Sharks in Réunion Island: Should You Be Worried About Scuba Diving?
Would you like to dive in Réunion Island, but feel hesitant because of sharks? Here is my experience: in five years of diving around the island, I have personally never seen a shark underwater.
I’m Pierrick from Excelsus Plongée in Saint-Leu. This question comes up regularly when we speak with people planning their first dive or a diving holiday.
The concern is understandable. But our everyday underwater experiences mainly involve tropical fish, coral reefs and volcanic landscapes. Here are some useful insights to help you feel more comfortable about exploring Réunion’s underwater world.
Do you see sharks when diving in Saint-Leu?
In my personal experience over the past five years, there have been no encounters: I have not seen a single shark while diving.
This account relates to the dives I have personally made in Réunion. It does not mean that sharks are absent from the island’s waters, but it helps illustrate the difference between their presence in a region and what you actually see during a dive.
When we go diving in Saint-Leu, we explore reefs, fish and underwater formations. Shark watching is not part of our programme.
Why is Réunion so strongly associated with sharks?
The accidents that have occurred around the island have affected local communities and received extensive media coverage. It is therefore natural for the subject to come to mind when planning your holiday.
However, not all ocean activities take place in the same circumstances. Surfing, swimming, spearfishing and scuba diving are different activities.
Scientific organisations that record accidents distinguish between the activities involved and the circumstances of each incident. This context matters when discussing shark risk.
The island’s general reputation does not tell you what your diving trip in Saint-Leu will be like.
Diving with sharks is common in many destinations
In the Maldives, the Bahamas and French Polynesia, sharks are among the encounters divers actively seek. Some diving holidays are organised specifically to observe them in their natural habitat.
The presence of a shark does not, in itself, mean that a dive is dangerous. These animals can be observed during organised dives, with guidelines suited to the site and the species present.
In Saint-Leu, our experience is different: we do not go looking for them, and I have personally not encountered one in five years.
Why is scuba diving a different setting?
When scuba diving, you are underwater, able to observe your surroundings, within a dive group and following a planned route.
When an animal is visible, you can watch its movements and adapt your behaviour. Keeping a shark in sight, staying calm and remaining with your buddy are among the recommendations given to divers.
At Excelsus, this organisation is part of the overall preparation for your outing: site selection, briefing, supervision and adjustments to the day’s conditions.
Can you feel comfortable trying your first dive in Saint-Leu?
Yes: you are welcome to discover diving and simply tell us about any concerns you have.
You do not need to hide your worries or know anything about marine life before starting. We take the time to explain the activity and answer your questions.
During your introductory dive with Excelsus, you receive one-to-one support from an instructor. You gradually get used to the equipment, breathing through the regulator and the sensations of being underwater.
Your attention then turns to your surroundings: the fish, the shapes of the reef and the light beneath the surface.
The aim is to let you enjoy this first experience at your own pace, without pressure.
Find practical information on our introductory scuba diving in Saint-Leu page.
What do you actually see while diving in Saint-Leu?
Diving memories often come from discoveries quite different from what you imagined before entering the water.
Depending on the site and the encounters that day, you may see:
Tropical fish in a variety of shapes and colours.
Corals and the reef’s smaller inhabitants.
Crevices, walls and volcanic formations.
Occasionally a turtle or ray, although sightings cannot be guaranteed.
A first dive also introduces a new sensation: breathing underwater and exploring an environment you previously knew only from the surface.
To help plan your dives, explore our guide to Saint-Leu’s dive sites.
How do we prepare your outing at Excelsus?
Our preparation covers your whole experience, from your welcome to your return after the dive.
A site suited to the conditions
We select the site according to swell, wind, currents, visibility and the participants’ experience.
If conditions are unsuitable for the planned programme, we may suggest another site or reschedule the outing.
Support adapted to your experience
Beginners and experienced divers have different needs. We take your certification level, recent diving experience and comfort in the water into account when organising the trip.
Explanations before you begin
The briefing helps you understand how the dive will unfold and the instructions to follow. It is also the time to ask any questions that will help you feel comfortable.
What should you do if you do see a shark?
Although I have personally never had this encounter in five years of diving in Réunion, the instructions remain simple: stay calm, alert your guide and remain with the dive group. Contrary to what you might imagine, sharks are often wary, and keeping your movements quiet and unobtrusive can help you observe them without disturbing them.
As with any wild animal, avoid chasing it, touching it or trying to approach it for a photograph.
Your guide will give instructions suited to the situation. Continue to follow normal diving procedures and avoid any rushed ascent.
What about swimming or snorkelling during your holiday?
Taking part in a dive does not mean that independent swimming is permitted in the same location.
For other activities, respect signs, local instructions and authorised areas. You can consult the latest information from the Centre Sécurité Requin, Réunion’s shark safety centre.
Specific restrictions apply to activities including swimming and wave-powered water sports. Each activity must be considered within its own rules and circumstances.
Discover Saint-Leu’s underwater world
If concerns about sharks are making you hesitate, contact us before booking. We can explain our everyday underwater experiences and talk you through your outing.
Whether you are coming for your first introductory dive or several recreational dives, our team will help you discover Saint-Leu’s reefs and underwater landscapes.
Have a question before taking the plunge? Call us on +262 692 705 499 or email reservation@excelsus-plongee.com.
Article written by Pierrick – Excelsus Plongée. This account reflects his personal experience over five years of diving in Réunion Island.
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