Seychelles Marine Parks: A Complete Guide for Visitors
By Anshima GuptaUpdated Sep 28, 20269 min readSpeak to a travel expert
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Which Seychelles Marine Park Should You Visit?
Seychelles has six marine national parks, each offering a different combination of coral reefs, seagrass habitats, marine wildlife and visitor experiences. Sainte Anne is convenient from Mahé, Port Launay is the only marine park accessible by both road and sea, Curieuse is ideal for combining marine activities with giant tortoises and nature trails, while Ile Cocos is popular for snorkelling near La Digue. Baie Ternay offers a boat-access marine experience on Mahé, while Silhouette provides a more remote protected setting. The best choice depends on your island base, sea conditions and the experience you want.
Seychelles marine parks protect coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, beaches and marine wildlife across the islands. There are six marine national parks managed by the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA): Sainte Anne, Curieuse, Silhouette, Port Launay, Baie Ternay and Ile Cocos.
For travellers, these protected waters offer some of the best places in Seychelles for snorkelling, diving, swimming, boating and marine wildlife watching. Each park has a different setting, access route and conservation focus, so the right one depends on where you are staying and what you want to experience.
Seychelles Marine Parks at a Glance
This quick overview can help you decide which marine park fits your Seychelles itinerary.
Sainte Anne Marine National Park: Close to Mahé and Victoria, with six islands, coral reefs and extensive seagrass meadows. Port Launay Marine Park: On Mahé, with road and boat access, beaches, reefs and seasonal whale shark sightings. Baie Ternay Marine Park: On northwest Mahé, known for seagrass beds, coral reefs and marine wildlife. Curieuse Marine National Park: Near Praslin, combining marine habitats with giant tortoises, mangroves and Coco de Mer. Silhouette Marine National Park: Surrounds Silhouette Island and protects an extensive marine area with high biodiversity. Ile Cocos Marine Park: Near La Digue, comprising Ile Cocos, Ile La Fouche and Ilot Platte and known for its coral reefs and snorkelling. Seychelles marine parks are protected areas created to conserve marine ecosystems while allowing regulated recreation and tourism. Sainte Anne became Seychelles' first marine national park in 1973. Curieuse and Port Launay were designated in 1979, Baie Ternay in 1979, Silhouette in 1987 and the Ile Cocos, Ile La Fouche and Ilot Platte marine area in 1997. The parks protect different combinations of coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves, rocky shores and other coastal habitats. This variety also supports fish, sea turtles and other marine species. The six main marine national parks each offer a different experience. Sainte Anne is one of the easiest marine parks to visit from Mahé. Located about 5 km from Mahé, the park is around a 10-minute boat ride from Victoria. It covers six islands: Sainte Anne, Ile Moyenne, Ile Ronde, Ile Longue, Ile Cachée and Ile aux Cerfs. The park is particularly known for its coral reefs and large areas of seagrass. Green turtles can be seen feeding in the seagrass, while snorkelling and glass-bottom boat excursions are among the common visitor activities. Best suited to: Travellers staying on Mahé who want a convenient marine park excursion. Port Launay stands out because it is the only marine park in Seychelles that can be reached both by road and by sea. It is on the northwest coast of Mahé, about a 30-minute drive from Victoria. The park includes several beaches and reefs on both sides of the bay, making it suitable for swimming and snorkelling. It is also known for whale shark sightings during the season when these animals visit the area to feed on plankton. Best suited to: Visitors on Mahé who want a marine park they can reach without a boat excursion. Baie Ternay is on the northwest coast of Mahé and has no direct coastal road access. Visitors generally reach it by boat, including excursions from Beau Vallon or Port Launay. The park contains sandy and rocky shores, seagrass beds and coral reefs. Its seagrass areas provide feeding grounds for turtles, while visitors may also encounter dolphins, whale sharks and moray eels. Best suited to: Snorkellers and divers looking for a boat-access marine park on Mahé. Curieuse is about 2 km off the northeast coast of Praslin and combines marine