Choazil Islets

The Choazil Islets appear from the water as a group of dark volcanic rock formations rising from the lagoon with minimal vegetation, a cluster of three or four main islets and several smaller rocks that are exposed at low tide. The approach by boat from Dzaoudzi or from the west coast takes twenty to thirty minutes depending on the departure point, and the first impression is of an almost Desert Island setting: the islets are small enough to see completely from the water, rocky and windswept, and the absence of any built structures or permanent human presence gives them an atmosphere of genuine remoteness despite being only a short distance from the main islands.

Snorkelling around the islets is considered among the best lagoon experience available from the main islands, and the combination of strong fish life, clear water and the unusual backdrop of rocky rather than sandy shores makes it distinctly different from the more common coral reef snorkelling sites. The underwater topography is irregular, with rock shelves dropping into sand channels and then rising again to form small coral heads that support their own communities of reef fish. The fish biomass in the immediate vicinity of the islets is notably higher than at most comparable sites on the west coast, which is generally attributed to the protection from fishing that the islets have enjoyed as an inaccessible target.

The seabird colonies on the rocks are visible from the boat before you enter the water, with brown noddies and various tern species nesting in the crevices and on the flatter rock surfaces. The birds are present throughout the year rather than seasonally, and the noise of the colony as you approach is noticeable from several hundred metres away. On the water the birds are less agitated than you might expect given the size of the colony, and it is possible to snorkel in the immediate vicinity without causing significant disturbance, particularly if you enter the water at a respectful distance from the main nesting rocks rather than swimming directly at them.

The islets are unprotected by any formal marine reserve designation, which is one of the reasons the fish biomass is higher here than at sites with formal protection that is less effectively enforced. Fishing pressure around the islets is low because access requires a boat and the rocks provide limited anchorage, leaving the underwater environment in a condition that is closer to what the lagoon must have looked like before intensive fishing pressure reduced fish stocks at most accessible sites. The lack of formal protection is a concern among conservation advocates on the island, and there are ongoing discussions about whether the islets should be designated as a marine reserve, though no formal proposal has yet been implemented.

Boat trips to the Choazil Islets are offered by several operators based in Dzaoudzi and on the west coast, usually as half-day excursions that combine the islets snorkelling with a visit to another site in the lagoon. The boat ride itself is part of the experience: the lagoon between Dzaoudzi and the islets crosses a deep channel that gives the water a different colour and movement from the shallows near the main island, and on a breezy day the channel can produce a small chop that makes the approach feel adventurous. Most operators provide snorkelling equipment and a basic orientation briefing before entering the water, and the guides are generally knowledgeable about the fish species and the seabird colony behaviour.

The Choazil Islets offer the clearest water and the highest fish biomass of any snorkelling site accessible from the main islands, with a rocky-island setting that is unlike the coral reef and sandy beach environments of most other lagoon sites.

The seabird colonies are present year-round and provide a wildlife observation opportunity that is accessible to anyone willing to snorkel in the surrounding waters.

The relative remoteness and the absence of any built infrastructure give the site a genuine wilderness quality that is difficult to find anywhere else in the lagoon, despite the islets' proximity to the airport and main centres of population.