Snorkelling
Corals and fish.
Olaf2 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jean-Marc Astesana from Voisins le Bretonneux, France — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Olaf2 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ryan McMinds — CC BY 2.0 · Samuel Hoarau — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Geolina163 — CC BY-SA 3.0
L'Hermitage is a white-sand beach on the west coast of Réunion, sheltered by a coral reef, about 2 km in a straight line south of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains. At more than 7 km long, it is the longest beach on the island. The reef encloses a shallow body of water that islanders call the «lagon», no more than 500 m wide and only 1 to 2 m deep, with water between 22 and 30°C. The white sand is mostly crushed coral, unlike the black volcanic beaches found elsewhere on the island. The water inside the reef is usually calm, and people come to swim and snorkel among the corals and colourful fish. Rows of casuarina trees shade the beach, the sun sets straight over the ocean, and there are restaurants and snorkel hire nearby. The visit is free. Swim only inside the reef, where the water is calm, and avoid walking on the coral so you neither damage it nor cut your feet; bring water shoes and sun cream.
Corals and fish.
Over the ocean.
All along the beach.
L'Hermitage-les-Bains, Saint-Paul, Réunion
Yes inside the reef, where the water is calm, not beyond it.
Yes, it is public and free.