Mushroom rock
Above the water.
Raffaele pagani — CC BY-SA 4.0 · otterboris — CC BY 3.0 · Benoît Prieur — CC0 · otterboris — CC BY 3.0 · Benoît Prieur — CC0
Crystal Rock, also called Crystal Coral, is a coral formation rising from a shallow lagoon off the southwest coast of Mauritius, a few hundred metres west of Île aux Bénitiers and about 13 km south of Flic-en-Flac in a straight line. It is one of the area's main tourist sights. Île aux Bénitiers is an uninhabited island north of Le Morne, 500 metres off the village of La Gaulette. Formed by the coral reef, it is 2 km long and up to 500 metres wide, and the coral rock is said to have given the island its name. The weathered grey rock looks like a giant mushroom on a narrow stem above clear turquoise water, with small shrubs growing on top. The famous Le Morne Brabant mountain and the green coastal hills rise behind it, making it one of the loveliest views on the southwest coast. Visitors reach the rock by boat, usually on trips combined with Île aux Bénitiers, swimming in the shallows around it and taking photos. The sea inside the reef is usually calm, and a clear morning is the best time for photos.
Above the water.
A shallow lagoon.
In the background.
Near Île aux Bénitiers, southwest Mauritius
By boat.
Yes, in the shallows around it.