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Cerf Island lies off the north coast of Mahé in the Seychelles.
Fifteen minutes by boat from Mahé, this small island appears as an apparition in its surreal and lush unspoilt beauty. Dazzling white beaches sparkle like diamonds in a crown.
Cerf Island was named after the French frégate “Le Cerf” ("the deer") which arrived at Port Victoria on 1 November 1756. On board was Corneille Nicholas Morphey, leader of the French expedition, which claimed the island by laying a Stone of Possession on Mahe, Seychelles’ oldest monument, now on display in the National Museum, Victoria.
The island lies in the Saint Anne Marine National Park and is surrounded by a coral reef. The geology is grantitic, with a maximum height above sea level of 357 feet.
Cerf Island measures more than 1.5 km long (about 1 mile) and almost 1 km wide (almost ¾ of a mile), it reaches a height of 108 m (357 feet) and lies 3 km east of Mahé.
Due to Cerf Island’s location, in a National Marine Park, the waters around Cerf Island prove a spectacular sight. The deepest point of the Marine Park is 250 meters (820 Feet) and the Park offers exceptional marine life, with more than 150 species of reef fish, crabs, sea urchins, starfish, octopus and many more.
On the north side of the island are superb coral reefs. Here giant tortoises swim with clown fish.
Cerf Island is the only island in the marine park to have a small local population who commute to Mahé for their daily business. They live on the opposite side of the island. It has a population of around 100, mostly centered in one bay on the South side of the island.
Diving centres are plentiful on the main island and snorkelling equipment is available for hire at Cerf Island Resort.
Rumour has it that the island is not only home to the fruit bat but also home to celebrated South African novelist Wilbur Smith. Well-known residents include Wilbur Smith, the novelist, William "Bill" Travis, the writer, explorer and treasure hunter and Phil Southwell, the yacht designer.
There are two hotels, two restaurants and a beach bar. There are no shops, roads or local infrastructure but water, telephone and electricity is provided from the mainland.
Travel to and from the island is exclusively by boat.
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