Basilisk | Seychelles

Boat

Built in Newfoundland in 2004, M/Y Basilisk began life as a robust North Atlantic commercial fishing vessel before serving as a marine-research platform from 2011 to 2014. A major 2015 conversion added seven metres to the stern, a new aft mast and a five-ton lifting boom, turning the wave-piercing aluminium catamaran into a long-range expedition yacht. The present owner has continued upgrading systems, services and guest areas since December 2018.

Basilisk measures 26.79 metres long and 9.14 metres wide, with a 2.45-metre draft and a published displacement of 90 tonnes. Two 350 hp Cummins NTA 855 M diesels give a normal cruising speed of about 9.5 knots, a maximum of 12 knots and an exceptional stated range of 6,000 nautical miles. The vessel flies the Antigua and Barbuda flag and carries 40,000 litres of diesel plus 10,000 litres of freshwater. Two reverse-osmosis watermakers support longer expeditions.

Her unusually small maximum of six guests creates a private-yacht atmosphere rather than a high-capacity dive-cruise experience. The 35 m² air-conditioned salon has deep sofas, opening windows, a large television with digital presentation connections and indoor dining for up to eight. Outside, the 95 m² aft deck is the social and operational centre: most meals and snacks are served under the large awning, while separate areas hold cameras and dive or snorkel equipment. The fly deck offers both sun and shade and works as a lookout for sunsets and passing wildlife.

The lower dive pontoon is the departure point for diving, snorkelling and shore excursions. Basilisk carries a 7.6-metre USCG full-cabin SAFEBoat with twin 135 hp outboards, radar, GPS and depth sounder, plus a 3.6-metre Highfield RIB with a 20 hp outboard. The enclosed SAFEBoat is particularly useful for reaching distant sites with more shelter than an open tender can provide, although transfers can still be lively in wind or swell.

Environmental systems include solar-powered 110V house electricity with battery storage, an anaerobic black-water treatment plant, a grey-water holding and pump-out system and eco-sensitive cleaning products where possible. Higher-load systems run from 220V generators. Guest outlets are published as North American-style 110V sockets and 24V USB connections, so travellers using other plug types should bring a suitable adaptor after confirming voltage compatibility.

Safety equipment includes two SOLAS A liferafts, adult and child lifejackets, emergency oxygen, first-aid kits, smoke alarms, firefighting equipment, two radars, multiple GPS and VHF units, AIS, an Iridium emergency satellite phone and three EPIRBs. Safety equipment is maintained by the operator, but evacuation from remote Seychelles islands can take time; appropriate medical and evacuation insurance remains essential.

Cabin

Basilisk accommodates a maximum of six guests in exactly three en-suite cabins, each measuring approximately 14 m² / 150 sq ft. The cabins are physically separated from one another for privacy. Their location is precise:

• 2 Lower-Deck Pontoon Cabins: one cabin inside the port pontoon and one inside the starboard pontoon. Both are reached by stairs from the main level.
• 1 Main-Deck Cabin: positioned on the main deck and distinguished by two large opening windows with insect screens, allowing natural ventilation as well as air-conditioning.

Every cabin has one 150 × 200 cm queen-size bed. The operator describes this bed as convertible to two singles through a Pullman-style divider panel that allows light and air to pass. This is an important distinction: it is a divided queen sleeping surface, not two fully separated freestanding twin beds. Friends sharing should confirm that this arrangement suits them before booking.

All three cabins include a private bathroom with a large glass shower and freshwater-flush toilet. Individually controlled air-conditioning, an electric fan, overhead LED lighting, reading lights with USB connections, drawers, wardrobes, shelves and pull-down window blinds are also specified. Bed linen, bathroom towels and beach towels are changed twice weekly. The operator does not publish a safe, minibar, hair dryer, daily housekeeping schedule or the precise number of electrical outlets, so these features should not be promised without written confirmation.

Rates are quoted per person on a shared-cabin basis. A solo traveller may be paired with another guest of the same gender. A guaranteed private cabin carries a published surcharge of 75% or more, with the final amount depending on the departure. Because the yacht has only three cabins, preferred deck and sole-use requests should be secured in writing early.

Basilisk is not described as accessible for guests with disabilities. Four levels are linked by ship's ladders, the two pontoon cabins require stairs, and boarding tenders in moving water demands balance and mobility. Anyone with reduced mobility, a recent injury or difficulty using steep steps should discuss the complete route from dock to cabin and tender before paying a deposit.

Diving

Basilisk is equipped for small-group recreational diving in the Seychelles. The dive room contains two Coltri MCH11 ERGO TPS compressors, explicitly listed as air only. The published tank inventory is 16 steel 12-litre cylinders plus three children's cylinders. Nitrox is not advertised and should not be assumed available.

