Praslin
Seychelles · Indian Ocean
Praslin is the Seychelles' second island and a quieter dive base — granite topography, healthy reefs, and the legendary Vallée de Mai forest above water. Often combined with Mahé.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Same regional pattern as Mahe. Pelagics still strong; coral cover declining.
Coral cover
Fish life
More fish than a healthy reef of its kind.
Heat
No unusual heat right now.
Fishing
Quiet water, and the protection is actively patrolled.
Sources · GCRMN reef surveys · Reef Life Survey · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
Coral cover over time
Live coral cover, by survey year
Across surveys in 2014 and 2024, live coral cover here has fallen from 34% to 21%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.
Live coral cover, percent by year
| Year | Coral cover |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 34% |
| 2024 | 21% |
What you will see
11 species across the dive sites here
Hawksbill turtle
Seen 2 months ago
at South Marianne
Critically endangered
Spotted eagle ray
Seen 2 months ago
at South Marianne
Endangered
Whitetip reef shark
Seen 2 months ago
at South Marianne
Vulnerable
Nurse Shark
Seen 3 months ago
at Aride Bank
Vulnerable
Tawny nurse shark
Seen 3 months ago
at South Marianne
Vulnerable
Napoleon wrasse
Seen 4 months ago
at South Marianne
Endangered
Grey reef shark
Seen 4 months ago
at South Marianne
Endangered
Schooling bigeye snapper
Seen 8 months ago
at South Marianne
Least concern
Barracuda
Seen Nov 2024
at Aride Bank
Least concern
Grouper
Seen year round
at Aride Bank
Vulnerable
Eagle Ray
Seasonal visitor
at Aride Bank
Endangered
Dive sites
What divers say
Praslin is the more relaxed Seychelles — fewer tourists, same boulders.