conservation with a distinctive terrestrial environment. The protected area contains reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and mudflats. On land, visitors can see giant tortoises and Coco de Mer palms, which occur naturally on Curieuse and Praslin. The park also has nature trails, including a controlled seasonal nesting sea turtle trail that operates from October to early March, subject to the park's conditions and additional fee. Best suited to: Travellers staying on Praslin who want to combine marine activities with wildlife and nature trails. Silhouette Marine National Park surrounds Silhouette Island and was designated in 1987. The Seychelles Ministry of Environment identifies it as the largest of the six marine national parks. The protected marine area is recognised for its relatively undisturbed coral reefs and high marine biodiversity. Silhouette itself is also protected as an island national park, giving visitors a combination of marine and terrestrial conservation areas. Best suited to: Travellers looking for a more remote island setting and a protected marine environment around Silhouette. Ile Cocos Marine Park is close to La Digue and consists of three small islets: Ile Cocos, Ile La Fouche and Ilot Platte. The area was designated primarily to protect its marine ecosystems, corals and fish. SPGA lists Ile Cocos as around a 10-minute boat ride from La Digue. Boat charters and tour operators also arrange trips from La Digue and Praslin. The park is particularly popular for snorkelling. Hawksbill turtles are among the marine species associated with the area, while whale sharks may be seen seasonally, with SPGA identifying August to November as a period when sightings can occur. Best suited to: Travellers staying on La Digue or Praslin who want a dedicated snorkelling excursion. Activities vary by location and sea conditions, but marine parks commonly support low-impact activities such as: Snorkelling Diving Swimming Boat excursions Glass-bottom boat trips Marine wildlife watching Nature walks in parks such as Curieuse Sainte Anne offers glass-bottom boat excursions, while Port Launay and Baie Ternay are known for reef and snorkelling experiences. Curieuse adds nature trails and wildlife encounters to the marine experience. Your choice can depend on your island base and the type of experience you want. If you are staying on Mahé: Sainte Anne, Port Launay and Baie Ternay are the most relevant options. If you are staying on Praslin: Curieuse is a natural choice for combining marine activities with giant tortoises, mangroves and nature trails. If you are staying on La Digue: Ile Cocos is particularly convenient for a snorkelling excursion. If you want road access: Port Launay is the only marine park accessible by both land and sea. If you want a more remote setting: Silhouette provides a protected marine environment around one of Seychelles' more isolated islands. These are practical differences rather than a ranking. Weather, sea conditions, your accommodation location and available boat excursions can also affect which park makes sense for your itinerary. Current SPGA information lists day-entry fees for non-residents aged 12 and above. The fees are charged per person, per day. Children under 12 are admitted free according to the SPGA ticketing system. Visitors booking through tour operators may have park entry included in their excursion price. Because park fees can change, check the SPGA ticketing system shortly before your visit rather than relying on an older travel guide. SPGA's general visitor information lists marine national parks as open from 8 am to 5 pm daily, while individual park pages currently show visitor hours of 9 am to 5 pm for several parks. Most marine parks are accessed by boat. Port Launay is the exception because it can also be reached by land. Local tour operators, yachts and boat charters provide transfers and excursions to the protected areas. For that reason, check the park's current visitor information and your operator's departure details before setting out. Marine parks are protected areas, so visitors need to follow conservation and boating regulations. SPGA requires non-residents to carry a valid entry ticket when entering payable marine parks. Other important rules include: Anchor or moor only in designated areas to avoid damaging coral reefs. Do not fish or carry spear guns, fishing gear or fish traps within the park. Do not collect corals, shells, plants or other aquatic life. Do not litter. Watch for swimmers and snorkellers when operating a boat. Water