Mauritius

Hard and soft coral formations over jagged rock "steps" off Trou aux Biches — home to octopus, lobster, trumpetfish, moray eels, lionfish, and wrasses, with turtles and rays also reported. Suitable for a wide range of diver levels, including beginners; also used as a night-dive site. Day boat, no liveaboard.

A Japanese trawler intentionally scuttled in 1987 near Trou-aux-Biches/Grand Baie to form an artificial reef — now fully colonized by coral, algae, anemones, and sea urchins, with schools of yellow snapper, large groupers, moray eels, and stonefish. PADI's own listing calls it an "intermediate" dive: Open Water divers can explore the exterior with a guide, Advanced/Wreck-certified divers can penetrate. Day boat, no liveaboard. Correction: this site was previously listed under an incorrect name ("Stella Maris," which does not exist as a Mauritius dive site) — corrected here to Stella Maru.