Seychelles Beaches - Grand Anse Ptit Anse Intendance Anse Source DArgent Anse Lazio

by Leo
(United States)

Can you advise me on the best times for swimming at these beaches in Seychelles?

I am actually trying to plan a vacation this year in the Seychelles with base being La Digue Island. The top things on my list to see is Grand Anse, P'tit Anse, and Anse Source De Argent on La Digue, Anse Intendance on Mahe, and Anse Georgette, Anse Lazio on Praslin.

However I don't know when the best months are for swimming and snorkeling at each of these beaches. I am thinking about going in early-mid March or later in the summer months of June, July, and August if that is when the best swimming conditions are at these beaches.

I personally would like to go in March because that is when the sun is a vertical 90 Degrees in the Sky and the weather is the hottest and the days are long, and I presume that means the ocean is also at its warmest (86 F). Please feel free to advise me according to your experiences since you are living in the Seychelles as we speak. I can't get enough of the valuable info on your blog please keep posting!
Leo,
United States

Louis' reply:

Hi Leo

As far as having a base for your holiday, if I may suggest, why not make Praslin Island your base instead. Then the rest of the Seychelles is more readily accessible by way of its airport. You can then get to the other islands like: Denis and Bird Island, Cousin, Aride and the main island of Mahe and, from there you get access to the others too. La Digue is also easily accessible.

From Praslin it's less than 30 minutes to La Digue by boat and 5 minutes only by helicopter. La Digue has a population of some 2,500. It has no airport, but it has a helipad and a boat jetty. Praslin is 3 times the size of La Digue and its population is twice as big and with an airport, it makes for a better base for an extended holiday.

If I may say so, you seem to have a good understanding of the best islands and the best beaches of Seychelles. You certainly seem to have a good grasp of the weather in Seychelles too. And the fact that the hottest times of the year in these latitudes are March and October, the two times when the sun is vertical at midday, and the days then are exactly 12 hours long. At that time, the equinox, the winds die down. So the sea is calm. On the other hand the shortest days are in June, July and December.

But having said that, it's also good to stress that the days and nights don't really shorten or lengthen all that much near the equator, at the latitude where Seychelles is located. The most you can expect is really just a few minutes. So you could say that the sun rises at 6:15 am and sunset is at 6:15 pm every day give or take a few minutes - maybe 15 minutes over the course of the whole year. So you hardly notice it.


And in talking about the temperature again while March and October are the warmest time of year in Seychelles I must stress that this does not mean that the rest of the year is not. It only means that the rest of the year is just not as hot. And when I talk of it being hot, you've got to understand that the weather in Seychelles is tempered by the ocean and also bear in mind the fact that the days are never longer than 12 hours. And that plays a significant role too in keeping down the temperature, and as a result it's nothing like the heat that you experience in continental America, Europe, Africa or Asia or Australia.

Here in Seychelles, it's always very warm and pleasant - never too hot. And it's all year round. I cannot stress this enough. And the sea is warm 365 / 365 - come rain or shine. The only difference is that around the equinox, March and October, the sea is calm and more beautiful. Also since you did mention the summer months - I assume that you are referring to your own summer - I must bring to your attention the fact that in Seychelles such a concept of summer and winter is non existent. It's not like in the Caribbean. In Seychelles, think of it as perpetual late-spring weather with warm seas.

Also as you plan your swimming holiday in the Seychelles perhaps it might be wise to read this page about swimming in Seychelles that has been written especially for folks like yourself. And as you read, remind yourself that I have no axe to grind while I love the sea and the Seychelles islands and its beaches. I hope you find it useful.

Also remember there is more to the natural beauty of Seychelles than just the sea. But as we talk about the sea I personally like May, June, July and August, the drier season, because it's a good time for sailing and windsurfing, my favourite activities. Others prefer November, December and January, although it's wet then, for the superb fishing.

If I may add, budget well and research and choose wisely. Why go for one week if on the same budget you can have a glorious vacation in Paradise stretched over a whole month? Hey, you do need a month to really appreciate the best of Seychelles, but you wouldn't want to stay on La Digue for a whole month though.

Have you subscribed to my Seychelles blog? That's how to keep up to date... And maybe you can share your own Seychelles story on this blog, later? It would be much appreciated. Also please share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter and Google's +1 right from here...

Now go enjoy your vacation in Seychelles.