One dive guide accompanies a maximum of six divers. Each cruise includes a check dive, but the guide does not provide training. Divers must hold the certification, current skills and minimum logged experience required for the selected route, use the buddy system and remain responsible for planning and conducting a safe dive within the briefing. The guide may restrict an individual's diving if safety concerns arise.

Lead weights, weight belts and collapsible dive flags are complimentary. A limited selection of rental equipment is carried for guest needs or emergencies, but the operator recommends bringing personal equipment and essential spares. A complete rental set, particular sizes, dive computers, exposure protection, torches, surface markers and children's equipment must be reserved and confirmed; public pages do not provide a current inventory or price list.

Dives and excursions normally leave from the lower pontoon by tender. A typical active day can offer up to four water sessions, with the first around 07:00 and a possible night dive around 18:00. The exact number depends on itinerary, distance, daylight, current, weather and group ability. Named sites, wildlife sightings and published dive counts are never guaranteed, and the operator states that missed dives caused by adverse weather or unforeseen change do not generate a refund.

Inner Islands routes can suit newer qualified divers, snorkellers and nature-focused guests, with protected reefs as well as slopes, caves, walls, wrecks and mild-to-moderate current. Northern Drop-Off and Outer Islands itineraries introduce deeper profiles, stronger or variable currents, open-ocean crossings and more remote support. Route-specific certification and logged-dive minima must therefore be checked on the dated programme rather than inferred from the vessel description.

Other Information

Basilisk does not publish one universal package list: local charges and extras vary by itinerary. The dated proposal, invoice and booking confirmation must therefore define the final commercial package. The distinctions below reflect the operator's current boat, FAQ and terms pages.

Clearly described as part of the normal onboard cruise service:

• Accommodation in the confirmed shared cabin category
• A set-menu meal programme using Western and local dishes, with vegetarian choices and attention to declared allergies
• A check dive and guided recreational diving on a dive itinerary, at a maximum ratio of one guide to six divers
• Use of standard 12-litre tanks, lead weights and weight belts; collapsible dive flags are stated as complimentary
• Twice-weekly changes of bed, bathroom and beach linen
• Use of the vessel's public areas and the tender-supported programme listed for the departure

Because the site does not provide a single all-inclusive checklist, drinking water, tea/coffee, snacks, exact meal count, snorkel gear, kayaks and specific shore excursions should still be verified on the invoice even where the daily schedule or route description mentions them.

Mandatory charges that vary by itinerary:

• Marine-park, conservation, anchorage and landing fees
• Seychelles Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy
• Any other route-specific permits or local charges shown on the proposal

The terms say obligatory charges are listed per itinerary and collected in advance, while the Tourism Environmental Sustainability Levy is identified elsewhere in the same terms as payable onboard in cash. The invoice should resolve the method and amount before travel.

Published as extra, limited or not included unless contracted:

• Local transfers, including airport, hotel and marina transfers
• Special entry fees, guided land tours and optional island visits
• Soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits; a priced beverage list is issued before the cruise
• Rental dive equipment beyond the included tanks, weights and belts
• Crew gratuities
• Guaranteed single occupancy, subject to a surcharge of 75% or more
• Flights, visas, hotels, travel insurance, personal purchases and pre/post-cruise arrangements
• Nitrox, technical diving and dive training, none of which is advertised as a normal onboard service

Alcohol consumption excludes the guest from further diving and water activities for the rest of that day. Smoking is restricted to one small designated area and is prohibited inside and across most of the yacht.

Non-divers are welcome on suitable departures and private charters, but basic swimming ability is required for swimming, snorkelling and kayaking. Children under 16 are accepted only on a private charter with the charter leader's consent. Tender passengers must be at least six years old, and the operator provides neither childcare nor teenage supervision.

The kitchen offers vegetarian choices but explicitly says it cannot accommodate a vegan diet because of local supply limitations. Allergies and dietary requirements must be submitted in advance. Guests requiring temperature-controlled medication should bring it in original packaging and use their own travel cooling case; ice packs can be refrozen onboard, while the medication remains under the guest's control.

A 50% deposit is due within ten calendar days of placing an option. The balance, mandatory charges, selected extras and required documents are due 90 days before departure; bookings made within 90 days are payable immediately. Cancellations more than 180 days before departure are refunded less €100; charges are 50% at 180–91 days, 75% at 90–31 days and 100% at 30 days or less. Force-majeure conditions are subject to the operator's terms and may not be refundable.

Comprehensive insurance is a contract requirement and should cover dive injury and chamber treatment, medical evacuation including low-altitude air evacuation, repatriation, cancellation, travel disruption and personal property. The operator recommends arrival in Seychelles at least one day before embarkation and booking the return flight at least 24 hours after the vessel's scheduled arrival back in port. This margin is in addition to respecting the safe no-fly interval after the final dive.

