St Pierre islet snorkelling

What it is

St Pierre is a small uninhabited granite islet with a handful of coconut palms, about 1.5 km from Pointe Zanguilles on Praslin and east of Curieuse, on the edge of Curieuse Marine National Park. Its profile has appeared in many advertising campaigns and posters and has come to stand for the classic Seychelles island.

Snorkelling

SPGA singles out St Pierre for snorkelling and diving. SeyVillas describes shoals of fish at depths of up to 12 metres, a few minutes by boat from Côte d'Or, and lists it among the dive sites reached from Praslin. If you go ashore, SPGA notes Wright's skinks and a number of seabirds.

How to go

St Pierre is reached by boat and is usually combined with Curieuse, which SPGA puts five minutes away by boat. Geoli Charters starts its Curieuse day with a snorkelling stop at St Pierre, or at a better spot on the day. Loyalty Charter snorkels at St Pierre and moves to other sites when sea conditions are poor. Angel Tours sells shared Curieuse and St Pierre day trips, with or without lunch.

Rules and fees

St Pierre lies inside Curieuse Marine National Park, so SPGA's park rules apply. Non-residents entering a marine national park must hold a valid ticket; the Curieuse park fee is SCR 300 for non-residents over 12 (SPGA, checked 16 September 2026), and SPGA says operators normally include entry fees in their packages. Boats must anchor or moor in designated areas, and fishing, collecting shells, plants or coral, and littering are not allowed.

Tips

The sun is strong this close to the equator: Azzura Dive Center advises snorkellers to wear a T-shirt or rash vest and reapply high-SPF sunscreen. Strong currents occur at several snorkelling sites in the area, so stay close to your guide and follow the crew's advice on where to swim. Choppier seas are more likely during the north-west monsoon, from November to March.