If you love the water, you can go snorkeling or diving and look at interesting sea life.  If you just prefer a relaxing time, then you can just stay by your cottage, sit in the shade, and revel in the soft hum of beach waves. The coast of Mauritius is lined by white coral beaches, and the island itself is encompassed by a barrier reef.  In some parts, the reefs have formed natural lagoons where you can swim or do some snorkeling in the clear water.

Mauritius, an emerald jewel in the Indian Ocean, attracts large numbers of holidaymakers who flock there for the sun, sea and silvery sands. But increasingly, the hotels in Mauritius are playing host to visitors looking for a different kind of scuba diving.

The warm waters that lap the island's shores are popular with underwater fans of all levels who enjoy year-round diving holidays in Mauritius. A coral reef extends around the entire island creating an enchanting, underwater playground. If you are a beginner, you can explore the shallows close to shore, and most hotels in Mauritius will offer an expert to guide you through your dive. The more adventurous underwater explorer can head out to one of the many wrecks or caves around the island.

The Cathedral is a "must-visit" site on your diving holiday to Mauritius. The dive begins at 18m, then drops very sharply to nearly 30m. Although the bottom is quite sandy and bare, along the cracks and crevices of the chamber you can make the acquaintance of an abundance of marine life characters. You may brush shoulders with Gropers, Wrasse, Sweetlip, Angelfish and Clownfish.

Rempart Serpent or "Snake Reef" is another incredible rocky pocket over 100m long. As its mesmerising blanket of seaweed bends and sways in the slow moving waters, it resembles a slow moving snake sliding across the ocean floor. Strangely barren looking, Rempart Serpent is not only home to the usual brightly coloured tropical fish, but also home to huge numbers of sinister looking stonefish, scorpion fish, lionfish and Moray Eels.

Note that, most hotels in Mauritius will arrange diving excursions to unique sites under the guidance of a knowledgeable marine expert.

Of course, a trip to Mauritius cannot possibly be complete without a visit to the local beaches around the area. You will find the beaches here to be clean and sanitary, and you can actually swim here, not like other beaches whose purpose is not attained. In Mauritius, bathing and swimming is absolutely safe and fun.