A striped tropical fish swims beneath the waves along a coral reef in Mauritius.
When it comes to travel, there is a growing trend for teens and teenagers to celebrate milestone birthdays and graduations with special trips and travel experiences instead of presents and parties.
Statistics show that people value richer, more fulfilling and holistic experiences and are traveling more slowly and for longer periods of time. While many people had to put their travel bucket list on hold over the past few years, people are now prioritizing their travel dreams and making them a reality.
One such bucket list experience is learning how to scuba dive while on vacation.
“Learning to dive on holiday offers people the opportunity to completely disconnect from the outside world and focus on the present moment,” said Julie Andersen, Global Senior Director of Brands, PADI Worldwide. . As a bonus, diving provides a great physical and mental health experience.
Andersen was taught to dive by his father at a young age and still explains that his fondest memories are of the time he spent underwater on adventures around the world. “We all cherish not only the experience, but the fact that we shared it together. Through the process, we learned a greater sense of responsibility towards each other and the ocean. I learned soft skills that you could never get from a book, from compassion for living things to unwavering strong self-confidence. Thanks to diving, we are all better together and independently.
Where should I go to get my scuba diving certification?
Close-up of a sea turtle swimming underwater over a coral reef in Mauritius.
Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean, offers world-class diving and is on every tourist's bucket list.
Mauritius' seabed is exceptional in its landscape. Surrounded by a barrier of coral reefs.
There are many diving spots around Mauritius. Experienced divers often choose fairly deep dive sites, such as Gunner's Coin, Whale Rock, and Holt's Rock. If you're new to diving, there are easily accessible destinations like Blue Bay Marine Park in the southeast.
The north of Mauritius is home to more than 60 dive sites, from Cape Pimento to Calodin. The northern islands, such as Gunner's Coyne, Round Island, Flat Island, and Gabriel Island, offer impressive landscapes with a variety of landscapes formed by coral, rocks, and shoals. It is also home to a variety of colorful creatures. You may also encounter sharks such as hammerhead sharks. This part of the island is protected from the trade winds and few rivers flow into the sea here, so visibility is good.
There are over 45 dive sites on the west coast from Albion to Le Morne. This is an area where you can see dolphins and rays. With coral reefs 50 to 150 feet deep and strong currents flowing through basalt tunnels and chimneys, the west coast features a very different landscape for divers. There are few coral reefs on the sea floor here, and there are many basaltic topography, and the topography changes and the depth varies greatly.
The East Coast is home to more than 60 dive sites, from Poudre d'Or to Blue Bay. There are many shipwrecks here for divers who enjoy scuba diving.
Earn your family's scuba diving certification while on vacation.
A pilot whale comes to the surface to breathe off the northwest coast of Mauritius.
Learning to dive during a family vacation in Mauritius is easy. There are over 30 PADI dive centers and resorts on the island, so you'll likely find one not far from where you're staying.
Children as young as 8 years old can take their first breath underwater and join a PADI Seal Team through the PADI Bubble Maker Course, while children as young as 10 can become a PADI Junior Open Water Diver.
PADI Five Star Dive Resort Diving Mauritius is the largest diving company in Mauritius and one of the best in the Indian Ocean. The owner, François Besson, is a very prominent figure in the world of diving, known for his vast knowledge and experience.
Going scuba diving as a family is a great way to celebrate milestones like birthdays and graduations.
Mr. Besson founded the company in 1993. Although he was born in South Africa, his parents are Mauritian. “I returned to his parents' island because of its beauty,” Besson says. Scuba Mauritius What makes his diving so unique? “It's not a very famous diving destination, so that allows us to offer less crowded and more exclusive services,” he says. says. Diving in Mauritius can be enjoyed all year round, but he says the best times to dive are from March to May and from September to November. His favorite diving spot is in the Northwest. “The northwest is great for diving because it has more of a climate from the southeast. The northwest is very sheltered and calm. There are also no rivers in the north, so the water is clean most of the year. .”
When it comes to training teens and young adults to dive, Besson says, “It’s great to have diving training for teens and young adults. Diving is very easy compared to other parts of the world, making it very attractive for families. ”
Additionally, the weather in Mauritius is ideal. He points out that since Mauritius is a tropical island, the average temperature is quite high. Summer temperatures range from 78 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and water temperatures from 77 to 86 degrees. Winter temperatures range from 70 to 80 degrees and water temperatures from 70 to 75 degrees.
Teens and tweens are the perfect age to learn how to scuba dive.
Mauritius diving centers are located in several Beachcomber hotels. Beachcomber Victoria Resort and Spa and Beachcomber Shandrani Resort and Spa. Most dive sites are within a 15-minute boat ride from the docks, making it easy for families to get to.
Advanced divers can choose from several shipwrecks, deep seas, and drifting locations. For novice divers, there are many colorful coral reefs. The company offers several training courses including Deep, Wreck, EFR, Photography, Night, and AWARE FISH Identification. They can teach children as young as 10 years old.
As the founder of Diving World Mauritius, Mr. Besson has played a pivotal role in promoting diving as a recreational activity in Mauritius. With his over 30 years of experience running multiple diving schools, Francois has become an influential figure in the diving industry worldwide. Diving Mauritius is a PADI Green Star Diving School.
