Black River catamaran tour Mauritius: snorkel Bénitiers Island
Dolphins, coral reef, and a postcard island in one full day on the water
A full-day shared catamaran tour from Mauritius visits Tamarin Bay for dolphin watching, Black River lagoon for snorkeling a shallow reef, and Bénitiers Island for beach time. The boat sails with sails hoisted, the crew watches over snorkelers in the water, and lunch is a grilled fish and chicken BBQ with salads and fruit. English and French guides lead the tour; seven hours total.
7h
Step-by-step itinerary
Catamaran tour with snorkeling and island visit
- Stop at Tamarin Bay to watch dolphins
- Snorkel at Black River lagoon reef
- View Bénitiers Rock from the boat
- Take fisherman’s boat to Bénitiers Island
- Relax and explore Bénitiers Island beach
The Experience
The day starts in Tamarin Bay on the western coast, where spinner and bottlenose dolphins often move through the water. The catamaran idles and watches—if the pods are there, you see the acrobatics from the deck. The boat then heads toward Black River under full sail, and once in the lagoon you gear up to snorkel. The patch reef sits about two meters down, scattered with colorful fish, butterfly fish, trumpet fish and small crustaceans around coral outcrops on white sand. The crew stays alert in the water and ready to help if anyone needs it.
After Black River, the boat anchors near Bénitiers Rock, the limestone outcrop that appears on half the postcards sold in Mauritius—the water around it shifts between turquoise and deep blue depending on the light and the tide. A fisherman's boat ferries you to Bénitiers Island's sandy beaches, where you can lie in the sun or walk the shore. A few vendors sell straw hats, shell jewelry and sarongs; on a quiet day the beach can feel almost empty, though peak season brings a crowd.
Lunch is grilled fish and chicken, eggplants and garlic bread, pasta salad, rice salad, green salad and local seasonal fruit. Drinks—alcoholic and non-alcoholic—flow throughout the day. The whole tour runs seven hours, and the boat is wheelchair accessible.
What’s included
- Snorkeling fins disinfected and provided onboard.
- grilled fish and chicken BBQ with eggplants, garlic bread, pasta salad, rice salad, green salad and local seasonal fruit.
- alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks throughout the day.
- English and French-speaking guide.
Operated by Oceane Cruises Mauritius
Is this one for you?Seven hours on the water means you'll see dolphins, snorkel a reef, and explore an island in one trip, but you won't have time for a second full activity that same day.
Traveler reviews
Compare the 6 similar options
Black River catamaran tour Mauritius: snorkel Bénitiers Island★ 4.53 (60)7hEN · FRUS$ 70
Black River Mauritius Snorkeling Private Catamaran BénitiersSnorkel the Black River reef and visit Bénitiers Island on a private catamaran from Mauritius with BBQ lunch, drinks and equipment included; live guide in English or French.★ 5.00 (13)7hEN · FRUS$ 1,330per groupView ›
Snorkeling with Dolphins in Mauritius: Speedboat & Island LunchSnorkel with dolphins in Tamarin Bay on a full-day speedboat trip from Mauritius with all equipment, lunch and drinks included★ 4.38 (72)7h 15mEN · AR +4US$ 67View ›
Full-day catamaran cruise Mauritius: snorkel and island lunchSail to Bénitiers Island and Crystal Rock on a shared catamaran from Mauritius' west coast; snorkel in the lagoon, watch for dolphins in Tamarin Bay★ 4.73 (40)6hEN · FRUS$ 92View ›
Private Catamaran Snorkeling: Île aux Bénitiers & Crystal RockSail from Mauritius on a private Nautitech 46 Fly catamaran, snorkel in the lagoon, and anchor at Île aux Bénitiers with crew and equipment included★ 5.00 (8)6hUS$ 1,773per groupView ›
Snorkeling Mauritius: Swim with Dolphins at Le MornePrivate speedboat tour from Le Morne Beach with dolphin swimming, snorkeling at Crystal Rock, and lobster lunch on Île aux Bénitiers.9hEN · DE +2US$ 738per groupView › 
Top questions
What are the chances of seeing dolphins on the Black River catamaran tour?
Spinner and bottlenose dolphins stay in the western coastline waters near Tamarin Bay, where the tour's first stop watches for them. The itinerary notes they might be in sight, but sightings depend on whether the pods are in the area that day—the crew knows the coastal waters well after 39 years of operations.
How deep is the snorkeling reef at Black River?
The patch reef at Black River sits about two meters deep, with colorful fish, butterfly fish, trumpet fish and small crustaceans around coral outcrops on white sand. Snorkeling fins are provided and disinfected onboard, and the crew watches swimmers and is ready to help.
What is Bénitiers Rock and why is it on so many postcards?
Bénitiers Rock is a limestone outcrop that stands over the turquoise lagoon and appears on countless Mauritian postcards. The boat anchors as close as possible depending on the tide, and a fisherman's boat ferries you to Bénitiers Island's beaches nearby, where you can photograph the rock and explore the shore.
What food and drinks are included in the full-day tour?
Lunch is a BBQ of grilled fish and chicken, grilled eggplants and garlic bread, pasta salad, rice salad, green salad and local seasonal fruit. A variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are served throughout the seven hours.
Do I need snorkeling experience for this tour?
The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Snorkeling fins are provided and disinfected onboard, and the crew stays alert in the water and ready to help anyone who needs assistance.
Black River catamaran tour Mauritius: snorkel Bénitiers Island
7h · EN · FR
from US$ 70 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.5360 reviews
