Solar Sea Walk

Solar Sea Walk runs helmet sea walks in the lagoon at Grand Baie. You wear a large square helmet fed with air from the surface, so your face stays dry and you can keep your glasses or contact lenses on, and you walk on the sea floor among the fish and coral at a depth of three to four metres. The firm says it brought helmet diving to Mauritius in 1988, and its compressors have run on solar power since 1999.

The trip starts at the meeting point on Grand Baie beach, with a boat ride inside the reef to the dive platform. After a safety briefing you get the helmet and plastic shoes, then spend about 20 minutes underwater with two guides, where you can hand-feed the fish. The whole outing takes about 90 minutes.

No swimming is needed and anyone from seven years old can take part; children under 16 must be with an adult. Wheelchairs are available and the walk is open to guests with disabilities and to pregnant women. Non-divers can ride along on the boat for a smaller fee, and an underwater video can be added. Sessions run Monday to Saturday at 10:00, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00 (closed on Sundays), and walks go ahead in light rain but can be cancelled in rough weather. Walks can be booked online or by phone and WhatsApp, and the office is open Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 17.00.