When to go
From May to September the climate is generally drier and slightly cooler with longer hours of sunshine, while the period from the end of November until the beginning of January is considered the rainy season with more frequent tropical rainfall.

The best months for diving are March to May and September to November when the seas are the calmest. During this time visibility can be well over 30m and water temperatures can reach 29 C. However, diving conditions are normally good throughout the year with water temperatures ranging from 24ºC to 28ºC. The main tourist season is October to May with the busy periods being Christmas and Easter, when the cost for flights and accommodation tend to be at their highest.

Getting there
There are two direct flights per week from London Heathrow to Mahé with Air Seychelles and a number of flights per day  between Mahé and Praslin.

The flight from London takes about 11 hours and between Mahé and Praslin only about 15 minutes.

Entry Requirements
European community nationals only require a valid passport and a return ticket.

Local Airport Tax
Airport taxes from Mahé are already included in your international ticket

Baggage Allowance 23kg
Divers are allowed an extra 10kg for dive equipment, which however has to be requeste with the airline in advance.

Language
Creole, English and French are widely spoken and some locals involved in tourism even speak German and Italian

Money
The official currency is the Seychelles Rupee (SR), however due to a serious foreign exchange shortage on the islands, you are often requested to pay in another major foreign currency. Visa and American Express are widely accepted, as are Travellers checks. Cheques issued in US dollars and British pounds are preferred and less likely to incur additional exchange fees.

Health
No special vaccinations are required prior to arrival, however you might want to take some insect repellent for the sunset hours with you. There is not pharmacy or chemist on Praslin, so you might want to take a basic medical kit with you.

© Photos by Robert Klaffus