Southwest of Mauritius: Catamaran Cruise w/ Snorkeling

The best part of this day is the mix of open-water sailing and easy beach time. You leave Black River for Tamarin Bay, watch for spinner dolphins, stop to swim and snorkel, then eat lunch on board before heading to Île aux Bénitiers. It feels like several west-coast highlights packed into one relaxed outing.

I like the spacious catamaran, which gives you room to sit, move around, and find a sunny or shaded spot. I also like the food and drink setup: grilled fish, chicken, salads, bread, fruit, local rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water are included. The main consideration is the dolphin stop. Sightings are possible, not guaranteed, and several boats may gather in the bay. This tour’s own boat is reported to keep a respectful distance rather than encourage swimming after the dolphins.

Key points to know before booking

• Dolphin watching begins in Tamarin Bay: Spinner dolphins may appear in their natural setting, but wildlife sightings cannot be promised.
• Snorkeling is scheduled at L’Harmonie or La Preneuse: Bring your own equipment if you prefer, though gear is available on board.
• The catamaran is spacious: This matters on a six-and-a-half-hour shared cruise, especially when you want a quiet place between stops.
• Lunch is a full BBQ, not just a snack: Fish, chicken, sausage, salads, vegetables, bread, seafood, and fruit are offered, with a vegetarian menu available.
• Île aux Bénitiers adds a proper land break: You have time to swim, stroll, sunbathe, or buy a fresh coconut on the beach.
• You return to Black River at about 3:30 pm: Hotel transport is not included, so plan your way to Le Morne Anglers Club.

Setting sail from Black River at 9:00 am

Your day starts at the jetty of Le Morne Anglers Club in Black River. The meeting time is 9:00 am, with departure from about 9:30. Since hotel pickup is not included, check your own route to the jetty before booking. This is the one practical point that can cause stress if you leave it until the morning.

Once on board, you have a long stretch of west-coast sea ahead. A catamaran is a good match for this route because its wide layout gives you more room than a narrow boat. You can settle into the ride, enjoy the views, and move between the seating areas without feeling boxed in.

This is a shared cruise, so you are not buying a private sailing day. Still, the boat’s size helps. One particularly useful detail is that the catamaran is described as larger than many nearby boats, with enough room for everyone to spread out. That makes a real difference during the quieter parts of the trip.

The crew speaks English and French. You can expect a friendly, energetic atmosphere, with drinks served during the day and explanations along the way. If you prefer a silent sail, this may feel lively. If you want a social day with music, food, and easy conversation, the mood should suit you well.

Tamarin Bay and the dolphin search

The first major stop is Tamarin Bay, where the crew searches for spinner dolphins. These animals are known for their quick movement and spinning leaps, but you need to treat this as a wildlife search, not a guaranteed show. The boat may find dolphins, or sea conditions and animal movements may make the sighting brief.

The most important ethical point is how the boat handles the encounter. Several boats can gather around dolphins, and some operators may try to place swimmers close to them. The experience described here takes a more cautious approach and stays away from the worst of the crowd. That means you may not get the closest possible view, but you also avoid turning a wild-animal sighting into a chase.

I would choose this cruise for the chance to see dolphins, not because I need a photograph at arm’s length. Keep your eyes on the water, listen for instructions, and accept that the animals set the schedule. If you do see them, the reward is watching them in the open sea rather than meeting trained animals in a marine park.

The water and sky can be bright, so sunglasses and a hat are not optional extras. Apply sunscreen before departure and keep it nearby for later. A waterproof bag is also useful for phones, wallets, and dry clothes.

Snorkeling at L’Harmonie or La Preneuse

After the dolphin search, the catamaran heads toward the lagoon at La Preneuse. The planned snorkeling stop is at L’Harmonie or La Preneuse, depending on conditions and the captain’s decision. This flexibility is sensible because sea conditions can change, and the best swimming area may not be the same every day.

