What is the best time to dive Trou aux Biches?

The best months to dive Trou aux Biches in Mauritius are October, November, December, January, February, March, April. Water temperatures range from 22°C to 28°C during peak season.

How deep is Trou aux Biches?

Trou aux Biches reaches a maximum depth of 35 m, with visibility ranging from 10–25 m. The full depth range requires Advanced certification at minimum; some zones are technical diver territory.

What marine life can you see at Trou aux Biches?

Trou aux Biches is known for encounters with dolphin, moray eel, lionfish, hawksbill turtle, clownfish. The site features reef, wall, wreck, drift diving across 20 named sites, with a marine life score of 62/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is Trou aux Biches good for beginners?

Trou aux Biches is better suited to experienced divers. Currents can be mild and depths reach 35 m. A minimum Open Water certification is required, and OkToDive recommends at least 100 logged dives before visiting.

How much does it cost to dive Trou aux Biches?

A 2-tank dive at Trou aux Biches averages around $90 USD, placing it in the mid range tier. Both boat and shore access are available, giving divers flexibility on budget.

Trou aux Biches Diving — Score: 65.7/100 | Conditions, Operators & Guide

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World Class

Beginner Friendly

Trou aux Biches

MauritiusIndian Ocean

65.7

SCORE

-20.0300°N

57.5500°E

Trou aux Biches is Mauritius' most popular dive coast, where warm lagoon water gives way to outer reef walls dropping into deep blue. The Cathedral — a cave dive with shafts of light cutting through the dark — is the signature site. Luxury resort infrastructure and the famous 'underwater waterfall' illusion from the air make this a complete destination.

Mauritius' Premier Dive Coast

Visibility10–25 m

Temperature22–28°C

Max Depth35 m

Currentmild

2-Tank Dive$90

Best MonthsOctober, November, December, January

CertificationOpen WaterBeginner Friendly

Score breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

62.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine life diversity

62.0

Coral & reef health

52.0

Visibility & conditions

60.0

Dive site variety

65.0

Water temperature

80.0

Depth & access

62.0

Operator quality

75.0

Topside experience

88.0

Getting there

62.0

Value & cost

60.0

Crowding

60.0

Social proof

62.0

Key species

dolphin moray eel lionfish hawksbill turtle clownfish

Dive types

reefwallwreckdrift

Traveling with non-divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for non-divers

underwater waterfall helicopter tourPamplemousses Botanical GardenPort Louis marketcatamaran trip to Île aux Cerfs

Nearby cultural sites

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden
Aapravasi Ghat (UNESCO)

Non-diver score

10/10

Excellent for non-divers — they'll love it here.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifevibrant

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

Learn more at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber30 km — SSRN Hospital Hyperbaric Unit, Pamplemousses

Nearest Hospital10 km

Chamber at SSRN Hospital; well-serviced tourist area

Skill LevelBeginner Friendly

Current Strengthmild

Top operators

Blue Water Diving Center

PADI

4.6

200 reviewsNITROX

Dive Dream Mauritius

SSI

4.5

150 reviewsNITROX

Compare this dive site

Trou aux Biches in Mauritius scores 65.7/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for reef diving with 10–25m visibility and 22–28°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$90 USD. Peak season: October, November, December.

Last updated: 2026-05-25

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Newly certified divers building confidence
+ Wreck diving enthusiasts
+ Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
+ Couples where one partner doesn't dive

Skip if

− You don't have Advanced certification
− You need shore access — this is boat-only

Verdict

Choose Trou aux Biches over similar Indian Ocean destinations when topside matters more than coral health

How Trou aux Biches compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
Trou aux Biches	65.7	10–25m	$90	reef, wall
Maldives	78.8	15–40m	$150	channel, reef
North Malé Atoll	77.1	15–40m	$130	reef, channel
Baa Atoll	74.9	12–35m	$150	reef, channel
South Ari Atoll	74.8	15–40m	$140	reef, channel

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

45+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

“Accessible to most certified divers with basic open water skills.”

What will challenge you

→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 35 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 6°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
high
Current
mild
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
mild
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	18–25	25	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Feb	18–25	25	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Mar	18–25	25	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Apr	18–25	25	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
May	18–25	25	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Jun	10–18	27	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Jul	10–18	27	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, manta season
Aug	10–18	27	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, manta season
Sep	10–18	27	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, manta season
Oct	10–18	27	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Nov	18–25	25	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Dec	18–25	25	Mild	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects70

Wide angle65

Viz stability52

Hover friendliness100

Natural light42

Recommended kit

→Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Deep diving comfort
advanced
Regular dives past 30m build confidence at depth.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$2,400–$3,500

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $1,150–$1,450
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $80–$90
Food / day: $40–$80
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Mid-range

$3,850–$5,750

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,700–$2,100
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $90–$120
Food / day: $90–$160
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Splurge

$6,450–$10,250

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $2,500–$3,100
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $120–$150
Food / day: $180–$350
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Budget decision guide

Choose Budget if you prioritize dive count over comfort — hostels and shore diving maximize bottom time per dollar. Choose Mid-range for the best balance of comfort and value — most divers land here. Choose Splurge for premium operators, private guides, and top-tier accommodation — worth it for special trips or non-diving partners.

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Trou aux Biches Diving — Mauritius

Score breakdown

Marine Life

Key species

Dive types

Traveling with non-divers?

Activities for non-divers

Nearby cultural sites

Non-diver score

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

Top operators

Blue Water Diving Center

Dive Dream Mauritius

Who should dive here

Best for

Skip if

Verdict

How Trou aux Biches compares

What your dive shop won't tell you

When to dive it

Dive forecast

Photography brief

What this site will teach you

Deep diving comfort

7-day trip, per person

Budget decision guide

Build a trip around it