Sea Pearl is a traditional 36-meter (118 ft) schooner, providing overnight accommodation across 8 air-conditioned cabins, with a service concept that is more akin to a floating hotel.
Seychelles archipelago is diverse and beautiful. The cruise itinerary includes Visits to nature reserves and island sanctuaries, as well as diving, snorkeling, and kayaking. Meaning non-diving companions can enjoy the experience fully, with or without a good book.
Each day you'll explore isolated bays and coves, colorful marine parks, and protected nature reserves or uninhabited islands. Spotting the incredibly rare Magpie Robin and other endemic birds, visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vallee de Mai, or getting up close and personal with giant tortoises, are just a few of the many special experiences that await on the islands we visit.
Whether it’s morning coffee served the on the deck, or the lighting of the BBQ at sunset before a sumptuous dinner, it’s the little moments shared between the crew and passengers, combined with the unique charm and soul of these historic schooners, that transforms an otherwise fun holiday into more of an authentic and enriching experience.
There are numerous opportunities to dive on most days of the itinerary.
The vessel is a PADI Dive Resort, following PADI standards of diving and Safety, with a dedicated PADI dive instructor onboard as a dive guide. It is possible to do 2 dives every day between the other activities.
Non-certified divers can conduct introductory dives and PADI Open Water certification courses.
Sample itinerary:
Day 1 - Saturday:
Embarkation at 10.30 Am from Anse Possession, Praslin, followed by the Captain's welcome briefing. Spend the day at leisure with different water activities in this scenic cove, named for the stone of possession placed in this area by French explorers to stake their claim to the island more than 200 years ago. The final embarkation is at 5:00 Pm followed by a sunset sail to Curieuse Bay. In the evening, introduce yourself to Creole cuisine with a welcome barbecue onboard.
Day 2 - Sunday:
In the morning disembark at Curieuse for a visit to this virtually uninhabited island. Experience the island's vast mangrove forests and its giant tortoise farm, along with the historic ruins of this former leper colony. After a barbecue lunch on the island, enjoy an array of water sports or simply relax and enjoy the island's beautiful beach and turquoise waters.
Day 3 - Monday:
La Digue, a sleepy island community where ox-carts and bicycles still remain the most common mode of transportation throughout the island. La Digue is home to the endemic Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher and is perhaps most famous for its massive granite boulder formations at Anse Source d'Argent, which is thought to be the most photographed beach on earth. Explore the entire island by bicycle, perhaps stopping by Union Estate, a sprawling network of traditional island activities, including a copra mill, vanilla plantation, and shipyard.
Day 4 - Tuesday:
Cruising to Praslin, Seychelles' second-largest inhabited island for disembarkation to the famous World Heritage Site, the Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve. This ancient forest is home to the curiously shaped double coconut, the coco de Mer, as well as the Black Parrot unique to Praslin. Explore the valley's eerie pathways beneath its canopy of massive palms, before onboard for afternoon opportunities to dive, snorkel or enjoy other water sports.
Day 5 - Wednesday:
Cruising towards Cousin island off the coast of Praslin, for a morning visit of the strictly protected nature reserve, famed for its sea bird colonies and also as a sanctuary for Seychelles' rare endemic land birds and other native species. After lunch, the afternoon is yours to spend at leisure or to take advantage of snorkeling and diving opportunities off the isle of Praslin.
Booby Island, staring with a morning of diving and water sports. After lunch, sail to Aride Island, a globally important nature reserve with more native bird species than any other island, including five endemics and the world's largest population of 3 species (Lesser Noddy, Audubon's Shearwater and Seychelles Warbler). The nature trail leads to a spectacular cliff-top view with the largest frigatebird roost outside of Aldabra. Aride is the only natural location in the world for Wright's Gardenia and 400 species of fish have been recorded around the island.
Day 6 - Thursday:
Sail to Anse Lazio, one of the most beautiful beaches in Praslin, and arguably, all of Seychelles –the perfect place for a day of swimming, snorkeling, and other water sports, or supreme relaxation in one of the most stunning settings in the world. In, the evening, enjoy a sunset sail back to Curieuse Bay to soak in before the world's only granitic ocean islands one last evening.
Day 7 - Friday:
Breakfast and disembarkation at Anse Possession, Praslin at 08.30 Am.
