Coco Island Marine Park & the Sister Islands
A private boat circuit through the wildest snorkeling spot of the inner islands. Three granite islets, glass-clear water, a constellation of reef fish that look painted on, and beach stops most visitors never reach.
Duration
8 hours
Capacity
Up to 10 guests
Departure
La Digue marina
Season
Year-round · best May-Sept
Coco Island Marine Park — the inner islands' jewel
Coco is a small group of granite rocks off Félicité, surrounded by a marine park that has been protected for decades. The reef is just metres below the surface, the water is glass-flat in the lee of the rocks, and the fish density is honestly the best around La Digue. Expect parrotfish in every colour, sergeant majors in shoals, the resident hawksbill turtles, and on the lucky day eagle rays cruising the drop-off. We time the morning drop on the slack tide — visibility is at its best and the current is at its lowest. Children under 12 enter the park free; adults pay the marine park fee on arrival to the ranger.
Lunch on Grande Soeur
Grande Soeur is the larger of the two Sister Islands — a single beach with a leaning palm tree, no resort, no boat traffic outside the few private charters that come ashore. Lunch is a beach barbecue cooked while you swim. The water on the bay side is shallow enough to wade out 50 metres without losing your footing. If you want a longer beach session, we trade snorkel time for it — that's the point of the private day.
Félicité, Petite Soeur and the granite scenery
The circuit continues past Félicité — half private island, half Six Senses estate, with cliffs that drop 80 metres into deep water and the kind of granite shapes that made the Seychelles famous. Petite Soeur is the smaller twin: a narrow strip of white sand backed by a forest you can't enter. We swing close for the photo opportunity, then anchor for a last swim on the return.
What makes this day different from the Curieuse circuit
If Curieuse is about land — the tortoises, the trail, the history — Coco is about the water. The snorkeling is denser, the islands are smaller and emptier, the day is more about being in the sea than walking on it. Many guests do both on a 2-day stay; we offer a small repeat-guest courtesy on the second booking.
What's included in your Coco day
- Private boat, your group only
- Snorkeling at the inner islands' richest reef
- Beach BBQ lunch on Grande Soeur
- Drinks (water, soft drinks, beer) included
- Local captain · 12+ years on these waters
- Snorkeling gear in every size
Typical itinerary, 09:00 to 17:00
Coco Island — frequently asked
Is the Coco Marine Park fee included?
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No — it is paid in cash to the ranger on arrival (currently around €15 per adult, free for under 12s). Our captain handles the formalities.
How is the snorkeling compared to Curieuse?
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Coco has higher fish density and deeper drops, Curieuse has more variety of corals and the chance of tortoises on the beach. Both are excellent; many guests pick Coco for the water and Curieuse for the land.
Can we land on Sister Islands?
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Yes — Grande Soeur is open to private visits via a small private fee paid on the beach. Petite Soeur is a viewing-only stop from the boat.
Will we see turtles?
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Sightings are common around the marine park — hawksbills on the reef shelves, very occasionally a green turtle in deeper water.
Is this trip suitable for non-swimmers?
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Yes. The lagoon side of Grande Soeur is shallow and calm, and we provide flotation gear for the snorkel stops.
