Europa & Bassa da India
Expedition to the forbidden Islands
Bassa da India and Europa are two French Islands emerging from the Indian Ocean, in the middle of the Mozambique Channel.
Having been classified natural reserves since 1975, the Eparse Islands are considered magnificent ecological sanctuaries for reef study and for the observation of underwater fauna. This site is exclusively reserved to the scientific world, therefore completely forbidden to the public and under constant surveillance by the French Army. Passionate for adventure and preserved nature, the Team Abyss has created an association with "Voyages of Discovery" and signed an exceptional convention with the French government in order to organise exclusive expeditions in 2010 departing from Beira in Mozambic. It is the first time ever that these islands have been opened to eco-tourism.
We are conscious that we will be privileged visitors to one of the only remaining natural sanctuaries. We will therefore need to scrupulously respect the environment and minimise the impact of our presence on the fauna and flora.
This expedition will therefore be an exclusive and unique adventure, in which only 18 experienced divers will accompany us to discover a legendary underwater biodiversity. Due to their geographical location, their preservation, and the scientific reports written about them, Europa and Bassa da India represent a real Eden for divers to fulfil their wildest diving dreams. The equipment on board M/V Indian Ocean Explorer II, will help us to easily index the dive sites. We hope to be able to observe large oceanic marine life, wrecks, many of the big oceanic sharks (grey, hammerheads, silvertip, tiger, bull sharks...) but also plenty of turtles and maybe marine mammals (dolphins, humpback and southern right whales...)
Our expeditions will be supervised in 2010 by a passionate naturalist, as well as a representative of the French authorities and a guide from Team Abyss.
Discover, explore, understand and respect will be the key words for a voyage which has finally come true.
