Best snorkelling spots

Happy All Saint's Day to everyone in Mauritius

The pink deposits can still be witnessed (and smelt) at Preskill Island and Pointe Jerome - and could have been either Trichodesmium blooms or Coral spawning, but have been confirmed as Coral spawning which happens with the full moon (spring tide) closest to end October / beginning November.

Sources: https://www.facebook.com/AstroeaBeachMauritius/

Have you had the chance to observe this remarkable yearly spectacle? 🤩Annually, during the first full moon in late October or early November, the coral reefs in the Southern Hemisphere undergo a noteworthy spawning event.The azure lagoons of Mauritius undergo a captivating transformation, taking on a vivid pink hue, teeming with the eggs and sperm of robust corals striving to reproduce and flourish.

This phenomenon is triggered by the rise in ocean temperatures as the Southern Hemisphere transitions from Winter to Summer, prompting the maturation of coral reproductive cells.Our lagoon is flourishing and in the midst of a rejuvenation process 🌊.

Photo credits: Christophe Desmarais.#Mauritius #AstroeaBeachMauritius[see photos at the link above]other sources: (video and photos here courtesy Christophe DesMarais of Catamaran Cruises):

https://mbcradio.tv/article/vid%C3%A9o- … ral-spawn/

Thanks for sharing, we are so lucky to be able to witness this phenomenon first hand. Stunning photos, thanks.

@John0356 and especially as this is very close to where the Wakashio ran aground on 25 July 2020 and the Coral bloom phenomenon took place every October since, indicating that the Wakashio disaster did not have as big an big effect on the coral in the area as was feared.

I spoke to locals in the area and they say that because oil floats on the surface it was possibly much more detrimental to turtles and dolphins.

The dead corals that can be seen in Blue Bay and elsewhere are more possibly the victims of the pesticides that were previously used on sugar cane fields and washed into Blue Bay via the 2 rivers entering the bay and marine reserve close to the end of the airport runway.

Hopefully less-harmful pesticides are being used currently and through education this will be less of a problem in future.

@Ceresiet Thanks for sharing, it’s good to know those things.

I share your hope that through education and eco-conscious practices, the ecosystems can recover and flourish.

Hopefully less-harmful pesticides are being used currently and through education this will be less of a problem in future.
   

    -@Ceresiet

Pte D'Esny is a hidden scuba diving gem.  And the corals are even more spectacular than the dying Great Barrier Reef. 

One more thing to preserve this beauty - please use coral safe sunscreen.  If your sunscreen leaves a sheen on the water, this will pollute the water.

Enjoy but please make sure to take care of it too.