The turquoise colour comes from a mix of clear water, a sandy seafloor, and bright sunshine. Sunlight reaches the bottom and bounces back up, picking up the blue from the water and turning everything an unreal-looking green-blue. In some bays, the water is so clear you can see your toes ten metres below the boat.
The sand is white because much of it is made of tiny pieces of coral and shells that have been ground down by waves over thousands of years. It stays cool under your feet even in strong sunshine. Children in Seychelles run barefoot on it without thinking twice.
Famous beaches include Anse Lazio on Praslin (often voted 'best beach in the world') and Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue (the one with the giant boulders). At Beau Vallon on Mah茅, there is a Saturday night market where families buy grilled fish, mango and barfi, watching the sun set over the sea.
Children swim and snorkel almost every weekend. The sea is warm all year round - around 28掳C - so you don't need a wetsuit. Under the surface, you'll spot parrotfish, butterflyfish, sea urchins and sometimes a small reef shark passing through.