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> Destinations
> Mauritius
> Adventures |
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| Adventures |
| Wind
Surfing and Kayaking | Glass Bottom Boat Tour |
Sailing | Snorkelling |
Fishing | Wildlife |
Parasailing | Scuba Diving
| Walk With The Fish |
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Primarily,
Mauritius is a beach escape destination and a fine
representative of the top quality of the Mauritian
beach is located right at your hotel. Water activities
abound, but there’s plenty to keep an active visitor
engaged on land, as well. Here’s a taste of what you
can expect.
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| Wind
Surfing and Kayaking |
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The popularity of windsurfing and the ideal
conditions for it have resulted in many
competitions, including World Championships,
being held in Mauritius. Windsurfing instruction
is available and equipment can be hired
at beachside boathouses. Sailing shoes should
be worn to prevent coral cuts.
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Water skiing
in the sheltered waters of the reef-protected lagoons is also
available with instruction for beginners.
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For surfing, the Bay of Tamarin used to be
popular as the rollers coursed in through
the break in the coral reef. Surfing was big
on the island in the 1970s, until the rising
costs of airfare and accommodation drove surfers
to seek bluer pastures. Now, with vacation
costs back to bearable, the crowds are picking
up again.
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The area around Tamarin is said to be the best spot
to drop in, and the season lasts from around June
to August. Many hotels provide windsurfing and kayaking
equipment for their guests, and for those who prefer
less strenuous activity, there's usually a glass-bottom
boat to be found.
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| Glass
Bottom Boat Tour |
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The
hotel can arrange for a glass-bottom boat tour
of the island’s surrounding reef.
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| Sailing |
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This
is an all year round sailing location. Charter a power
boat, cabin cruiser or yacht for fishing or leisurely
exploration at your own pace.
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And again, your hotel will be able to arrange
a full yacht charter or a day sail, or whatever
your preference might be. The day sails include
lunch and is a wonderfully relaxing way to
enjoy the water; there are also sunset cruises
and starlight dinner cruises…these are very
popular and advance reservation are required.
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In Grand Baie you can rent a catamaran by the hour
if you prefer to handle the lines and rudder yourself.
Grand Bay is the main centre for yachting and the
Grand Bay Yacht Club (Tel: 263 8568) has a temporary
membership scheme for visitors. Sailing cruises are
available on the schooner Isla Mauritia, a 19th-century,
32m-long tallship, the last existing vessel of her
class, operated by Yacht Charters Ltd. is available.
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| Snorkelling |
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Snorkelling is an incredible experience since
so many fish can be seen close to the beach
without even having to go by boat to the reef.
Full shoe fins should be worn. Equipment,
when it's not free, can be hired. Snorkelling
is excellent with over-the-side boat trips
running from most major hotels and from Grand
Baie beach. The best swimming beaches are
all at the northern end of the island.
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| Fishing |
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The deep waters around Mauritius are famous
for deep sea, big game fishing. High season
is from October till April. Some of the well-known
fishes around Mauritius (and they are really
big): Shark, bonito, tuna fish, baracuda,
black marlin, sailfish, wahoo, and primarily
the blue marlin.
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Record blue marlin catches have been landed during
the October to April prime season. One of the best
fishing spots is just off Le Morne where the seabed
plunges almost 2,300 feet and the currents pull in
the feeder fish to attract the huge trophy animals.
Your hotel will be able to make all the necessary
arrangements and there are several Mauritian boat
clubs.
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| Wildlife |
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The wildlife is precious. As is the case on
many oceanic islands, creatures have evolved
here in isolation, and are found nowhere else
on earth. The critically endangered kestrel
and the pink pigeon, two species once considered
the rarest in the world.
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| Parasailing |
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For those of you for whom a quiet suntan on
the beach is not thrilling enough, you can
always try your hand at parasailing. You will
be rewarded by a breathtaking bird's eye view
of the lagoon and its multifarious underwater
sea-scapes. Ask the manager of the local boat-house
for the update on currents and winds.
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For additional excitement, choose the "touch and go".
On the way down, instead of just reeling back onto
the boat, you linger a while above the ocean and then...
dunk for a wet, wild, refreshing plunge into the water.
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| Scuba
Diving |
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Explore the bottom of the ocean and coral
reefs for some of the most colourful fish
and underwater scenes. Lessons are available
for those who have never dived before.Almost
every hotel or resort has a dive center and
snorkeling and scuba diving can be arranged
at your hotel.
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Diving in Mauritius doesn’t compare with other Indian
Ocean sites (Seychelles or Maldives) but there is
a well-known site, the “Cathedral” off Flic en Flac
on the island’s west coast.
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Other sites include Whale Rock and Roche Zozo,
an underwater rock pinnacle (accessible by
boat only in summer). Another popular site
is the submerged crater near Ile Ronde, accessible
from the north from Grand Baie, among others.
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| Walk
With The Fish |
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Underwater walk does not require you to know
how to swim, nor that you relinquish your
favourite pair of glasses! Your stay in Mauritius
cannot be complete without a (guided) tour
of the adventuresome and perfectly safe reef
underwaters. Here is your chance to discover
the underwater world from within, and make
your childhood fantasies come true.
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Also
see :
General Info | Climate |
Places Of Interest | History &
Culture | Shopping |
Night Life | Restaurants
| Beaches |
Adventures | Map |
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