Currents on reefs and other Seychelles Warning Or Danger Tips

With all the waves crashing in over the reefs, be it low or high tide, the water has somehow to flow out of the basin again. So it does through slightly deeper channels ("Passe") here and there on the reefs. Our experience was that these were well marked by warning signs: "Dangerous swimming", "Swimming prohibited" etc. on land. However, several tourists seemed not to understand this danger: the force of the current in addition to the ocean breakers' backwash may drag even superb swimmers into the deep outside the reef. It could be hard to reenter the lagoon without being lacerated by coral outcrops.

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Other Contact: Talk with locals and hotel staff

In a place where the midday sun is right above you will naturally seek shadow, yes? Don't try this at the Seychelles without a second look up in the treetops: coconuts? I did the mistake on a previous trip to La Digue, skipped off my towel for a cooling swim, returned to land only to find a newly fallen coconut cratering the towel where my head had rested 5 minutes earlier... On this trip our rented vehicle was re-parked at Port Launay Marine National Park near La Plaine because of overhanging coconuts, and sure enough, a minute after we had changed parking spot the first nut smashed to the ground with a resounding "thump!". Right where we had first parked. Watch it!

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It's easy to step on sea urchins. Many of them are less visible and much smaller than this large one (photo) found on the reef at low tide, 20 cm across the main body.
It's painful to get stung and takes a long time for those wounds to heal, so prepare yourself in three ways:
1) look carefully when wading or putting down your feet.
2) wear sandals that attach well to your feet in water.
3) bring some vinegar to apply to sea urchin punctures - vinegar dissolves the broken needles in the foot.

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There are very few insects that will cause you any pain or harm in the Seychelles.
In this respect it is a blessed country.
There are mosquitos, but nowhere near the masses you will find in most humid equatorial countries. And they do not carry any diseases such as malaria, dengue or yellow fever. Same goes for sandflies that live among seaweed washed ashore on sandy beaches. Easy to avoid by moving away from infested ppatches of beach.
What you need is a mosquito repellent, and see to it that your hotel room has an insect mesh in the window openings or a mosquito net over the bed.

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Cone shells are considered the most beautiful shells in the world, and on the beaches here you may find them washed up, normally empty. While alive, their shells are even more beautiful and delicate. However, you are best off leaving them undisturbed:
Cone shells may inject you with a nasty poison, and some are outright deadly. So unless you really know what you are doing, don't pick them up. Leave them alone and just watch them going about their deadly business of spearing small fish.

Check the internet on "cone shells" and you may find some interesting facts. Perhaps you will also enjoy bringing a field guide or reference book about shells and mollusks? You'll be very busy on Seychelles' beaches then.

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The really dangerous spots on the Seychelles, at least where tourists frequent, are signposted.
They only do this after considerable experience and accidents.
Would be a shame to die in paradise, no?

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There are a few species of benign snakes on the Seychelles, but nothing that will grab and eat or poison you. And they are very small.

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Huuuuge spiders with very wide nets.
However, I haven't come across anybody who has been bitten or heard of anyone who has been hurt by them. They are probably only minding their own business and trying the best to keep away from human presence.
They won't jump at you.

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Re: the tsunami wave in the Indian Ocean: Report from the Seychelles taken from www.seychelles.com:

"SEYCHELLES WEATHERS MAJOR ASIAN EARTHQUAKE

Attention All Travellers, Tour Operators and Airlines

Seychelles, Monday 27 December 2004

The tropical paradise islands of Seychelles in south-western Indian Ocean have emerged practically unscathed in the wake of the Asian earthquake that has caused havoc to some parts of the northern Indian Ocean.

Reports from the Seychelles indicate that besides a strong tidal wave that washed out temporarily parts of the tiny capital of Victoria, damage over the islands has been minimal and there has been no human casualty.

News of a small shark being stranded by the Clock Tower close to the statue of Queen Victoria has so far been dismissed as a fisherman's tale, but there have been reports of a small restaurant in the south of the main island of Mahe being put out of action for the night and several small boats breaking off their mooring.

The "La Reserve" Hotel on Praslin Island has had to move its guests to other hotels on the island as a result of flooding, and the area of Anse-a-la-Mouche in the south of Mahe where there are a few small guesthouses and self-catering apartments has also been affected.

The islands' only national daily, the "Seychelles Nation", will not be published tomorrow morning owing to the fact that its offices close to the port of Victoria were partly flooded.

A small disaster committee chaired by the President of Seychelles has kept control of events on the island from early morning Sunday and to date there has been no major damage.

The President has declared Monday a public holiday to allow those seaside homes that have been affected to get back to normal.

The international airport however has not been touched, despite being at sea level and to date all tourists are reported to be safe in their hotels.

All domestic inter-island and international flights from Seychelles International Airport are arriving and departing on schedule.. "

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Several persons have asked me about the weather and when to go to the Seychelles...
I was there two weeks in February 2004. Previously I have visited mid-December. Both times have been at the edges of the socalled rainy season, with no ill effects. In February 04 I had maybe two half days or a bit more overcast out of the two weeks, but that only gave a chance to recover from intense sunshine. Some clouds passed overhead and a couple of short-lived rainshowers, too, but nothing monsoon-like in these parts. Mahe, however, is big and high enough to have its own fog and clouds and rainshowers, so you may have some localised clouds and rain. If on the eastern side of the island, cross over to the western side and you may well see the sun again. You can always travel to the Seychelles anytime and feel the warmth and have sunshine for the most part, regardless season.

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