The Irresistible Beauty of Nature Old

In 2024, I was fortunate to visit the Saint Brandon archipelago twice.

In April, I sailed there on a fisher boat “Fregate” belonging to Raphaël Fishing company with my friend Pierre Argo, a renowned painter and photographer. Pierre was working on his next photo album and graciously allowed me to accompany him.

In October, I returned to Saint Brandon for a second visit, this time as part of an expedition organized by the Odysseo Foundation with the support of the Saint Brandon Conservation Trust. Our mission was to capture high-quality photographs and video footage showcasing the natural beauty of this pristine ecosystem—especially its endemic species—and to highlight the threats it faces.

From both journeys, I brought back an extensive collection of photographs, which I have begun sharing on this page.

Through these images, I hope to bring the Saint Brandon Archipelago closer to those who are captivated by its untouched beauty—where vibrant coral reefs teem with marine life, and island vegetation provides critical breeding grounds for seabirds and turtles.

I’m not aiming to write a scientific masterpiece—I’ll leave that to the experts! But I will do my best to share as much information as possible about the archipelago and its extraordinary environment.

As I continue to learn and explore, this page will grow, both in content and style. Feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions—after all, even the best maps need a little redrawing now and then!

General Navigation Note for This Page. Clicking on a photo will display it in full-screen mode. At the bottom right of the screen, beneath the image, you’ll see an ⓘ symbol. Clicking on it will reveal text with information about the photo, the archipelago, our expedition, and more. To exit full-screen mode, press the ESC key or click the X in the upper right corner above the image.

The North

We start our journey through the archipelago at its northernmost edge. The fishing boats of Raphaël Fishing, ferrying fishermen, guests, and supplies from Mauritius, typically make their first stop at Raphael Island. Here, a small fishing base and two bungalows offer a temporary foothold for those venturing into these remote waters.

Scattered across the northern reaches of Saint Brandon are several other islands, each with its own character: Petit Raphaël, Swati Island, Sirene Island, Turtle Island, Poulailler Island, Puits à Eau Island, North Island, and the largest of them all—Albatros Island.

Raphaël Island

Swati Island

Turtle Island

Albatros Island

Puits à Eau Island

Poulailler Island

North Island

The Middle

The islands located in the central part of the archipelago include Paul Island, Fregate Island, Avocaire, the Tectec Islands, Coral Island, and Perle Island. Of them all, Perle Island was the only one I didn’t get the chance to see.

Paul Island