online a travel authorization (Travel Authorisation) on the official site seychelles.govtas.com. According to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs fact sheet updated on July 28, 2026, a valid passport, accommodation booking, return or onward ticket, and sufficient means for the stay are required.
This authorization allows airport police to issue a short-stay visa, extendable up to three months. The Seychelles Ministry of Tourism announced in February 2024 a cost of €10 per application. Beware of intermediaries. The same ministry specified that these sites often charge much more and that an application made through a third party may be refused by the platform. Check the amount at the time of payment.
The France Diplomatie fact sheet says the same but its text dates from 2020 and was only given as “still in force” as of July 23, 2024.
However, the park entrance fee is paid separately. Keep some rupees in reserve.
What questions to ask before booking a trip in the park?
Before paying, ask in writing for the planned site and a sheltered backup site, the required level, the guide-to-divers ratio, the return time, and if the 200 rupees entrance fee is included. An operator’s page that only responds with turquoise photos teaches you nothing about the current.
No club is mentioned here. We were unable to verify their rates and conditions on their official websites as of the update date. Our previous page recommended “committed” hotels and group rates without any verifiable names. We have removed those sections. If your project mainly revolves around turtles, our guide for diving with sea turtles in the Seychelles complements this one, without any promise of encounter.
In short, it all comes down to the questions.
But the cost of a poorly chosen outing adds up quickly: half a day lost if the sea picks up and the boat returns, an entrance fee paid for nothing, and the stress of swimming back against the current if no one had planned for a sheltered site. Would you book it like that?
FAQ
How much does entry to the Sainte Anne Marine Park cost?
The SPGA lists 200 Seychellois rupees per non-resident aged 12 and over (page accessed on October 3, 2026). Ask the operator if this amount is included in the price of the outing.
Is the Sainte Anne park suitable for beginners?
No one can say from a distance. Official sites mainly present it as a snorkeling spot, but strong currents are reported on some beaches, especially from November to March. The local center decides based on your level and the sea conditions of the day.
What is the best time to dive at Sainte Anne?
The Seychelles weather services describe generally calm seas during the northwest monsoon (November to March) and moderate to strong seas under the southeast trade winds, especially in July and August. April and October are transition months with lighter winds. These references remain averages.
Do you need a visa to go to the Seychelles?
You need a travel authorization requested online at seychelles.govtas.com before departure. It allows you to obtain on arrival a short-stay visa extendable up to three months. Avoid intermediary sites.
Where does the turtle Esmeralda live?
Esmeralda lives on Bird Island, not in the Sainte Anne park. On Moyenne Island, you can encounter other giant land turtles along a trail of about 30 minutes.
Sources
- 50 Years of the Ste. Anne Marine Park, 1973 – 2023 (Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority, 2023)
- Predicting climate-driven regime shifts versus rebound potential in coral reefs (Graham et al., Nature, 2015)
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