The Alphonse Group: A tale of two atolls

Christophe Mason-Parker · Issue 98, Sep/Oct 2017 · pp. 61–65

Products mentioned: Canon 7D, Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye, Canon 10-18mm lens, Ikelite Housing, Ikelite DS160 Strobes

One hour and 250 miles after leaving Mahé, the largest and most populated island within the Seychelles archipelago, the Beechcraft 1900 began its descent towards the twin oceanic atolls of Alphonse and St. François. Out of the right side of the aircraft’s windows, a tiny green spec surrounded by turquoise blue water slowly came into view. The arrowhead-shaped island of Alphonse covers an area of 1.71km2 and is bisected down the middle by a narrow runway. Extensive reef flats and a vast lagoon, which give the atoll a total area of 19km2, surround it. Home to the Alphonse Island Resort, the island, which is covered in thick forest and coconut palms, is the archetypal tropical paradise. The Alphonse Island Resort has built a reputation as one of the world’s premiere fly- fishing destinations. However, in recent years the management has added diving to its growing list of activities with the…