St Joseph Atoll Seychelles Amirantes Islands
1
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Emerald Waterways (1 Cruises)
Frequently Asked Questions
Nowhere alongside: there is no village, no jetty and no shop. Expedition ships anchor offshore and Zodiacs approach the site, out on the Amirantes bank.
Its shallow lagoon works as a marine nursery. Hundreds of young lemon and blacktip reef sharks grow up there, safe from open-ocean predators, alongside thousands of stingrays working the sandy bottom.
Yes, and it is the highlight of the call. In less than a metre of clear water, fins and shadows pass on either side of the boat. These juveniles pose no danger to visitors who stay aboard.
An ocean conservation foundation, jointly with neighbouring D'Arros Island, which hosts the research station. Scientists there have recorded more than 500 fish species.
Sometimes. Visiting expeditions occasionally get a briefing from the teams that track the area's sharks, rays and turtles year-round. It is never guaranteed and depends on their fieldwork schedule.
Often at dawn or dusk, when the seabird colonies fill the main channel and low light sets the shallows alight. The tide dictates the rest of the programme.
The channel between D'Arros and the atoll has a reputation as a manta gathering point. As anywhere in the wild, sightings depend on season and luck.
Whatever the ship's naturalists set out at the pre-landing briefing. The site exists for research and conservation rather than tourism, and approach distances and closed areas change from visit to visit.
It suits teenagers and adults better. Everything happens from a Zodiac, with no facilities ashore, and the day runs on the tide. Children who love marine life will enjoy it, provided they can sit still in a boat.
April to May and October to November, between the monsoons: easier seas for Zodiac work and better underwater visibility. The rest of the year, wind decides the programme more often.