The snorkeling is meant to give you a look at Mauritius’ coral environment, with tropical fish and corals in clear water. It is not presented as a technical snorkeling expedition. You get a refreshing swim and a short window to see marine life, then return to the boat for lunch.

Snorkeling equipment is available on board, though you can bring your own if you prefer a familiar mask or fins. I would pack personal equipment if you already own it, especially if fit matters to you. Otherwise, the supplied gear keeps the outing simple.

You should be comfortable getting into the sea and climbing back onto the boat. This is not a good choice for anyone with significant mobility limits, and it is also listed as unsuitable for people prone to seasickness. Even confident swimmers should remember that this is an open-water activity, not a controlled pool session.

Do not touch marine life or plants. That rule protects both the reef and you. Take only pictures, keep your fins away from coral, and follow the crew’s directions about where to swim.

A proper BBQ lunch on the catamaran

Lunch is served around noon, before the boat continues to Île aux Bénitiers. This is one of the strongest value points of the cruise. You are not expected to buy a meal at the island or settle for a small packed lunch. Food is prepared and served on board, with enough variety to make the meal feel like part of the experience.

The regular menu includes:

• Rice salad
• Potato and egg salad
• Mixed salad
• Seasonal vegetables
• Grilled fish
• BBQ chicken
• Grilled chicken sausage
• A seafood dish
• Garlic bread and bread
• Seasonal fruit

A vegetarian menu includes rice salad, potato salad, mixed salad, seasonal vegetables, vegetarian sausages, bread, and seasonal fruit. The children’s menu is the same as the adult menu, so families should know that there is no separate simplified children’s offering listed.

Drinks are included throughout the trip. You can choose from local rum, red, rosé, or white wine, Phoenix beer, fruit juice, soft drinks, and mineral water. Cocktails and nonalcoholic options are also included in the overall offering. Pace yourself, especially in the sun. Water should be your regular choice, with alcoholic drinks treated as an extra rather than the main event.

The lunch setting is part of the appeal. You eat surrounded by the west-coast sea instead of stopping at an inland restaurant and losing time to transfers. The tradeoff is that a boat kitchen and outdoor meal do not offer the polish of a formal restaurant. This is casual island dining, which is exactly right for a day in swimwear.

Île aux Bénitiers from 1:30 to 2:00 pm

After lunch, the boat reaches Île aux Bénitiers, an iconic island off the west coast. You disembark at about 1:30 pm and have until around 2:00 pm to relax and look around.

Half an hour is enough for a short walk, a swim, a little sun, or a quick look at the shore. It is not enough for a long island hike or a slow, detailed exploration. Think of this as a change of pace and a chance to put your feet on sand after several hours afloat.

The island stop also gives families and less active visitors an easy option. You can simply sit by the water while more energetic members of your group walk along the beach. A useful tip is to bring a little patience and keep an eye out for fresh coconut on the beach, which adds a simple local touch to the stop.

The scenery here is classic Mauritius: turquoise water, pale sand, open sky, and green coastal views. It is also the point where the day may feel most crowded, depending on how many boats arrive. If you want complete solitude, a shared cruise to a popular island is not the right format. If you want a convenient island pause without arranging a separate boat, it works well.

Keep your belongings together when you leave the catamaran. A waterproof bag or small backpack is better than carrying loose items across the sand.

The ride back to Black River

The return to Le Morne Anglers Club is scheduled for 3:30 pm. That gives you roughly six and a half hours on the water, enough time for several activities without making the day feel rushed from start to finish.

By the afternoon, the combination of sun, swimming, food, and drinks can catch up with you. Keep a dry change of clothes and a light jacket in your bag. A jacket may sound unnecessary in tropical Mauritius, but the wind on a moving catamaran can feel cool after you leave the water.

The captain can change the route if the sea becomes rough or unsafe. This may mean missing a planned stop or visiting a different area. It is a normal part of a sea excursion, and safety should take priority over following the schedule exactly.

