Cosmoledo

Cosmoledo is located about 550 miles South-West of Mahe and forms part the Aldabra group, one of the three groups of coralline islands. Cosmoledo is a stone’s throw away from the world heritage site of Aldabra, which is often referred to as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean. Menai and Wizard Islands occupy the eastern and western points of Cosmoledo and were named after the two ships that explored the atoll on the Moresby Expedition in 1822. South Island stands near the main entrance to the inner lagoon, while the second, smaller entrance is just south of Menai. It’s a huge atoll measuring over 10 miles from north to south (almost three times the size of Farquhar Atoll). The perimeter of the atoll is covered with vast, wadeable sand flats dotted with islands of various shapes and sizes, all of which is the perfect habitat for its fish population.

The flats surrounding Cosmoledo are white and hard, making wading very easy. The knowledgeable and professional guides use one of the five purpose-built mini-Mahe skiffs to take their anglers to the optimum locations based on tide and wind. This makes casting all day from the deck of a skiff unnecessary and allows the angler more personal interaction with this amazing ecosystem. There are a wide range of target species on Cosmoledo. Huge schools of bonefish roam the flats with every tide, and there are more Giant Trevally in this atoll’s shallow waters than anywhere else in the world. It’s not uncommon to see bonefish over 9 lbs and GT’s approaching 3 feet long. There are also good numbers of milkfish and Indo-Pacific Permit for adventurous anglers looking for a challenge.

There’s a variety of inshore, nearshore and bluewater fly fishing that is very productive for in-between fishing sessions or a change of pace. Sailfish, Wahoo, Yellowfin and dogtooth tuna can be found very close to the atoll. The Cosmoledo guides are experienced in all aspects of bluewater fly-fishing.

Cosmoledo Atoll is pristine and untouched, with very little human impact on its environment over the years. The encounters you will see on a daily basis are proof of how remote and preserved this magnificent atoll has remained. Cosmoledo is an important bird area and holds Seychelles’ largest colonies of all three species of booby that breed in Seychelles, hundreds of non-breeding frigatebirds, several populations of terns (sooty terns, black-naped tern, crested tern), and a host of migratory wading birds that use the lagoon as important feeding grounds. The sand-filled shores are also a breeding ground for the green and hawksbill turtle, and it is not uncommon to see the turtle hatchlings digging their way free from their sandy nests and heading for the sea. The reefs are spectacular and offer some of the best diving in Seychelles.