West Coast Catamaran: Dolphins and Ile aux Benitiers

A west coast catamaran in Mauritius starts with dolphin watching in Tamarin Bay, then snorkels, eats a barbecue on board, passes Crystal Rock and stops at Ile aux Benitiers, also called Benitiers Island, under Le Morne. It sells dolphin watching, not a dolphin swim: the Tourism Authority’s rules allow paid swimming with dolphins only from 06.00 to 09.00, and these catamarans start at 9:00 AM. The first here is Blue Safari Mauritius’ Mauritius: Catamaran Cruise - Dolphin Watching, BBQ & Drinks, six hours from Le Morne Anglers Club Jetty, from US$87 an adult (checked November 2026), with 374 reviews.

What the dolphin rules say

The Tourism Authority (Dolphin and Whale Watching) Regulations 2012, in force since 1 November 2012 and published by the Mauritius Tourism Authority, set the terms for every paid trip:

• No boat may be operated within 50 m of the closest dolphin. Between 50 and 150 m, boats approach from the side, on a parallel course, at no-wake speed.
• Paid dolphin watching runs only from 06.00 to noon, and paid swimming with dolphins only from 06.00 to 09.00, unless the Authority authorises otherwise in writing.
• On a swimming trip, no more than three swimmers, a life-saver among them, may be in the water at once, and each swimmer signs a disclaimer and is briefed first.
• Nobody may swim, dive or snorkel with a whale, feed, touch or circle a dolphin or whale, or approach one from behind or head-on. The Authority repeated the whale rule to skippers in a communique of 5 July 2024.

So a catamaran that boards at 9:00 AM with a full deck of guests is a watching trip, and that is how the boats on this page describe themselves.

The west coast catamarans

US dollars per adult, GetYourGuide, checked November 2026. Oceane Cruises Mauritius’ price is its shared option with no transfer; with hotel pickup it cost US$98.94 an adult on 20 January 2027.

On Viator, Blue Safari Submarine and Catamaran Cruises Mauritius sell west coast catamaran days to Ile aux Benitiers too, from US$87 and US$88 a person (checked November 2026).

Watching the dolphins

Dolphin sightings on Blue Safari Mauritius’ day are common but not guaranteed: the dolphins are wild. Its reviewers mostly saw them; what they wrote about is the other boats. At least ten of its reviews describe a crowd of boats, many of them speedboats, around the dolphins in Tamarin Bay, the latest on 6 November 2026, and at least five say their catamaran kept its distance while others pushed in. A two-star review (4 May 2026) saw dolphins in the distance and no chance to swim. Touching marine life is not allowed on the trip.

Which west coast catamaran fits you:

Prices, ratings and review counts checked November 2026. They move with the date and the season: use them to compare, as they are not a quote.

Crystal Rock and Ile aux Benitiers

Crystal Rock rises out of the lagoon; Blue Safari Mauritius sails past it, and Oceane Cruises Mauritius anchors there for lunch and, weather and tide permitting, a swim. Ile aux Benitiers is the last stop, an island of sandy beaches with Le Morne Brabant in view. Time there is short: Oceane Cruises Mauritius gives 40 minutes, with a tender to take you across, and a four-star review of Blue Safari Mauritius’ day (6 November 2026) timed its stop at 30 minutes and found the meeting point short of parking. One three-star review (27 January 2026) learned on board that the island could not be reached at low tide.

Who the west coast suits

It suits you if you are staying around Black River, Tamarin or Le Morne, with dolphins as a likely start to the day. It does not suit anyone set on swimming with dolphins, and Blue Safari Mauritius’ day is not suitable for people prone to seasickness. For a beach island with more time ashore, the Ile aux Cerfs catamaran is the east coast’s day.

Check the west coast dates