Îlots Choizil

The Choizil islets lie off Mayotte's northern tip, a group of uninhabited rocks and small islands inside the lagoon with reef around them and seabirds nesting on the higher ones. Boats run out from the northern coast for snorkelling and diving, and the water here is among the clearest in the lagoon because there is no river runoff on this stretch. Turtles are seen regularly. The group includes the Îlot Choizil proper and several smaller rocks, and the whole cluster sits within the lagoon's northern reaches.

What you actually see

• The uninhabited islets - rocks and small islands with nothing on them.
• The reef - the coral around the group, in good condition.
• The seabirds - the species nesting on the higher islands.
• The clear water - visibility helped by the absence of runoff.

When to go

May to October is the dry season with the clearest water. The wet season from November brings runoff and cyclone risk. Boats depend on conditions.

Honest expectations

Access is by chartered boat and must be arranged. There are no facilities on the islets. Landing is restricted on some during seabird nesting.

Nearby

Mtsamboro is south, and Îlot Mtsamboro is southeast.