The boat returns to the same jetty where you began. There is no hotel drop-off, so arrange your onward transport in advance, particularly if you have an evening booking elsewhere on the island.

What the $85 price really covers

At $85 per person, this is a solid package if you want a full west-coast day rather than a short boat ride. The price includes the catamaran cruise, dolphin search, snorkeling stop, BBQ lunch, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, and time on Île aux Bénitiers.

The food and drinks are important to the value calculation. A cheaper cruise may look appealing until you add lunch, bottled water, and drinks separately. Here, the main daytime costs are bundled together, so you can budget more easily.

You are paying for a shared outing, not a private charter. That keeps the price within reach for couples and families, but it also means you cannot set the timetable or choose exactly where the boat stops. The spacious catamaran softens that limitation because there is room to find your own comfortable spot.

The reported rating of 4.9 from 34 reviews points to strong satisfaction with the crew, boat, meal, and general atmosphere. I would put the highest weight on the repeated practical strengths: the catamaran feels comfortable, the staff are welcoming, food is plentiful, and drinks are available throughout the day.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

This is a good fit if you want several west-coast experiences in one booking. Couples can enjoy the sailing and island time, while families can mix dolphin watching, swimming, lunch, and a short beach stop without changing boats or restaurants.

It also suits you if you like a social day. The crew keeps the energy up, and the included drinks help create a festive feel. You should not book it expecting a quiet private sail or an unstructured day alone at sea.

The cruise is less suitable if you get seasick, have mobility impairments, or dislike boat movement. It also may not satisfy serious snorkelers who want a long session focused only on reef life. The snorkeling is one part of a broader day.

Wildlife ethics should matter in your decision. Dolphins are the most memorable possible sighting, but the encounter cannot be controlled. This boat’s choice to keep away from the most aggressive dolphin traffic is a positive point, even if it gives you less certainty about a close view.

What to pack for a comfortable day

Pack light, but do not leave out the basics. You will want swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a sun hat, a cover-up, and a change of clothes.

A waterproof bag protects your phone and other valuables. Bring a jacket for the return ride, and consider your own snorkeling gear if you have equipment that fits well.

Comfortable beachwear is the right clothing choice. There is no need to dress up for lunch. Keep your belongings compact because you will move between the catamaran, the water, and the island.

Pets are not allowed, although assistance dogs are permitted. Do not touch marine life or plants, and do not leave litter behind.

Booking, cancellation, and final verdict

You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Mauritius plans are still shifting. Cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The excursion runs every day from Monday through Sunday.

Should you book it? Yes, if you want the best all-round west-coast value: a roomy catamaran, a real lunch, drinks, a possible dolphin encounter, snorkeling, and an island stop in one day. The strongest reason to choose it is the balance. You get plenty to do, but also time to sit back.

Think twice if you need guaranteed wildlife sightings, long snorkeling sessions, hotel transport, or a peaceful private charter. For everyone else, this is a practical and enjoyable way to experience several of Mauritius’ west-coast pleasures without arranging each piece separately.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise depart from?

The cruise departs from the jetty of Le Morne Anglers Club in Black River, Mauritius.

What time does the cruise start and finish?

Meet at the jetty at 9:00 am. The catamaran departs at about 9:30 am and returns to the jetty at approximately 3:30 pm.

Is dolphin watching guaranteed?

No. The cruise offers a possible encounter with spinner dolphins in Tamarin Bay, but dolphins are wild animals and sightings are not guaranteed.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Snorkeling equipment is available on board. You may also bring your own gear if you prefer.

What food and drinks are included?

Lunch includes BBQ fish, chicken, chicken sausage, salads, seasonal vegetables, bread, seafood, and fruit. Vegetarian options are available. Drinks include local rum, wine, Phoenix beer, fruit juice, soft drinks, mineral water, cocktails, and nonalcoholic choices.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must make your own way to Le Morne Anglers Club in Black River.