Desroches Island

Desroches lies in the Amirantes group some two hundred and thirty kilometres southwest of Mahé, a low coral island around six kilometres long with beaches down most of its length and a reef wall that drops steeply within swimming distance of the shore, which is what made its reputation among divers. Green and hawksbill turtles nest on the beaches and are monitored by a research station on the island. One resort operates there.

History

The island was named Île des Roches in 1771 by La Biolière, captain of the Étoile du Matin, after François Julien des Roches, governor of Île de France and Île Bourbon, while the British called it Wood Island for its dense trees. The first settlement came in 1835, it long produced copra, and the Island Conservation Society opened a conservation centre here in 2009 (Wikipedia, Desroches Island).

The landscape

• The drop-off - a reef wall falling away close to shore, the island's dive reputation.
• The long beaches - sand running down most of six kilometres of coast.
• The turtle nesting - green and hawksbill turtles monitored on the beaches.
• The research station - the conservation programme working on the island.

When to go

March to May and September to November are the calm transitional months. Diving is best in those windows. Monsoon months bring wind and swell.

Before you go

There is one resort and prices are at the top end. Flights are infrequent and weight-limited. The island is remote and medical facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Alphonse Island is south, and Mahé is northeast.

Key facts