Seychelles Platte Island: Hatchling Turtles And Reef Sharks

On a July morning on Platte Island, resort general manager Elias Pertoft sprinkled sand on a hawksbill turtle nest. Dozens of hatchlings emerged and rushed toward the Indian Ocean — a scene that plays out hundreds of times each season on this 0.6-square-kilometre island, which hosts the largest population of nesting turtles in the Seychelles.

Platte Island sits 130 kilometres south of Mahé, a sliver of sand and vegetation encircled by a 13-kilometre barrier reef. It’s also home to the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, a 50-villa resort that opened as the brand’s first property in the country. But the real draw here isn’t the infinity pools or the rooftop bar — it’s what happens on the beach at dawn.

Hawksbill turtles, an endangered species found in tropical waters across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, nest here from September to July. Each season, 600 to 700 turtles come ashore, each laying up to 200 eggs. The resort’s environmental team, led by Dominique Dina, patrols the coast twice daily, monitoring nests and relocating those at risk from erosion or predators. For visitors, it’s a front-row seat to one of the ocean’s most vulnerable life cycles.

Here’s what a visit to Platte Island actually looks like — the daily rhythms, the wildlife encounters, and the practical trade-offs that come with a remote private-island stay.

Turtle Patrol: Watching Hawksbill Hatchlings

Dominique Dina grew up on Mahé with a marine biologist father and a geography teacher mother. Now the environmental manager at Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, she leads the resort’s turtle conservation program — and guests are welcome to join her. Twice a day, she walks the coast scouting for fresh nests and checking on existing ones. When a nest is ready to hatch, crabs digging near the site give it away.

During the 2025–2026 season, the team recorded 277 active hawksbill nests at the time of a visit in July. Dina found two new nests in a single morning, numbering them 278 and 279 for the season. Eggs typically hatch about two weeks after discovery. When they do, the hatchlings emerge and make their way to the sea — a journey of just a few metres that carries a one-in-a-thousand survival rate due to predators like crabs and cats, plus rising sea levels that erode the coastline.

The resort’s role is to give those hatchlings a better chance. Nests at risk from erosion or crab predation are relocated to safer spots. The release site is placed at the highest tide mark so hatchlings can imprint on the sand and later navigate back as adults. On Cousine Island, another Seychelles conservation site, a similar approach saw hundreds of hatchlings released in May 2026 — a video of the event drew over 4.5 million views on TikTok.

The 13-Kilometre Reef and Its Sharks

The ring of reef that encircles Platte Island isn’t just a pretty feature — it’s a sanctuary. Between the reef and the shore lies eight per cent of the Seychelles’ seagrass, an ecosystem that absorbs carbon dioxide 35 times faster than rainforests. The lagoon itself is bowl-shaped, sitting within a prehistoric volcano crater, and the shallow, clear waters make it an ideal nursery for young marine life.

Guided snorkels here reveal a cast of creatures you’d normally need to dive deeper to see: baby rays, eagle rays, juvenile mangrove whiprays, sea porcupines, and sicklefin lemon sharks. At Shark Point, named for the lemon sharks that patrol its edges, you can watch these sleek predators glide through water barely waist-deep. The reef acts as a full-time nursery — the sharks and rays here are mostly juveniles, using the protected lagoon to grow before heading to open water.

The Save Our Seas Foundation, which runs a research centre on D’Arros Island in the Seychelles, has documented the importance of these shallow atolls for shark and ray conservation. In 2023, D’Arros and the neighbouring St Joseph atoll were designated an Important Shark and Ray Area, part of a broader effort that has seen the Seychelles government protect 30 per cent of its Exclusive Economic Zone through its Marine Spatial Plan.

Heading into Shark Point reframed the day. You don’t need to be a confident swimmer to float a few metres from a lemon shark here — the water’s that clear and that calm. For families, it’s the kind of snorkel where kids can actually see what’s below without mask-adjusting every ten seconds.

Built Around Turtles

The Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island cost US$200 million to develop, designed by Singapore-based architecture firm Eco.id. The brief was straightforward: build a luxury resort that doesn’t interfere with the island’s nesting turtles. The result is 50 private pool villas set back from the oceanfront, shaded by vegetation, with outdoor lights that run on solar power and indoor lights on timers to avoid disorienting nesting mothers. The fan-shaped villa roofs are modelled on a hawksbill shell; the spa takes its shape from the coco de mer nut, a Seychelles endemic.

This isn’t greenwashing — the numbers back it up. The island was formerly a coconut plantation and guano-harvesting station, and the transition to a conservation-minded resort has been deliberate. The environmental team monitors not just turtles but also the island’s Aldabra giant tortoises — 156 live on North Island, another Seychelles conservation site, with 23 juveniles in a managed enclosure. On Platte Island, the same team tracks nesting success rates, relocates at-risk nests, and documents every hatchling emergence.

