Level 01
General protection
The baseline across the Reserve: fishing is regulated by species and gear, anchoring is banned except on eco-moorings, and littering is strictly prohibited. This applies to most of the 3,500 hectares.
Updated 20 September 2026
Reunion Island's coral reef: 20km of reef, a marine reserve and an ecosystem at risk
Along Reunion Island's west coast, twenty kilometres of coral reef shelter the island's only lagoon, protected since 2007 by a Marine Nature Reserve with five no-take sanctuary zones. Here's what to know before you wade in.
3,500 haof Marine Reserve5 sanctuariesfull protection≈ 185hard coral species≈ 1,000fish species
What a reef is for
Why the reef matters so much
Without the reef, there's no lagoon. Over tens of thousands of years, corals built a limestone wall along the west coast. It breaks the ocean swell before it reaches the beach, leaving a shallow, calm stretch of turquoise water behind it: the lagoon. That's why children can paddle at L'Ermitage while the open sea pounds the reef 200 metres away.
The reef only extends along the west and south-west coasts, from Cap La Houssaye to Roche des Oiseaux. It never took hold in the north, east or south, where the swell, water temperature and clarity weren't right. So it's modest in scale (just twenty kilometres, against 2,300 for Australia's Great Barrier Reef) but irreplaceable for the island.
Official source (in French): La Réserve Naturelle Marine de La Réunion.
Fact sheet
The Marine Reserve in a few figures
Created in 2007, the Marine Nature Reserve covers the whole reef along the west and south-west coasts. It's managed by the GIP Réserve Marine, a public body overseen by the French state, working with the five coastal towns and Reunion Island's National Park.
- Date designated21 February 2007
- Total area≈ 3,500 ha
- Reef length≈ 20km
- Coastline coveredCap La Houssaye to Roche des Oiseaux
- Towns along it5 (Saint-Paul to L'Étang-Salé)
- Hard coral species recorded≈ 185 species
- Soft coral species recorded≈ 46 species
- Fish species recorded≈ 1,000 species
Regulations
Three protection levels across the same 20km
The rules aren't the same everywhere. There are three levels, from the most relaxed (general protection) to the strictest (full protection, in the sanctuary zones). Check which applies where you're putting your fins in the water to avoid an unpleasant surprise.
Level 02
Enhanced protection
Tighter limits on recreational fishing and a ban on some commercial fishing techniques, while swimming, snorkelling and diving remain open to all. It protects sensitive stretches of reef without closing them to the public.
Level 03
Full protection (sanctuaries)
Five sanctuary (no-take) zones where all fishing, collecting, anchoring and motorised leisure activities are banned. Diving and snorkelling are still allowed under strict rules, and this is where marine life is at its richest.
Mapping
The Reserve's 5 sanctuary zones
Five hotspots get full protection, the strictest level. All fishing, collecting and motorised activity is banned. Diving and snorkelling are still allowed, as long as you behave responsibly.
| # | Site | Town | Type | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | L'Ermitage North Lagoon | Saint-Paul | Lagoon | One of the island's richest zones, a spot to see green turtles right off the beach. |
| 02 | L'Ermitage South Lagoon | Saint-Paul | Lagoon | A breeding and nursery ground for many coastal species, with visitor numbers closely monitored. |
| 03 | Pointe des Châteaux | Saint-Leu | Point | A well-known dive site, with an outer reef sheltered from the prevailing swell. |
| 04 | Saint-Leu Lagoon | Saint-Leu | Lagoon | A whale and dolphin migration corridor in season, a reef reachable without a boat. |
| 05 | L'Étang-Salé Lagoon | L'Étang-Salé | Lagoon | The Reserve's southern limit, a stark contrast with the beach's black volcanic sand. |
Pressures on the reef
Why Reunion Island's reef is at risk
The reef is more than a postcard backdrop. It faces a build-up of pressures that threaten its long-term survival, many of them from well beyond the Marine Reserve's boundaries.
- Surface water warming: coral bleaching is becoming more frequent, as seen in 2016 and 2022 across the whole Indian Ocean. Hard corals expel their symbiotic algae once the water passes a certain temperature, and die if the episode lasts.
- Eutrophication: too many nutrients (nitrates, phosphates) wash into the lagoon from the land. Algae take over and smother the coral.
- Visitor pressure: trampling at low tide, anchors dropped on the reef, illegal collecting and chemical sunscreens. At the busiest spots, the damage is visible to the naked eye.
- Shark nets and coastal activities: how to balance protection against sharks with protecting the reef is still a live debate on the island.
