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The Seychelles are particularly well geared towards travellers,
with a highly developed infrastructure complementing the islands'
natural attractions. While this destination is on the pricey
side, the quality is exceptionally high. The crime rate is
low, and visitors - who make a substantial contribution to
the economy - are welcomed everywhere.
Tempting though it may be to do little more than shuttle
between hotel bed, brunch, beach and bar, the great outdoors
is nowhere greater than in the Seychelles, which offers a
plethora of activities that can be either strenuous or not,
but are always fun.
Diving in Seychelles
 Diving
is astounding in the Seychelles. The reefs that encircle many
of the islands contain upwards of 300 species of fish and
more than 100 varieties of coral: suffice to say that this
is a diving Valhalla, with visibility generally exceeding
30 metres and water temperatures reaching 28ºC.
Schools on Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Desroches cater
to both first-timers and advanced divers, and charter operators
sail out to the best dive sites, although there are dozens
just off the coast of Mahé. Experienced divers will
probably not need to be told about the Desroches Drop - a
limestone coralline plateau adorned with mysterious caves
and canyons. The underwater scenery is similarly superb off
Alphonse. The El Nino effect has been felt in the Seychelles,
bleaching some hard corals, but the soft corals are already
growing back, especially around the Inner Islands reefs.
Snorkeling
 For
those not quite ready to don tanks and weight belts, snorkelling
provides a very acceptable alternative. A mask and flippers,
and a T-shirt to guard against sunburn, are all the equipment
needed.
Just about anywhere in the Seychelles provides plenty of
underwater entertainment, but some sites come especially recommended.
Anse Royale on Mahé is enclosed behind a reef, which
keeps out the larger fish but there are plenty of smaller
ones in the shallow waters; the corals in the Sainte Anne
National Marine Park are truly amazing, from white to purple
and an array of different sizes; manta rays and hammerhead
sharks have been spotted off Sunset Beach on Mahé;
strong currents run off Anse Kerlan on Praslin, which are
perhaps what attract the veritable academies of fish; and
the solitary hawksbill turtle that hangs out by the islet
of St Pierre in Curieuse National Marine Park has become something
of a tourist attraction.
Should the idea of getting wet at all simply not appeal,
there's always the option of taking a glass-bottomed boat
out over the reef, and admiring the underwater marine vistas
from on board.
Fishing in Seychelles
 Fishing
- big game and fly - is big business in the Seychelles. Top
spot for big game is the edge of the Seychelles Bank, where
the ocean floor plunges to 1,800 meters. The nearest islands
are Bird and Denis, but charters also sail out from Mahé.
Many record-breaking dog-tooth tuna have been snagged here,
as well as huge marlin, sail fish and sharks without number.
The best catches are usually between November and April.
The outer island of Alphonse is universally acknowledged
as the best place to indulge in fly fishing for bonefish,
which generally weigh around six kilos and are doughty fighters
once hooked. They swarm in such vast numbers that even beginners
have been known to catch 20 in a single day.
A strict catch-and-release policy is in force, and fly fishers
may use only barbless hooks. The season runs from September
to June.
windsurfing, water skiing and paragliding
Other water-based sports, such as windsurfing, dinghy sailing,
water skiing and paragliding, are popular at major resorts
and beaches, where equipment can be hired by the hour. Some
hotels levy no charge for use by guests. The combination of
calm waters and steady winds makes for an idyllic time out
on, or above, the ocean wave.
Golf
 Golfers
can take their choice of a brace of courses. Formerly a coconut
plantation until it was converted to its present role some
30 years ago, the Seychelles Golf Club on Mahé features
nine picturesque holes. Be careful - the local crabs have
been known to make away with stray balls.
On Praslin, the spectacular par-70, 18-hole championship
Lémuria course has been attracting players in droves
since in opened in October 2000. Designed by Rodney Wright
and Marc Farry, it borders Kerlan Cove Beach. The first 12
holes are fringed by palm trees, after which the course extends
into the thickly forested slopes of a steep hill. At the signature
hole - the 15th - players have to tee off from a rocky ridge
that overlooks Anse Gorgette, driving at least 150 metres
to hit the green below.
Both accomplished and novice equestrians will enjoy horse
riding in the Seychelles. On La Digue, there's the opportunity
to explore the grounds of the Union Estate, or to experience
the sheer exhilaration of galloping along the sand at Anse
Source d'Argent. At the Utegangar Riding Centre on Mahé
the pure-bred Arabian steeds head out to the Barbarons and
Grand Anse area on the west coast. For beginners, they stick
to the beach and bush but advanced riders can get taken up
into the mountains, where bathing beneath thunderous waterfalls
is the highlight of the expedition.
Hiking
Hikers will be in their element on Mahé, La Digue
and Praslin, where a number of well-marked trails lead into
the interior. The three-hour trek between Anse Royale and
Anse à la Mouche, running across the southern hills
of Mahé, with an optional detour to a small palm-lined
valley, is one of the most popular. A number of guided walking
tours are also available, with native Seychellois discoursing
on the islands' flora, fauna and local lore, granting a marvellous
insight into the archipelago's hidden delights.
The topography of the islands lends itself to rock climbing
though the sport has yet to catch on in a big way, so climbers
will need to bring their own gear. On Praslin the most interesting
ascents are behind Anse Lanzio and at Pointe Ste Marie. On
La Digue, there are some challenging rocks on Anse Source
d'Argent, and the cliffs at Pointe Jacques are awesome.
For anyone dismayed at the thought of so much strenuous activity,
many hotels in the Seychelles have spas with extensive menus
offering a variety of massages, scrubs and similar treatments
that reportedly exercise the mind and soul as well as the
body.
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