The public terms contain legacy COVID-era wording, and the public schedule page displays old unrelated sample departures. Neither should be used as proof of current entry rules, dates or prices. Obtain a dated Basilisk programme and reconfirm passport, health, visa and Seychelles entry requirements before publication or payment.

Basilisk operates small-group expeditions from the Seychelles, with Mahé as the usual gateway. Published programmes range from accessible Inner Islands cruises to current-exposed plateau edges, remote Amirantes crossings and ambitious Aldabra journeys. The daily outlines below translate the operator's route descriptions into a practical sequence; they are planning guides, not guaranteed site-by-site schedules.

Inner Island Explorer – 7 Days / 6 Nights

This is the most approachable Basilisk itinerary for newly qualified divers, mixed diver/non-diver groups, snorkellers and nature enthusiasts. Sites are relatively close together, and land visits may be possible on most days. The northern granitic islands combine true coral reefs with dramatic granite formations, while seasonal plankton can reduce visibility but attract filter-feeding wildlife. Encounters remain entirely natural and cannot be promised.

Day 1 – Mahé embarkation and orientation
Guests join Basilisk at the time stated on the booking confirmation. Cabin allocation, vessel safety, insurance and certification checks come first, followed by equipment setup and tender procedures. Depending on clearance and embarkation time, the yacht may remain near Mahé or move to a sheltered anchorage for the first night.

Day 2 – Mahé check dive and granitic reefs
A manageable site is selected for the mandatory check dive so the guide can review weighting, buoyancy, air consumption and buddy procedures. Later dives can introduce the sculpted granite topography, coral growth and schooling reef fish characteristic of the Inner Islands. A night dive may be considered at a safe mooring.

Day 3 – Praslin and neighbouring islands
The programme moves toward the Praslin sector for reef diving, snorkelling or a shore activity. If arranged and paid for, a visit may include the Vallée de Mai's coco de mer forest or another conservation experience. Land programmes, entry fees and guides are not automatic inclusions.

Day 4 – La Digue, Sisters or nearby reef systems
Weather and traffic determine whether the day focuses on granite gullies, coral slopes or sheltered snorkelling. Optional shore time could involve La Digue or Grande Soeur when booked in advance. Currents can still be present on an “easy” route, and the guide controls entries and pickups.

Day 5 – Curieuse, Cousin or northern conservation sector
Diving may be combined with a nature-focused excursion, coral-restoration visit or beach stop. The precise island depends on permits, sea conditions and the contracted package. Turtles, rays and pelagic visitors are possible, but the reef landscape and conservation story are the reliable attractions.

Day 6 – Silhouette, Brissare Rocks or Mahé sector
The captain uses the forecast to select final headline sites. Ennerdale Wreck and Brissare Rocks are among the operator's published possibilities, not guaranteed calls. One or two final dives are planned with sufficient time for the return, equipment drying and no-fly interval.

Day 7 – Mahé disembarkation
After breakfast and settlement of onboard extras, guests leave the yacht at the confirmed time. The operator recommends placing the return flight at least 24 hours after Basilisk's scheduled arrival in port rather than building a tight same-day connection.

North Amirantes – Desroches Expedition – 7 Days / 6 Nights

This remote route is designed for qualified divers comfortable with open-ocean travel and more independent expedition conditions. The best published windows are generally March to May and October to mid-December, when the monsoon transition can bring calmer seas and visibility reaching approximately 40 metres. Even in these periods, weather controls the route.

Day 1 – Mahé check dive and overnight departure
After embarkation and documentation, a check dive off Mahé confirms skills and equipment before the long crossing. Basilisk then sails toward Desroches on an overnight passage averaging about 16 hours. Cabins are comfortable, but ocean movement should be expected and seasickness preparation is sensible.

Day 2 – Desroches Drop
Arrival is usually in the morning. Subject to conditions, the first Outer Islands dives explore Desroches Drop, where mini-walls, natural arches, passages and bright coral gardens create a varied wide-angle environment. Depth and current determine the exact profile and entry technique.

Day 3 – Ile de Sud and the African Banks sector
Seamounts and fish-rich reefs lead the expedition away from conventional Inner Islands diving. Reef sharks, rays, trevally and schooling fish may patrol the blue-water edges. The SAFEBoat supports remote pickups, but all divers must follow surface-marker and separation procedures closely.

Day 4 – Poivre Atoll
The programme can turn south toward Poivre's reef platform, with walls, channels, coral terrain and sandy areas. The day's sites are selected for current direction and group experience. Three or four water sessions may be possible; long repositioning or conditions can reduce that number.

Day 5 – D'Arros and St Joseph
D'Arros and St Joseph offer cays, channels, submerged atoll structures and rich reef life. Giant manta rays are known from the area, but no encounter can be guaranteed. A land or lagoon activity is possible only where permitted and included in the confirmed programme.

