Mauritius · Mauritius · Wreck
L'Orient
A wreck sunk as an artificial reef at 43 m, rarely dived
Area photo: Christopher Brown · CC0
L'Orient was sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Flic en Flac and lies at a maximum depth of 43 metres, past the limit most recreational divers plan to. That depth is also why it is rarely visited: it is described as accessible only to rather experienced divers, so it is a short, deliberate dive rather than a standard boat-trip stop.
Where it is and how deep
20.2939° S, 57.3526° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
This is a planned deep dive. The maximum depth is 43 metres, where usable bottom time is measured in a few minutes rather than in a dive's worth, so the profile is agreed and the gas checked before the descent. What is published about the ship is that it was sunk as an artificial reef: no vessel type, no dimensions, no attitude on the bottom and no route around it.
In practice that means one look at the wreck at depth and then an ascent that takes up most of the dive. The record is blunt about why it is not visited often — the depth puts it out of reach of all but rather experienced divers. Without deep training and recent practice at this range, this is the Flic en Flac wreck to leave off the list.
The wreck
- Vessel
- L'Orient
- Type
- Vessel scuttled as an artificial reef
- Cause
- Sunk deliberately as an artificial reef
- Lies
- On the bottom off Flic en Flac at 43 m
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Good |
Season follows Mauritius: Cyclone season (Jan-Mar) can disrupt trips and cloud visibility; the trade-wind months of Apr-Nov give steadier, clearer conditions.
Know before you go
- At 43 metres this sits beyond the recreational limit: narcosis, gas consumption and decompression obligation all bite at once, so it needs deep training and a conservative plan.
Questions divers ask
Can I dive the L'Orient on a recreational certification?+
It has a maximum depth of 43 metres, deeper than recreational limits, and is described as accessible only to rather experienced divers — which is also why it is dived so seldom.
Sources
- L'Orient - Scubago — Scubago
More dive sites in Mauritius
Reef
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Wall
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Drift
A drift run deep to 26 m or shallow to 20 m
Cave & cavern
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Wreck
A fishing boat sunk for diving at 35 m, a reef since the 1980s
Reef
A small rock outcrop on sand, 16 m at its deepest
Reef
The shallow part of L'Eveille, 5 to 19 m
Similar dives elsewhere
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