Seychelles is an archipelago nation of 155 islands in the Indian Ocean, some 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) east of mainland Africa and northeast of the island of Madagascar.  The islands are widely spread in groups; Amirantes, Alphonse, Farquhar and Aldabra.  The capital city of Victoria is on Maha (in the Amirantes Group) which has the international airport and is the gateway to the rest of the Seychelles. 

In order to understand the diversity of the Seychelles, the islands are classified as either 'Inner' or 'Outer'.  Inner islands are, essentially, the tops of underwater mountains and are granite.  There are 43 of these islands which include Mahe, Praslin andLa Digue.  The Outer islands sit on the Seychelles plateau and are generally low-lying coral cays and atolls.  Only 2, Desroches and Alphonse, have accommodation.

So, what about the diving?  The Seychelles has 2 whale shark seasons - when the plankton blooms  (the main season being October to January) and then another one in August when high water temperatures produce an abundance of tiny marine organisms.  In 2006, over 250 of these magnificant animals were recorded in these waters.

[Thanks to Oliver Payne for the photograph]

• Ste Anne Marine National Park Island - the Indian ocean's first marine park in 1973.
• The Ennerdale wreck - lying between Mahe and Praslin for moray eels, llionfish and shoals of snapper.
• Sisters Rock - a series of large rocks off Praslin for swimthroughs and gullies.
• Grouper Point - a reef of largfe boulders with a chance to see reef sharks and whale sharks.
• Booby Rock - a drift dive
• Ave Maria (an island within the Praslin group) is reputed to have the best inshore dives in the Seychelles.
• Turtles nesting (October to January)

• The best time to dive are March to April and September to October.