Coin de Mire 2-Hour Private Snorkeling Trip

Coin de Mire gives you a private two-hour outing from Grand Baie, with a speedboat ride, snorkeling, soft drinks, and a shallow reef known for its fish. I like the small private setting and the chance to reach the site without joining a large group. I also like the choice of a 9 a.m. or noon departure, though the earlier trip appears to offer the calmer experience.

The main caution is equipment quality. One booking found the snorkels old and poorly sized, while another praised the friendly crew and excellent morning conditions. The reef still has plenty of fish, including damselfish, but you should not expect a fully healthy coral garden.

Key Points Before You Book

• Private speedboat for up to eight people: The $412 rate covers the whole group, so the value improves sharply when you share it with family or friends.
• Coin de Mire is the main attraction: This northern site has a shallow coral reef with colorful fish and marine plants.
• The 9 a.m. departure may be the better choice: An early outing can reach the site before other motorboats arrive.
• Only soft drinks are included: Expect water and fizzy drinks, not champagne or other special beverages.
• Snorkeling gear is supplied, but bring patience: Sizes and condition may not suit every swimmer, especially children.
• Two hours goes quickly: This is a focused reef visit, not a full-day boat trip around Mauritius.

Leaving Grand Baie at 9 a.m. or Noon

The outing begins at Grand Baie public beach. You can choose a morning departure at 9 a.m. or an afternoon departure at noon, subject to availability.

The morning time is the stronger pick if you care most about the water and the reef. One early departure reached Coin de Mire about an hour before other motorboats, giving the group a quieter stretch of snorkeling. That difference matters at a popular marine site. Fewer boats can mean less engine noise, fewer swimmers nearby, and a more relaxed time in the water.

The noon option may suit you better if you prefer a slower start or have a late morning planned. Still, the supplied information gives no special advantage to the afternoon trip beyond the later start. If I were choosing for a family or anyone who dislikes crowded water, I would select 9 a.m.

Bring your sunscreen, towel, and underwater camera before you leave the beach. The boat supplies snorkeling equipment, snacks, and drinks, but the practical items that make the trip comfortable are your responsibility.

A Private Boat Makes the Trip Easier

After a welcome aboard the private speedboat, you head north from Grand Baie toward Coin de Mire. The private format is the clearest reason to consider this outing over a shared boat excursion.

You can book the boat for up to eight people. That gives you more room to settle into your own pace, rather than working around a large group’s schedule. If one person wants to stay in the water longer and another prefers to watch from the boat, a private group can handle that more easily than a crowded public excursion.

The crew provides the basic snorkeling kit and serves snacks and soft drinks during the trip. The drinks are limited to water and soft drinks, so do not book this expecting a champagne cruise or a polished cocktail service. Special drinks, including champagne, cost extra or are not part of the package.

The boat ride itself is part of the appeal, but the available details do not give a precise sailing time from Grand Baie to the reef. Since the full activity lasts only two hours, the ride and snorkeling together form a compact schedule. You should think of this as a short marine outing, not a leisurely day at sea.

Reaching Coin de Mire’s Shallow Reef

Coin de Mire is located north of Mauritius and is presented as one of the island’s best snorkeling spots. The water here is shallow enough for a close look at the reef, and the site supports a range of fish, including damselfish.

That shallow water is useful for beginners and for confident children who can swim safely with supervision. You can see fish without needing advanced skills or a long open-water session. The clear focus on marine life also makes this a good choice if you want a simple introduction to snorkeling in Mauritius.

The underwater setting deserves a realistic description. One account praised the sea floor as among the best-preserved seen on a similar outing. Another found that the reef had very few living corals, though plenty of fish remained. These two impressions can both be true: the site may still offer good fish watching while showing signs of coral damage.

That distinction is important. If your main goal is colorful fish moving around rocks and reef, Coin de Mire may satisfy you. If you expect a broad field of healthy, brightly colored coral, keep your expectations modest. Coral conditions can also vary by exact spot, weather, and recent environmental pressure.

What You May See Underwater

The marine life is the heart of the excursion. The supplied description highlights colorful marine fauna and flora, with damselfish named as one of the fish you may encounter.

Damselfish are small reef fish often associated with coral and rocky shelter. They can add plenty of movement to a shallow snorkeling stop, even when the coral itself is not at its best. You may also find other fish in the reef area, but no full species list is provided, so it is best not to expect a guaranteed lineup.

The underwater camera is worth packing if you already own one. The light, fish, and shallow water can make photographs possible, but conditions will affect the result. You should also protect your phone or camera properly, since no underwater camera is supplied.

The experience is more about observing than collecting a checklist. The reef’s condition may disappoint someone looking for a perfect coral garden, yet the presence of many fish can still make the swim worthwhile. I would judge this outing by the overall time in the water, the quietness of the site, and the quality of the crew’s help, not just by coral color.

Snorkeling Equipment: The Main Weak Spot

Equipment is the point that deserves the most caution. The operator supplies masks, snorkels, and related snorkeling gear, but one booking found the equipment old, with too few sizes available.

