Who: David ‘Deep Diver’ Anderson
When: September 2017
Where: Mahé & Denis Island, The Seychelles
If you could describe the Seychelles as a destination in three words, what would they be? Jurassic, Island, Luxury
How would you summarise the Denis Private Island experience? Denis offers a complete escape, it is understated and barefoot in its style, which for me is the ultimate luxury. The vibe which the GM, Werner, and his team create is so welcoming and relaxed. The big game fishing there is world class, one of the best things I’ve ever done and the marine life we saw when diving was incredible. The concept of the island is very much ‘at one with nature’ and everyone seems to love working there, it really is a unique and hidden gem, in one of the most spectacular locations in the Indian Ocean.
Tell us about the diving and snorkelling? I spent pretty much my entire time at Denis in or on the water! I did 5 dives, went snorkelling every day and tried big game fishing. Whilst diving I saw both black and white tip reef sharks, baby manta rays, lots of turtles, dolphins on the surface and a humpback whale from the boat! Snorkelling off the beach along the reef we saw rays, turtles and some smaller reef sharks. I was there with my mum who is an inexperienced snorkeler but she felt relaxed and loved it, it was a great way for her to get used to being underwater and see so much marine life without having to dive.
Did you try and local Creole dishes? We often ate creole influenced meals, the snapper with creole tomato sauce was delicious, but my favourite meal has to be the Wahoo that I caught fishing! It was served grilled with creole spices.
Was there anything that surprised you about the Seychelles that you didn’t know about before you went? I really enjoyed our stopover on Mahe before heading to Denis. Although I wouldn’t spend the whole time there, it is a really vibrant island with lots to see and do, especially at the weekend when you can join the locals for beach parties and visit the market in Victoria. The granite boulders and lush jungle backdrops which frame the beaches are breath-taking and so impressive.
What would your one top tip for planning a holiday to the Seychelles be? Make sure you see more than one island. Explore as much as you can and don’t worry about moving around, the flights and ferries are part of the experience and each island is unique. I would 100% recommend making it out to one of the outer islands such as Denis for a few nights.
Finally, what is the local beer in the Seychelles?! Do you have a favourite sundowner spot? Seybrew is the local beer, it was great and my favourite memory has to be on the boat after fishing…the sun was setting, the sky was orange and pink, cold beer in hand, heading back to our private island paradise after an incredible day out at sea.
