La Passe de l'Hermitage
Réunion Island · France
A natural channel through the fringing reef on the calm west coast lagoon near Saint-Gilles, where tidal flow creates gentle drift conditions ideal for beginners. The sandy floor at 10 metres gives way to coral bommies carpeted in soft coral, with hawksbill and green sea turtles regularly resting between feeds. The protected lagoon means sea conditions here stay calm even when the open coast is rough.
Conditions
Depth
4 to 18 m
Good for beginners
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
10 to 18 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
22 to 29°C
5mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Vis (m) | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 15 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
RéUnion Stonechat
Last confirmed Jun 30, 2026 · 114 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Green sea turtle
Last confirmed Mar 7, 2026 · 47 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Indian Garden Lizard
Last confirmed Jun 15, 2026 · 71 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Hawksbill sea turtle
Last confirmed Mar 7, 2026 · 11 records
Very likely
Most dives
Striped surgeonfish
Last confirmed Apr 20, 2026 · 5 records
Very likely
Most dives
Gear