That same account raised a particular concern for families. When children’s flotation equipment was requested, the available choices were limited to one standard sailing vest and one orange safety vest for a small child. This does not mean every departure will have the same shortage, but it is enough reason to ask about sizes before you go.

If your mask leaks or your fins fit badly, tell the crew immediately. A poor mask can ruin an otherwise good reef stop, and a bad fit is especially frustrating when the entire activity lasts just two hours. If you own a reliable mask, snorkel, or child-sized flotation aid, consider bringing it.

The lack of dependable sizes does not cancel out the private format, but it lowers the value for groups with several children or anyone needing a particular fit. Strong swimmers may cope more easily. Beginners and young swimmers should receive closer attention and should not rely on a vest being available in the right size.

Snacks and Drinks Are Simple

The included refreshments are modest. You receive snacks and soft drinks, with water and fizzy drinks identified in the information provided.

That is enough for a short morning or afternoon outing, but it is not a meal. Eat before the 9 a.m. departure if you need a substantial breakfast, and do not expect a full lunch after the noon session. Special drinks, such as champagne, are not included.

The simple refreshments fit the short duration. They give you something to drink after snorkeling and a small bite during the boat ride, without turning the trip into a food-focused cruise. Still, the wording about snacks and drinks should be clear at booking, since one booking specifically found that the refreshments were not supplied as expected.

For that reason, I would carry a small personal snack if you have dietary needs or if someone in your group gets hungry quickly. The operator’s stated inclusions are soft drinks and snacks, but the exact selection is not specified.

Is $412 Good Value?

The price is $412 per private group of up to eight people. At full capacity, that works out to about $51.50 per person. For eight friends or a large family, that is a reasonable way to secure a private boat and a focused snorkeling stop.

For two people, the same price works out to $206 each, which is much harder to justify unless privacy matters a great deal. The value depends less on the length of the trip and more on how many people share the boat.

You are paying for privacy, a speedboat trip, snorkeling equipment, drinks, snacks, and access to a northern reef site. You are not paying for a full island cruise, a meal, luxury beverages, or guaranteed pristine coral. That makes the trip best suited to a group that can fill most of the eight available places.

The two-hour duration is both a benefit and a limit. It works well if you want to add snorkeling to a day in Grand Baie without losing half a day. It feels short if you want several reef stops, a long boat ride, or time to relax on the water.

The private format may also save you from the usual waiting around. You are not joining a large group for a long list of stops, but the available details do not promise a custom route beyond Coin de Mire. Book it for the private access and the reef visit, not for a wide-ranging itinerary.

Language, Guide, and Booking Flexibility

The live guide and audio guide are available in English and French. That is useful if your group includes speakers of either language and wants clear instructions before entering the water.

A friendly, punctual two-person crew received particularly strong praise on one morning trip. Clear instructions matter on a snorkeling outing, especially when children or first-time swimmers are involved. The crew’s attitude can make a short activity feel organized rather than rushed.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option also lets you hold a place without paying at the time of booking. Check the available starting times before committing, since the listed 9 a.m. and noon sessions depend on availability.

The overall rating is 4.3 out of 5 from three bookings. That is a positive result, but the small number of ratings and the mixed comments about refreshments and equipment call for sensible expectations.

Who Will Enjoy This Most?

I would recommend this trip to a group of friends or family members who can share the full boat. It is also a good fit for people staying around Grand Baie who want a short, private marine activity rather than a full-day excursion.

The morning departure suits photographers, fish watchers, and anyone who prefers a quieter site. It may also work best for groups that want to finish snorkeling before the heat of the day becomes tiring.

Beginners can enjoy the shallow reef, but you should be comfortable asking for a different mask or checking flotation equipment before leaving. Families with small children need to confirm that the available safety gear fits their children.

I would be more cautious about booking if your main reason is coral viewing. The underwater area supports fish, but one account found little living coral. For a first look at Mauritius marine life, that may be fine. For a specialist reef experience, the condition of the coral could feel ordinary.

Final Verdict: Book It for Privacy and Fish

Book the Coin de Mire trip if you have enough people to share the $412 cost, want a private speedboat, and value a short swim over a crowded group excursion. Choose 9 a.m. if you can, bring your own towel, sunscreen, and underwater camera, and ask about equipment sizes before departure.

Skip it if you expect champagne, a full meal, perfect coral, or a long day on the water. The best case is a friendly crew, an early arrival, quiet snorkeling, and plenty of fish. The weaker case is old equipment, limited children’s flotation gear, and a reef that looks less alive than the photographs suggest.

FAQ

Where does the Coin de Mire snorkeling trip begin?

The trip begins at Grand Baie public beach in Mauritius.

How long does the activity last?

The activity lasts two hours.

What departure times are available?

The stated departure times are 9 a.m. for the morning session and noon for the afternoon session. Starting times depend on availability.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The experience is operated as a private group trip.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers a group of up to eight people.

What is included in the price?

Snorkeling equipment, snacks, and soft drinks are included.

Are champagne and other special drinks included?

No. Special drinks such as champagne are not included.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide and audio guide are available in English and French.

What should I bring?

Bring sunscreen, a towel, and an underwater camera if you want to take photographs in the water.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.