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Country Fact File : Seychelles
Marine Conservation Volunteer Program in the Seychelles
Until the 17th century nobody lived in the Seychelles. In 1609, a British East India ship made landfall, and in the next few years shiploads of pirates moved their operations to the Indian Ocean from the Caribbean and used the islands as their base. If you're looking for that unspoilt tropical paradise thousands of miles from anywhere, the Seychelles fits the bill. Aside from palm-fringed beaches and world class snorkelling and diving, there's also plenty of forested wilderness filled with an abundance of wildlife.
| Location | Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar |
| Area | 455 sq km |
| Border Countries | None |
| Climate | Tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) |
| Terrain | Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs |
| Highest Point | Morne Seychellois 905 m) |
| Natural Hazards | Lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible |
| Environmental Issues | Water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater |
| Population | 80,469 (July 2003 est.) |
| Ethnic Groups | Mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%, other 4.1% |
| Languages | English (official), French (official), Creole |
| Type of Government | Republic |
| Capital | Victoria |
| Independence Day | 29 June 1976 (from UK) |
| Chief of State/ Head of Government |
Head of Government – President James Michel |
| Currency | Seychelles rupee (SCR) |
| Time | GMT +4 |
Did you know?
The Seychelles are the world’s only granite islands in mid ocean
A unique range of endemic species has evolved in the Seychelles archipelago
The Seychelles has a population of 80,000 people living mainly on the three main islands
Useful Numbers & Web Addresses
International dialing code: +248
Police tel: 322011
Ambulance tel: 999
British Embassy: 3rd floor, Oliaji Trade Centre, Francis Rachel Street, P O Box 161, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles. Tel: (248) 283 666
Seychelles Embassy in France (none in UK): 51 Avenue Mozart
75016 Paris, France. Tel: +33 (0) 1 42 30 57 47
1 888 653 6028
Duration and Costs
| Duration | Cost |
|---|---|
| 5 Weeks | US$3370 |
| 10 Weeks | US$5390 |
| Group Size |
|---|
| 16 to 24, plus expedition staff. Daily dive groups 6 to 10. |
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