Rodrigues · Mauritius · Coral garden · Lagoon
L'Aquarium
A sheltered lagoon pool at 7 m for first dives
Area photo: Ludovic Lubeigt from Taiwan · CC BY-SA 2.0
A natural pool inside the lagoon in about 7 m of water, sheltered by the barrier reef and barely touched by current, which makes it the island's standard site for first dives. Trumpetfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, damselfish, pufferfish and anemones with their clownfish are all in the same shallow bowl.
Also known as The Aquarium.
Where it is and how deep
19.6980° S, 63.4990° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The site sits inside the lagoon, protected by the barrier reef and relatively little affected by current, and the main part of it is a natural pool about 7 m deep. That combination — shallow, still and bright — is why it is used for first dives and for training, and why it still holds up as a slow dive for anyone who wants to look closely at small things.
The fish do not go anywhere. Trumpetfish hang over the coral, parrotfish and surgeonfish work across it, damselfish hold their own patches and pufferfish sit in under the ledges, with anemones and their clownfish spread through the shallow ground. Red mullet are down on the sand between the coral heads.
One part of the site is not a beginner's dive: an open passage at 12 m that the guides reserve for experienced divers. Everything else stays in the top ten metres, so the two halves are easy to keep separate — a training group can dive the pool while the passage is simply left for another day and another certification.
Marine life and season
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Fair |
Season follows Rodrigues: May–Jul and Oct–Nov are the calmest windows; Jan–Mar brings cyclone risk and August can be windy.
Know before you go
- The open passage at 12 m is reserved for experienced divers; newly qualified divers should stay in the shallow pool and leave it alone.
Questions divers ask
Is L'Aquarium good for a first dive?+
Yes. It is a sheltered lagoon pool at about 7 m, protected by the barrier reef and relatively free of current, and the guides describe it as ideal for beginners. Only the 12 m passage is off-limits.
Sources
- Les sites de plongée de Rodrigues — Spots d'Évasion
- Top 8 des plus beaux sites de plongée de l'île Rodrigues — Tropicalement Vôtre
More dive sites in Rodrigues
Reef
Named after a grouper that changes colour on the spot
Pelagic & blue water
A blue descent with no reference onto a shelf at 25 m
Drift
A natural aquarium at 10 m, or a 50-minute tidal drift
Reef
Coral totems and valleys between two reef blocks
Reef
Coral drop-offs at 21 m under a ceiling of fusiliers
Cave & cavern
Chimneys through the barrier reef that flood with daylight
Drift
A kilometre of channel drifted on the outgoing tide
Cave & cavern
A canyon that passes right under the barrier reef
Similar dives elsewhere
An 8 m coral garden dived mainly after dark
Shared entrance with the Canyon, then a slow run south
Calm 12 m coral boulders made for first dives and refreshers
.jpg){kind=link}
A shallow coral reef five to ten minutes off Praslin