Dining and Island Life

Platte Island’s dining scene punches above its size. Maison des Épices, the restaurant at Shark Point, is headed by chef Colvin Beaudoin, who serves Latin-Creole dishes like grilled octopus with papaya chutney. It’s one of three restaurants on the island, alongside La Perle — an all-day dining spot with a sunken-in-water terrace overlooking the main pool and beach — and Moulin, a mainly plant-based restaurant with a daily changing tasting menu.

For sunset, head to Lalin, the rooftop bar that sits at the highest point on the island. The views stretch across the reef to the open Indian Ocean, and on clear nights the lack of light pollution reveals the Milky Way. Two bars and a lunchtime poolside menu with fresh bento boxes round out the food options. If you’re timing your trip around golden hour, our roundup of the best spots to watch the day fade away across the Seychelles puts Lalin in context with the archipelago’s other sunset viewpoints.

Beyond eating, the island offers watersports including fly-fishing, kite surfing, and free diving. Personal concierges can arrange everything from a seaweed face mask to ginger tea for seasickness — the resort’s team comes from more than 40 countries, and the service is tailored to the remote setting.

Getting to Platte Island

Platte Island sits 130 kilometres south of Mahé, the largest island in the Seychelles and the entry point for most international flights. Access is exclusively through the Waldorf Astoria — there are no public ferries or independent tours. The resort arranges transfers, typically by small plane or helicopter, from Mahé. The flight takes roughly 30 minutes.

The best time to visit for turtle nesting is between September and July, with peak activity from October to January. Green turtle nesting season runs from March onward, so visitors in spring may see both species. The Seychelles has a tropical climate year-round, with temperatures averaging 28–32°C. The northwest monsoon from December to March brings wetter weather; the southeast trade winds from May to October bring drier, breezier conditions.

What to Pack

Reef-safe sunscreen is essential — the lagoon’s shallow waters mean plenty of time in direct sun. Water shoes help with the reef walks, and a light long-sleeve rash guard is useful for snorkelling. The resort provides bikes, so comfortable footwear for pedalling is a good idea.

Staying on Mahé

Most visitors spend a night or two on Mahé before or after their Platte Island stay. Victoria’s markets, including the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, are worth a morning wander, and the Takamaka Rum Distillery offers tours and tastings. If you’re extending your Seychelles trip, our full archipelago island-hopping guide covers the full spread of options across the islands.

Before You Go — Platte Island

When is turtle nesting season on Platte Island?

Hawksbill turtles nest from September to July, with peak activity between October and January. Green turtles nest from March onward. The resort’s environmental team patrols year-round.

Can you visit Platte Island without staying at the resort?

No. Access is limited to Waldorf Astoria guests. The resort arranges all transfers from Mahé, and there are no public transport options to the island.

Is the snorkelling suitable for children?

Yes. The lagoon is shallow and clear, and the reef shelters the water from strong currents. Kids who are comfortable in the water will see rays and sharks in waist-deep conditions.

What’s the biggest downside to visiting?

The cost. Between the villa rate, transfers, and dining, this is a significant investment. The remote location also means you’re committed to the resort’s schedule — there’s no popping out for a casual dinner elsewhere.

How far ahead should you book?

Given the resort has only 50 villas, booking several months in advance is advisable, especially during peak turtle season from October to January.

A Second Chance at Sea

The hawksbill hatchling that scrambles across Platte Island’s sand has a one-in-a-thousand chance of reaching adulthood. Those odds are brutal, but they’re better here than on most beaches — because every nest is counted, every at-risk clutch relocated, every hatchling given a clear path to the water. That’s the story of Platte Island in miniature: a place where luxury and conservation share the same shoreline, and where the million-dollar view comes with a genuine ecological purpose. For more on experiencing the Seychelles’ wilder side, check out our guide to Victoria’s best eateries for your time on Mahé.

References

Good Good Good. “Sea Turtle Hatchling Release.” Good Good Good, 2026. ↗

CN Traveller Middle East. “How Waldorf Astoria’s New Private Island Resort in the Seychelles Is Putting Nature First.” CN Traveller, 2025. ↗

The Straits Times. “Wildlife Meets Luxury in Seychelles.” The Straits Times, 2025. ↗

Save Our Seas Foundation. “Seychelles Leads the Way in the Protection of Sharks and Rays.” Save Our Seas, 2023. ↗

If you’re planning a Seychelles trip that balances wild encounters with real downtime, start with our full archipelago island-hopping guide for the big picture. For budget-conscious travellers, our affordable Seychelles activities guide rounds out the options nicely, and our rundown of fresh tamarind juice and where to find it is worth a read before you go.