Glass Bottom Boat Tours in Mauritius

Are you fascinated by underwater sea life? Are you afraid of snorkeling? If the answer to both these questions is an ‘yes’ then glass bottom boat trips are ideal for you. Glass bottom boat trip is an ideal activity for junior tourists in Mauritius. For those traveling with family, particularly with kids, glass bottom boat trips are a must include in list of things to do in Mauritius. Like my friend commented here – My kind of boat ride! Going under water without getting wet!

Mauritius, the little African gem, is not just a great honeymoon destination but also an exciting and thrilling tourist destination if you are travelling with family and children. There are several activities you can indulge in as a family. One among those is the Glass Bottom Boat tours in Mauritius.

Well, this was not the first time I was taking the glass bottom boat ride, so I kind of knew what I would be experiencing. I had taken my first glass bottom boat ride while sailing from Lombok to Gili islands. The shores of these islands are rich with underwater life. I distinctly remember seeing turtles swimming below the glass pane. These memories made me look forward to the glass bottom boat trip in Mauritius seas.

What is a Glass Bottom Boat?

It is a great idea really to see through the glass bottom of the boats. But before that a little bit on this amazing concept of having glass bottoms in boats.

History – It all began in the 1800’s, when entrepreneurial adventurers came in search of fortune to Key West, an island and city in Florida. Legend has it that many of them used buckets with glass-bottoms to see the ocean floor so they could capture the coveted Key West sponges. Spongers, as they were called, were not only smart, they got rich with the haul they got in the shores of the island.

Around 1878, Hullam Jones invented the first glass bottom boat in Silver Springs, Florida by building a row-boat with a glass bottom. Soon after, the commercial glass bottom boats were developed in Silver Springs, Florida and Catalina Island, California.

Design – This boat is specially designed for scenic journeys along the shores, sailing not very deep into the sea, capable of carrying around eighteen people at a time. As you step in you will see in the centre of the bottom a long section of glass an inch in thickness, divided into three compartments. There are comfortable seats around this immense water glass.

view through glass bottom boat

The glass – Reinforced glass, at least one inch thick, is used to keep the boat afloat. Marine glass that can withstand rough waters and harsh weather is used for this purpose. It rates high in optical quality too compared to other glass.

Different Glass Bottom Tours in Mauritius

Mauritius is an evergreen scuba diving destination because of its rich underwater life. For those who are not initiated into snorkelling or swimming the glass bottom boat tours are a boon. There are different tour services and hotels that offer the glass bottom boat rides along the beaches of Mauritius.

The Glass Bottom Boat Tour at the Blue Bay Marine Park is considered the most popular among all in Mauritius. Blue Bay Marine Park is located on the south-east coast of Mauritius, close to the Mahebourg village. Water here is so clear that you can easily see the corals and the fishes. Most sought after sight in Blue Bay Marine Park is the brain coral which is 1000 year old and 5m in diameter.

Another option is to take a glass bottom speed boat to Benitier Island. Several packages are available that include lunch and drinks on the island. There are Glass Bottom Boat Trip and Snorkelling activities at Grand Baie Mauritius and also at Turtle Bay.

We took the one hour glass bottom boat ride in Turtle Bay. You can choose to stay on-board the glass bottom boat, or to enjoy some swimming and snorkelling.

In India one can get Glass Bottom Boat tour experience in Andamans. Like my friend, Harpreet Kaur said here – the boats have magnifying glass fit at the bottom of the boat which enable very clear views of the underwater life.

What you can see on Glass Bottom Boat Tours in Mauritius

Probably the name Turtle Bay raised my hopes of sighting turtles through the glass bottom of the boat, sad we couldn’t spot a single turtle. It was quite disappointing not to spot any. Instead there were innumerable colourful fish and corals of different sizes and shapes.

We were given a few sheets that had pictures of the different color fish that can be seen swimming below. But it is all luck, just like when you go on a wildlife safari you chance upon a herd of deer or elephants or a peacock strutting its tail feathers and on extremely lucky days one may even spot a tiger.

Nevertheless, scanning the water for sea life was one refreshing and engaging experience. Mauritius shores are teeming with a variety of marine organisms, corals, sea grasses and numerous fish species. 38 species of corals found here including fire corals, table corals, and rose-shaped corals.

Tips for Glass Bottom Boat Tours in Mauritius

• Some guides take a lot of effort to personalize the tour for you. They are knowledgeable about the island, and the different kinds of marine life that can be spotted.
• Just a word of caution – Agree on the price and duration before you start the tour so that the situation doesn’t get sour later.
• Tour can last anywhere between 1.5 – 3 hours, depending on your group.
• The cost of the tour for two people is 600 MUR and 1000 MUR if you hire the entire boat.
• The usual timings for glass bottom boat tours are between 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM.
• Tickets can cost anywhere between 600 MUR and 1000 MUR depending on time and if you hire the entire boat.

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