10 Rules for Sailing the Seychelles

Remote, wild, lush—when the first European explorers discovered the 115-archipelago that is the Seychelles, they thought they had found the Garden of Eden. On an island-hopping cruise around the Seychelles with Zegrahm Expeditions, I learned a few things that can make or break your trip.

1. Always get off the boat

Our Zegrahm Expeditions cruise director wanted to manage expectations. The snorkeling wasn’t as good as some of the other times, the announcement warned. There was a light chop in the water, and we might not see as many fish as before. Not needing more of an excuse to stay in bed for a long-post lunch nap, many people opted to stay on the boat. I dragged myself out and had one of my favorite snorkels of all time, thanks to two sea turtles that joined me (apparently they didn’t get the announcement). Sure, I swallowed some sea water due to the waves, but I would have always wondered what I’d missed if I didn’t go out.

2. Ask questions

Don’t be afraid of looking dumb. Ask the question. The experts on board won’t judge you, and you’ll learn things in a way that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Although, if you’re the person who asked (on a boat) what elevation we were at, the other guests might judge you a little. Blame your mental lapse on the altitude sickness.

3. Never miss a sunset

On a cruise, your daily life can be a bit regimented. There’s set times for meals and activities, with repeated announcements to get you to the right place at the right time. But sunset is an extracurricular that you’ll have to plan for on your own. Make it a priority to figure out what time the sun sets each day, and which side of the boat will be best for viewing. Make sure you’re settled in well before the sun dips below the horizon, so you can see the sky gradually change from a golden glow to a fiery red—the show is spectacular, wildly unproductive, and different every night.

4. Bring SPF 50

And a sun shirt, swim tights, and a bandanna. The Seychelles are only a few hundred miles from the equator, and the sun is merciless down here. Any inch of exposed skin got sunburned after an hour or two in the water, so covering up is the way to go. Just make sure that any sunscreen you wear is reef-safe.

5. Don’t forget to look up.

Change your viewpoint from what’s in front of you and you’ll find more stars than you’d know the sky contained. Birds you won’t see anywhere else on the planet, eyeing you with confusion but no fear. Clouds lit up by the setting sun. Stunning clear blue skies with an unbroken horizon that you could lose yourself in.

6. Take a Trusted Guide (or 14)

Me, on this trip: “I saw a fish, it was shaped like a potato but a bright yellow color.” “What’s that crazy thing that looks like it’s embedded inside a rock but has teeth and moves?” Rich, our designated marine life guide/”fish guy” always had an answer for me, no matter how odd my description sounded. We had a team of 14 expedition guides on this trip, with expertise in microbiology, ornithology, anthropology, and more—it was like having access to a highly-specialized (and fact-checked) Wikipedia of the Seychelles. If you try to do this trip alone, you’ll miss out on a lot of knowledge. 

7. Minimize your impact as much as possible.

The Seychelles are special because they are so untouched by humanity. Follow the “leave no trace” rule and pack out anything you bring in, and never steal something (like sand or shells) for a souvenir.

Protect the wildlife by keeping your distance from animals who can catch diseases from humans, or learn bad behaviors. Never touch a coral reef (the oils from your skin can cause a large amount of destruction), and avoid kicking or walking on coral, which can kill it.  

Many of our Zegrahm guides on this trip made their own reef-safe sunscreen, picked up marine trash, and even took home plastic water bottles for recycling—emulate that behavior. 

8. Don’t give up the moment for the photograph.

I could have taken a million photos and videos and never quite accurately recreate the delicate light here, the sparkling emerald-turquoise color of the waves, or the softness of the sand. If I spent the whole time trying, I would have missed out on the real-life moment.

9. Leave your plastics at home

The Seychelles have banned plastic bags, cups, plates, and cutlery. Remember that as you’re packing and leave your Ziploc bags behind—and think about how you can replace them with eco-friendly alternatives.

10. Be Flexible

The Seychelles are wild, and you can’t plan your trip down to the minute, unless you want to miss out on an amazing snorkel because you refused to wait for the right tide. Be flexible in your plans, your expectations, and give yourself up to the flow of the islands—you’ll be rightly rewarded.