7 experiences to see Mayotte’s lagoon at its best

A magical land of colorful corals, schools of barracudas, eagle rays and, in the depths, hammerhead sharks... No for beginners or experienced divers nothing better than this amazing lagoon protected by a double coral reef. The S-shaped channel on the eastern reef is still the most famous spot in the lagoon. Just under three miles long, it offers more than 10 dive sites frequented by groupers, green humpback parrotfish, turtles and gray reef sharks. This is a real natural aquarium.

In N'Guj, on the most beautiful beach of the island, overlooked by tousled baobab trees, we put on fins, masks and snorkels to swim with green turtles at high tide. They love the sea grass that covers the seabed, just meters from the golden sandy shores. Used to encountering swimmers, they are more than happy for you to watch and follow them. Only one thing: don’t touch them!

Between July and the end of October, you have a good chance of witnessing the spectacle of humpback whales leaping out of the water in the Mayotte lagoon. These sea giants reach 11–18 meters in length and travel from Antarctica to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean to breed. This is the perfect chance to go on a whale watching trip with tour operators who have respectful policies for getting close to these mammals.

Shadows flickering beneath the surface? From April to June it is most likely manta rays swimming along the reef. Further on, the fins of a school of dolphins make the boat passengers scream with delight. There can be hundreds of them to follow the boat in what looks like a friendly escort and sometimes a graceful ballet. These encounters with marine life and the opportunity to anchor at the Robinson Islands are the highlights of any boat trip on the lagoon. The children are simply delighted!

The bird's eye view of the lagoon is something you won't forget in a hurry. Islets buried under dense vegetation, bordered by a carpet of corals sparkling in the light; shifting sandbanks that scratch the turquoise water with their sparkling whiteness; tangled mangroves that stretch in dark scribbles along sections of the coastline, and immaculate beaches fringed by coconut palms. And, of course, this amazing double barrier reef, caressed by the ocean spray... Flying over the lagoon in an ultralight aircraft will be one of the highlights of your trip.

Between land and sea, mangrove swamps are a mysterious, unique ecosystem consisting of several species of mangrove trees that serve as a breeding ground for many species of fish and shellfish. On land or at low tide, you can stroll between the above-ground roots of mangrove trees or, better yet, sail around their winding branches on a pirogue at high tide. Why not visit Bandrele, where a community of women makes mangrove salt using an ancient recipe?

What could be better than a board, paddle, hat and sunglasses to explore the Mayotte lagoon at your own pace, no matter how you feel Are you in a sporty or meditative mood? Rising above the water, you notice the fin of a dolphin, contemplate the rocks and streams cutting into the coast, and swim along a deserted beach, accessible only by sea...