St-Pierre Islet — The Best Snorkeling Off Praslin
A granite outcrop the size of a tennis court, surrounded by a coral garden you can drift over in 4 metres of glass-flat water. St-Pierre is the inner islands' shortest, densest snorkel — and our most-requested half-day.
Duration
4 hours
Capacity
Up to 10 guests
Departure
La Digue marina
Season
Year-round · best Apr-Oct (visibility)
Why St-Pierre is the best half-day in the inner islands
St-Pierre is a single granite outcrop off Anse Volbert — about a kilometre offshore, surrounded on three sides by a healthy coral garden in 3-5 metres of water. The fish density is, honestly, the highest you'll see on the inner-island side of Praslin: thick shoals of sergeant majors, parrotfish in every colour, often a hawksbill turtle resting on the bottom. We drop on the south face for the soft current and the wider reef, drift north on the changing tide, and pick you up on the back side. The whole stop runs about 90 minutes — long enough to see everything, short enough that no one tires.
Combining St-Pierre with Anse Volbert
On the way back, we add a beach stop at Anse Volbert — Praslin's main beach on the Côte d'Or, a long arc of white sand with the lagoon hotels on one side and the boats moored on the other. Swim, walk, grab a coconut from the kiosk. Many guests use it as a lunch stop before returning to La Digue.
When the visibility is at its best
St-Pierre is good year-round but the sweet spot is between April and October — light south-east winds, low rainfall, visibility often above 15 metres. December-February can be excellent on calm days but more variable. The captain checks the forecast the morning of and shifts the plan if needed.
St-Pierre vs Coco Marine Park
Coco has more fish density and a larger area, but it's a longer day and requires the marine park fee. St-Pierre is shorter, free of park fees, and the density at the actual outcrop rivals Coco. If you have one half-day, pick St-Pierre. If you have a full day, Coco wins.
What's included in the St-Pierre half-day
- Private boat with captain
- Snorkeling gear in all sizes
- Drinks (water, sodas, beer) included
- 90 minutes at the snorkel site
- Anse Volbert beach stop
- No marine park fee
Typical itinerary, 4 hours
St-Pierre Islet — frequently asked
Is there a marine park fee at St-Pierre?
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No — St-Pierre itself sits outside the gazetted parks. No daily fee is required.
How deep is the water at the snorkel site?
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Between 3 and 8 metres around the islet — shallower on the south face, dropping off to 12 m past the back of the rock.
Can children snorkel here?
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Yes — flotation gear available, the south face is shallow and protected, the captain stays close in the dinghy if needed.
Can we land on St-Pierre?
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It's bare granite — no path, no facilities. We don't land. Snorkel only.
Can we combine with Curieuse?
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Yes — it adds about an hour and turns the day into a full-day Curieuse + St-Pierre combo. Very popular.