skiing, speed-boat racing and other motorised water sports are prohibited in the parks. These rules are not simply formalities. Coral reefs and seagrass beds are sensitive habitats, and careless anchoring or contact can cause physical damage. There is no single month that guarantees ideal conditions across every marine park. Wind, waves, rainfall and underwater visibility can affect snorkelling and diving conditions. Wildlife sightings can also be seasonal. For example, SPGA's controlled nesting sea turtle trail on Curieuse runs from October to early March. Ile Cocos can also have seasonal whale shark sightings, with SPGA identifying August to November for possible encounters. Before booking a boat trip, check the marine conditions and confirm the day's excursion arrangements with your operator. Responsible behaviour helps protect the ecosystems that visitors come to see. Do not touch corals or marine animals, and keep a respectful distance from turtles and other wildlife. Avoid standing on reefs while snorkelling and never remove shells, coral or other natural material from the park. If you are travelling by boat, use only designated mooring or anchoring areas. Following instructions from SPGA rangers and licensed operators also helps protect sensitive habitats and keeps visitors within permitted areas. Seychelles marine parks give travellers access to protected coral reefs, seagrass habitats, beaches and marine wildlife across Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and the surrounding islands. The best park for your itinerary depends largely on where you are staying and what you want to do. Sainte Anne is convenient from Mahé, Port Launay offers road access, Baie Ternay provides a boat-access marine experience, Curieuse combines marine and island wildlife, Silhouette offers a more remote protected setting, and Ile Cocos is a popular snorkelling destination near La Digue. Check current SPGA fees, opening information, access arrangements and park regulations before your visit. That gives you a more accurate basis for planning your Seychelles marine park experience while helping protect the ecosystems that make these waters worth visiting.What Are Seychelles Marine Parks?
Which Marine Parks Are in Seychelles?
Sainte Anne Marine National Park
Port Launay Marine National Park
Baie Ternay Marine National Park
Curieuse Marine National Park
Silhouette Marine National Park
Ile Cocos Marine Park
What Can You Do in Seychelles Marine Parks?
Which Seychelles Marine Park Should You Visit?
Seychelles Marine Parks Entry Fees
Seychelles Marine Park Opening Hours and Access
Rules to Follow in Seychelles Marine Parks
When Is the Best Time to Visit Seychelles Marine Parks?
How to Visit Seychelles Marine Parks Responsibly
Plan Your Seychelles Marine Park Visit
Frequently asked questions
How many marine parks are there in Seychelles?+
Seychelles has six marine national parks managed by the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority: Sainte Anne, Curieuse, Silhouette, Port Launay, Baie Ternay and Ile Cocos.
Which marine park is closest to Victoria?+
Sainte Anne Marine National Park is about 5 km from Mahé and around a 10-minute boat ride from Victoria.
Which Seychelles marine park is easiest to reach by road?+
Port Launay is the only marine park in Seychelles that can be reached both by road and by boat. It is approximately a 30-minute drive from Victoria.
Can you snorkel in Seychelles marine parks?+
Yes. Snorkelling is a major visitor activity at parks including Sainte Anne, Baie Ternay, Port Launay, Curieuse and Ile Cocos, subject to weather, sea conditions and park regulations.
How much does it cost to enter a Seychelles marine park?+
Current SPGA day-ticket prices for non-residents aged 12 and above range from SCR 200 to SCR 300 depending on the park. Curieuse costs SCR 300, while Sainte Anne, Baie Ternay and Port Launay, and Ile Cocos are listed at SCR 200.
Can you see turtles in Seychelles marine parks?+
Yes. Turtles are associated with several protected marine areas. Sainte Anne has green turtles feeding in its seagrass meadows, while Baie Ternay provides turtle feeding habitat and Curieuse has a controlled seasonal nesting sea turtle trail
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Written from our own travel research and the trips our team books and services each week, plus traveller feedback from those bookings. Prices, availability and entry requirements change often — we reconfirm current details with you by phone before booking.
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