Just a few centimetres below the surface, an entirely different world unfolds within the Réunion Marine Nature Reserve. Created in 2007 to protect one of the region’s richest coral reef ecosystems, the reserve stretches along 40 km of coastline, placing Saint-Leu at the heart of this unspoilt natural sanctuary, home to more than 3,500 species of plants and animals.
Beneath your fins, thousands of marine species go about their lives as if you were simply part of the scenery. Butterflyfish, surgeonfish and triggerfish share these crystal-clear waters with sea turtles and rays gliding gracefully over the sandy seabed.
Around Saint-Leu, the reserve is divided into different protected zones, each with its own level of conservation. Outside the fully protected areas, swimming, snorkelling and kayaking are permitted, provided that marine life is respected and the corals are left undisturbed. Yellow buoys mark sanctuary zones where the reefs are free to regenerate naturally. Once you witness the extraordinary biodiversity they shelter, it is easy to understand why these areas are strictly protected.
To help preserve this fragile ecosystem, please do not walk on the corals—they are living organisms—and observe marine life without touching it during your dives and snorkelling sessions.
