Article for Travel Agency

The magnificent Astove Atoll

Situated around a beautiful inner lagoon, the atoll forms part of the remote jewels on the Outer Islands of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. With its stunning natural beauty and peaceful eco-system all in a world that has not changed very much over the past years. With no Wi-Fi or cell service, this is your destination if you want to escape for a couple of days and recharge your inner batteries.

The famous Astove Wall is like a magical underwater Grand Canyon. It consists of stunning coral reefs and underwater life which can’t be described with words alone. It’s not just the underwater life that is awe-inspiring, if you keep your eyes above water you can experience the beautiful bird and plant life all of this while your feet sink into the white sandy beaches and you become one with nature.

In the years between 1000 and 1500 AD, this area was explored by Arab sailors and merchants, however, the first mention of settlers was only in the year 1760 when the Portuguese ship ‘La Dom Royal’ ran aground on the island, as the legend goes the ship was carrying slaves and treasure. When the captain and some of the slaves left for Mozambique, the rest of the slaves formed a small community and lived on the land and sea. With the rich history of shipwrecks, this island is a wonderland for divers and historians alike.

In the 1800’s more and more people would come to the island and at that same time, the coconuts and mangroves were first reported on the island. With its vast natural beauty, a fishing enterprise was started in 1895 and later farming of gourds and tobacco became popular. Although the island had so much potential is was just too far from the other islands and getting there took way too long, so eventually the island became abandoned in 1969 and in 2014 it was declared a nature reserve.

Spectacular fly fishing at Astove Atoll

Astove Atoll is a place where your skills will be put to the test, with the different location on such a small island, the experience will be breathtaking. On the one hand, you have the shallow lagoon, home to both juvenile and trophy-sized fish. The number of species that can be found in the lagoon is nothing short of exceptional, with Milkfish, Bonefish, Triggerfish, Barracuda, and Bluefin Trevally you can feel your hands moving closer to those fishing rods.

It’s not just the lagoon where you can play, taking a boat out offshore with the help of professional guides and skippers you can enjoy what is being called the richest fishing grounds in the world. With a title like that Astove Atoll without a doubt lives up to it with species like Yellowfin Tuna, Dogtooth Tuna, Wahoo, and Sailfish.

Let us create the best fishing experience for all your needs, cause if Astove Atoll was not on your fishing bucket list it will definitely be now.

Accommodation in Astove Atoll

When it comes to accommodation Astove Atoll has something special tucked away between the coconut trees. The Astove Coral house was built in 1968 before the island became abandoned the next year. It’s big enough for 12 people to stay and sleep comfortably while enjoying everything the island has to offer. Every room is equipped with a double bed, en-suite bathrooms with a shower, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, mosquito nets, and sun loungers.

This is not your typical resort with all the luxury amenities one would think about, but rather more for those looking for an eco-friendly mixture. Surrounded by nature, the estate makes a perfect location for someone who enjoys the sounds of birds and the wind through the leaves. Escaping it all is why this place is perfect.

With on-site staff you don’t have to worry about cooking or cleaning, you are there to relax and unwind and see what raw beauty this wonderful planet has to offer. If you want to meet new people there is an option for meals to be served in the communal dining area and if you just want to hang out, the lounge area has a TV, books, and newspapers for you to catch up on anyway while you are in paradise.

The other wonders of Astove Atoll

If fishing or fly fishing is not what you are into then don’t worry, Astove Atoll has something for everyone to enjoy. Immerse yourself into the magical Indian Ocean with activities like kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding. If you are a bird lover, bird watching on this beautiful island is an excellent way to pass the time and to see some of the most exotic birds the world has to offer, there are even newly rediscovered birds to gaze upon.

Get your hands dirty and help the teams out with some conservation experience where you can learn more about how to make a difference when it comes to the ecosystem and also experience the true ecotourism as you help with the actual conservation of the land for future generations to come. If diving for shipwrecks isn’t what you signed up for then why not snorkel with manta rays or the famous sailfish in the crystal clear waters?

If you prefer to watch from above the water you can take a stunning blue safari and experience the wonders of all marine life like Manta Rays, Milkfish, Tuna, and various seabirds. Also, enjoy the element of surprise when seeing Spinner Dolphins playing with each other as you sail by.

Guided by the islands marine biologist enjoy the natural beauty or turtle hatching and monitoring as these beautiful creatures make their way across the sand in disappear into the ocean or you like to take a walk in the shallow waters and spot juvenile turtles, sharks, and rays all while gazing down over the edge of the reef flats.

I don’t have to tell you what to do next, as you are probably already checking your calendar for that perfect date in between early November to late April. But why not contact us to make the planning of your holiday a breeze as we do all the work and you can have all the fun.