A shallow reef flat. Just walking on it at low tide can break the fragile limestone.
Seeing the reef
Three ways to see the reef without damaging it
Whatever your ability: snorkelling, a transparent kayak over the reef flat or a first scuba dive. All the trips below are run by operators who follow the Reserve's rules.
A guided snorkelling excursion
A guided snorkelling trip from Saint-Paul bay. Ideal for beginners, with fins and a safety briefing provided.
See the excursion
FamilyTransparent kayak, Trou d'Eau lagoon
Glide over the reef flat without getting wet: the best option with young children or non-swimmers. From €5.
See the outing
The top pickA try dive
Your first dive, with a state-qualified instructor, on the reef's outer slope. All equipment provided.
See the first diveCode of conduct
Seven rules for the marine reserve
- Never touch any coral, even dead coral. Never pick up a living shell or a starfish.
- Don't walk on the reef flat at low tide. Stick to sandy channels or take a boat trip instead.
- Mineral sunscreen applied 30 minutes before you get in, not a chemical one. Better still, a UV-protective T-shirt.
- Never feed the fish. Bread, fruit or biscuits upset the food chain and change their natural behaviour.
- No anchoring except on the designated buoys, and never on the reef.
- Regulated fishingin the general and enhanced zones, banned in the sanctuaries. When in doubt, don't fish.
- Take all your rubbish home, including cigarette butts and food wrappers. The lagoon isn't a bin.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Why does the coral reef matter in Reunion Island?
It does three big jobs. First, it breaks the ocean swell before it reaches the coast, creating the calm lagoon behind it and protecting the shoreline where people live. Second, it shelters an extremely rich ecosystem: many coastal fish breed and grow up on the reef. Third, it filters the water and locks away carbon as the corals build their skeletons. Globally, coral reefs shelter nearly a quarter of marine biodiversity on less than 1% of the ocean's surface.
Where can you see the coral reef in Reunion Island?
You can snorkel straight from the beach in the lagoons of L'Ermitage, La Saline-les-Bains, Trou d'Eau and Saint-Leu. To see the outer slope and deeper corals, go scuba diving from Saint-Gilles or Saint-Leu, or glide over the reef flat in a transparent kayak without getting wet. The northern end, towards Cap La Houssaye, and the southern end, towards Roche des Oiseaux, are less visited and show a different side of the reef.
Can you touch the coral?
No. Touching coral damages its thin protective layer of mucus and can kill it locally. Standing on the reef flat at low tide does the same, over several square metres. The rule in the Reserve is simple: look, take photos, touch nothing. Also avoid putting on sunscreen just before you get in (and choose mineral rather than chemical).
Can you fish in the marine reserve?
It depends on the protection level. In general protection zones, some fishing is allowed under strict rules on gear, species and seasons. Enhanced zones have tighter restrictions, and in the five sanctuary zones all fishing is banned, no exceptions. Before going fishing, check the current rules on the Marine Reserve's website.
Why is the reef described as being at risk?
Three main threats. Warmer surface water causes coral bleaching, as across the tropics, and was seen in 2016 and 2022 throughout the Indian Ocean: hard corals expel their symbiotic algae once the water passes a certain temperature, and die if it lasts. Pollution from the land brings too many nutrients into the lagoon, favouring algae over coral (eutrophication). And visitors cause trampling, illegal collecting and damaging anchoring. The Marine Reserve and the French state have run monitoring and restoration programmes since 2007, but the reef remains fragile in the long term.
Is there a coral reef on the east and south coasts of Reunion Island?
No. The reef only grew on the west and south-west coasts, where the island shelters the water from the prevailing swell and the sea is warm and clear enough. The east coast, battered by trade winds and heavy rain, and the south coast, exposed to the southern swell, lack the conditions a reef needs. That's why the Marine Reserve only covers the stretch from Cap La Houssaye to Roche des Oiseaux.
West coast road trip
Follow the lagoon by campervan and wake up facing the reef
From Saint-Paul to L'Étang-Salé, a campervan is the best way to take your time at each reef spot. Wake up on La Saline's lagoon, snorkel at L'Ermitage, dive at Saint-Leu, watch the sunset at Étang-Salé. All within 25km of coastline.
See campervans for hireGo further
Keep reading
- → Where to swim with turtles in Reunion Island: 6 spots in the lagoon, the species you can see and how to watch them responsibly.
- → Where to swim in Reunion Island: 12 swimming spots, from the lagoon to basalt pools.
- → A first scuba dive: a first dive in Saint-Gilles or Saint-Leu, from €60.
- → All guides about Reunion Island.