France · l'Hermitage / Saint-Gilles

Passe de l'Ermitage

Also known as: Passe de l'Hermitage

Best time to dive

January to December; June to October

What you might see

  • BarracudaLikely
  • Eagle rayLikely
  • Moray eelLikely
  • Sea turtleLikely

Sightings are seasonal probabilities, not promises - even in peak season nature does its own thing.

Certification & difficulty

Open Water

Snorkelling

Not a snorkel site - Limited at the pass itself: it is a boat dive with tidal current where lagoon meets open ocean, not intended for casual snorkeling. Snorkelers instead use the dedicated 'sentier sous-marin de l'Hermitage' underwater trail inside the protected lagoon nearby

Safety notes

Sits at a lagoon-ocean exchange point, associated with tidal current and (per local operators) elevated shark presence relative to the sheltered lagoon; no diver shark attacks recorded in Reunion per local dive-guide sources; dives/snorkel trail are managed by professional, reserve-authorized operators

Permits & fees

Located within the Reserve Naturelle Marine de La Reunion; l'Hermitage is named as a sanctuary/high-protection zone in reserve documentation. Dives are run by reserve-authorized professional operators; no distinct per-diver fee identified beyond normal trip pricing

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Location

Nearest hub: Saint-Gilles-les-Bains

This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand dive report. Coordinates are approximate.