The Indian Ocean beaches of Mauritius are a haven for water sports, with warm clear waters and protected lagoons ideal for a multitude of activities. Here’s the lowdown on what some of the island’s finest resorts are offering their guests…

Maritim Crystals Beach Hotel

The new 4-star Maritim Crystals Beach Hotel is located on the east coast at Belle Mare, one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius. All guests are invited to take part in a complimentary 1hr kitesurfing introductory course, along with other free activities like stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, pedal boats and glass bottomed boat trips.

For a supplement, guests can also enjoy more adventurous excursions like deep sea fishing, waterskiing, undersea walks and catamaran trips. The Maritim Diving Centre has also opened its doors right next door to the Kite Surfing Academy. As a member of the Mauritian Scuba Diving Association (MSDA), they’re committed to professionalism and excellence, and already long-established at sister 5-star property Maritim Resort & Spa on the north west coast.

Angsana Balaclava

Situated on the peaceful north west shores of Turtle Bay, the intimate 51-suite Angsana Balaclava offers multiple exhilarating water sport activities, including snorkelling, windsurfing, sailing and scuba diving, as well as paragliding and deep sea fishing for the ultra-intrepid.

Top of the list for many recent guests has been the new underwater submarine experience, with rave reviews of the clear lagoon waters and natural conserved habitat. This special submarine lunch “under the sea” takes place in a transparent cabin at depths of up to 40 metres, surrounded by colourful fish and a shipwreck or two.

Attitude Hotels

Water babies staying at any of the eight Attitude Hotels in Mauritius will find themselves spoilt for choice when it comes to ocean experiences. Glass bottomed boat tours depart daily to discover the beauty of the underwater world, with kayaks, pedal boats and laser boats available to all. Guests can also explore the mangrove or marine flora and fauna along the coast on stand-up paddles.

Resort-specific adventures include the underwater snorkel trail in the Anse la Raie lagoon, in front of Blumarine Attitude hotel, and a memorable day trip and barbecue on Blumarine Attitude and Zilwa Attitude’s catamaran. Blumarine is also home to a PADI diving centre and a kitesurfing school managed by Club Mistral.

Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita

Located within the Anahita Wilderness Sanctuary, Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita is split between the mainland and an 11-acre private island, making it the perfect choice for water sport lovers. Within the resort, there’s a choice of complimentary activities available from the boathouse on Bambou Beach, including paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and pedalos. There’s also a shuttle boat, which travels back and forth throughout the day between the resort and Ile aux Cerfs.

New to the programme are the New Reef Discovery Guided Snorkels and Marvellous Mangrove Guided Snorkels with Four Seasons’ new Marine Education partner WiseOceans; a partnership which aims to promote awareness for Mauritian marine life in the island’s lagoons. The hotel also has underwater sea scooters for hire, plus new glass bottomed kayaks.

Beachcomber Hotels

As a Mauritian hospitality pioneer since 1952, Beachcomber Hotels know a thing or two about watersports. Between the hotel groups’ eight Mauritian resorts, there’s everything you’d expect to find and more, including hobie cats, optimists (a small, fibreglass, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for children) and lasers, as well as the chance to enjoy off-shore speed boating.

Water skiing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, scuba diving and snorkelling can also be enjoyed, with the latter particularly beneficial for reducing stress and anxiety by releasing endorphins into the body. This restful activity is also excellent for providing relief to joint pain and stiffness, as it’s far less impactful than other cardiovascular exercises like jogging.

Sun Resorts Hotel Group

Sun Resorts are soon to add a sixth to their existing collection of five Mauritius hotels, with the re-launch of the Shangri La’s Le Touessrok Resort and Spa in November 2015. All offer the full gamut of traditional water sport activities from kayaks to paddle boats and glass bottomed tours, as well as water polo and aqua gym classes for those who’d prefer to stay pool side.

For an extra charge, guests can really let loose. One on one tuition is available for diving and water skiing, along with the chance to try deep sea fishing, lagoon fishing, private catamaran excursions, super tubing, kite surfing, stand up paddleboarding and undersea walks, to name just a few.

LUX* Resorts & Hotels

All three Mauritius LUX* Resorts & Hotels report that transparent kayaks are becoming a popular pastime as they allow guests to explore the underwater environment in a completely different way. The popularity of kitesurfing continues to explode at LUX* too, especially at LUX* Le Morne where the resort has its own kitesurfing school and the lagoon offers arguably the best conditions for the sport in all of Mauritius.

There’s no shortage of other activities too, including sea karting, donut and banana tubes, snorkelling, fishing, surfing, paddleboarding, water skiing and diving.

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Photos: Paddle boarding at Maritim Crystals Beach Hotel, Wind surfing at Attitude Hotels, Kayaking at Angsana Balaclava, Snorkelling, Sailing at Beachcomber Hotels, Waterskiing, Kite Surfing