Does the idea of soaking up the sun on white, sandy beaches appeal to you? Or would you prefer to scuba dive amidst coral gardens and tropical fish? The green-emerald island of Mauritius, swathed in the translucent, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, offers visitors all this, as well as many other leisure pastimes from snorkelling, sailing and windsurfing, to big game fishing, nature walks and shopping for locally crafted jewellery, wooden model boats, clothing and flowers.

A year-round tourist destination with a hot, wet season from December to April, Mauritius also has a pleasantly cool, dry season from May to November. The months of January to May see the highest rainfall and the possibility of cyclonic activity.

Gardens of colourful corals thrive in the shallow, warm....