Surfing and Sailing Holiday in Seychelles

by Hans
(Berlin, Germany)

Where can I rent a surfboard or a windsurfer? How about sailing in Seychelles?

Hans,
For your surfing and sailing holiday in Seychelles you should go to Beau Vallon. The two best places in Seychelles where you can rent water-sports equipment like surfboards, windsurfers and hobby-cats, are on Mahe Island at Beau Vallon Beach - Yes right on the beach there, you'll find the two best equipped water-sports centres for your surfing and sailing holiday in Seychelles.

Please note that Beau Vallon beach is the most popular beach in Seychelles and for good reason too. In addition there are lifeguards, so making it a pretty safe beach for all. The two centres are located just 200 metres apart.

Leisure Sports operates a stand right next to the Coral Strand Hotel, and Aquatic Sports Centre does business from a thatched kiosk in front of the Beau Vallon Bay Hotel. They both provide surfboards, body boards, canoes, windsurfers, hobby-cats, and micro-cats. Talk to Frank at Aquatic Sports, or see Jamie at Leisure Sports.

They also have high-speed boats that you can hire for water-skiing and para ascending (paragliding). They operate from 9:00 am to nightfall although the motorized sports are only available after midday - this is controlled by legislation.

Aquatic Sports Centre, the larger of the two, is where you can also rent jet-skis and water-scooters. They also have deep-sea fishing boats with crew that you can hire for a day or a half-day for either big game fishing or perhaps bait-fishing the sea bottom offshore.

For wave surfing at Beau Vallon the best time of year is from November to March when the winds blow onshore creating big swell and surf. For the rest of the year with strong offshore winds the sea in the bay is quite flat but then is the best time for sailing, windsurfing and water-skiing.

Usually you are expected to use the equipment right there under supervision, so it is safer for you, but if you want to go catch a bigger wave somewhere else it could also be arranged but you'll have to discuss that with the centre operators /owners.

One popular place for surfing is at Carana Beach a little way from Glacis in NE Mahe. There the best surfing is from May to September, when the wind blows from the southeast but you're on your own there - no lifeguards.

So it's at your own risk. I recommend that you also take the time to read about the best beaches of Seychelles and get to know about some dangers at some beaches. Note that most beaches in Seychelles have no lifeguards, so folks do well to keep away from the surf.

I think when you plan your beach holiday you should choose the best time of year to suit your preferred sport at Beau Vallon Beach. While the best places on Mahe to catch a big wave are Intendance Beach, Grand Anse and Anse Coraille, they are NOT the safest. Also note that most resorts have some equipment for their guests' use.

Outside Mahe you can also rent some water-sports equipment at the Anse Volbert Beach on Praslin Island. On other islands like Fregate Island they have windsurfers and hobby-cats but these are for the exclusive use of the island resort's residents.

I hope this answers your question about surfing, surfboards, windsurfers, hobby-cats, water-sports and your sailing holiday in Seychelles. Enjoy your holiday at the beach but above all think safety first. With this in mind go read about Grand Anse Beach, and share it.