Day 6 – Final remote dives and return crossing
The captain selects the strongest remaining sites that still allow a safe overnight passage back to Mahé. Final dives finish early enough for gear handling and the no-fly interval. Basilisk then begins the long northbound crossing.

Day 7 – Mahé arrival and disembarkation
Arrival time depends on sea conditions and port clearance. Guests settle beverages, rentals, levies or gratuities as instructed and disembark according to the confirmed programme. Flexible post-cruise accommodation is strongly preferable to a close flight connection.

Other Published Basilisk Expedition Options

Northern Drop-Off – 7 Days / 6 Nights: This experienced-diver itinerary explores rarely visited reefs and underwater mounts along the edge of the Mahé Plateau near Bird, Denis and Frégate. Deeper water and strong, shifting current make current experience and controlled open-water ascents important. Standard cruises run for six nights, with extensions up to 14 days possible for parties of four or more. The preferred seasons are October to early December and March to mid-May.

South Amirantes – Alphonse – 7 Days / 6 Nights: After breakfast in Mahé, the published programme makes an approximately 26-hour overnight passage toward Alphonse. Potential areas include Bijoutier and St François, plus Desnoeufs and Marie Louise. Walls, gorgonian forests, coral mounts and shark or ray encounters define the route. The operator recommends March to May and October to mid-November.

North & South Amirantes – 12 Days / 11 Nights: This longer circuit links African Banks and Rémire with St Joseph, D'Arros, Sandy Cay, l'Étoile, Poivre, Desnoeufs, Marie Louise, Bijoutier, St François, Alphonse and Desroches as conditions allow. The published first crossing from Mahé to African Banks averages 14 hours. More time permits a wider range of sites but does not make every island compulsory.

Aldabra and Outer Islands – 10 or 15 Days: Basilisk advertises both nature-led and diving expeditions through remote islands such as Aldabra, Astove, Cosmoledo, Assumption, Alphonse, Bijoutier, D'Arros and St Joseph; Desroches is exceptional on the 15-day programme. The public page states that the 10-day version includes a round-trip Mahé–Astove flight, while the 15-day version travels entirely by sea. Because aircraft, permits and remote-island logistics are substantial, this flight inclusion and every landing must appear explicitly on the dated quotation. Diving windows are advertised for March–April and mid-October to mid-December.

Private Charters and Tailor-Made Expeditions

Basilisk can be reserved as a private yacht for families, friends, dive groups or a mixed party of divers and non-divers. The small three-cabin layout is particularly suitable when six guests want control over pace and activity mix without sharing the vessel with an unrelated group. A private charter permits advance route design, but it does not grant unrestricted access to islands or override weather, protected-area permits and the captain's authority.

The operator also promotes guided nature cruises and specialist research or fishing charters. These are separate products, not inclusions in a normal recreational dive departure. Naturalist services, scientific equipment, fishing guides and tackle, special crane use, extra tender fuel, landing permits or private flights must be detailed and priced in the contract. Likewise, a request for more snorkelling, beach time or family activities can influence the plan only when conditions and local permissions allow it.

For a useful charter quotation, provide the exact group size, passenger ages, diver certifications and experience, preferred dates, desired islands, expected number of dives, land interests, dietary requirements and any rental needs. The response should confirm embarkation and disembarkation ports, cabin allocation, transfers, guide or specialist staffing, tanks and equipment, meals and beverages, fees, taxes, flights and cancellation terms. Children under 16 require the charter leader's consent; the minimum tender age remains six and the operator provides no childcare.

Typical Day Aboard

The operator publishes the following rhythm as an example: light breakfast and equipment preparation at 06:45; first dive or swim/snorkel at 07:00; full breakfast at 08:30; second activity at 10:00; lunch at 12:00; third activity at 14:00; snack at 15:30; fourth activity at 16:30; and cocktails or a night dive at 18:00. Dinner is normally at 19:00, moving to 20:00 after a night dive.

This is a framework, not an entitlement to four dives every day. Crossings, conservation visits, daylight, sea state, current, local permission, guest experience and final-day no-fly planning all change the schedule. Alcohol ends diving and water activities for that guest for the remainder of the day.

Planning Notes

• Confirm the exact embarkation point, check-in time, route, cabin position and bed-divider arrangement in writing.
• Ask for route-specific certification, minimum logged dives and required personal safety equipment.
• Basilisk fills air only; do not advertise Nitrox.
• Reserve any rental equipment before travel and bring essential personal spares.
• Treat land tours, transfers, park fees, levies and guided visits as extra unless the invoice includes them.
• Wildlife, visibility, dive counts and named sites are never guaranteed.
• Arrive in Seychelles at least one day early and retain flexible time after the cruise.
• Follow the captain and dive guide when weather or safety requires a route change.