The TNC group touched down in the Seychelles on the 21st, stepping out into a world of flawless weather. The sky was a deep, endless blue and the ocean stretched out like untouched glass—the kind of conditions guides dream of. Their first stop was Astove, where they geared up for an introduction to the Outer Islands that none of them would forget.
From the moment they descended along the legendary Astove Wall, the group was captivated. The dramatic vertical drop, alive with corals and swirling fish, became the backdrop to Ellie’s first-ever ocean dive—an unforgettable personal milestone set against one of the most breath taking underwater landscapes in the world.
After their dive, the group boarded the boat for the crossing to Cosmoledo Atoll. The ocean remained calm as they travelled, and halfway across they were met by an exuberant pod of spinner dolphins. The dolphins lived up to their name, bursting out of the water spinning in arcs, riding the bow wave, thrilling everyone onboard.
Arriving at Cosmoledo, the group’s energy was still high, and they set out for a snorkel inside the atoll. With rays of late sunlight cutting through the water and fish flashing beneath them, it offered a perfect first look at the wildness of this remote paradise. That night, they gathered under a sky heavy with stars, dining outdoors in warm island air, the sound of the ocean never far away.
On the first full day on Cosmoledo the group split up: some headed out for a2-tank dive, while the rest set off across the flats in search of fly-fishing opportunities. The calm conditions held, and theatoll looked as if it had been polished overnight. John made the first major catch of the trip, landing his first Giant Trevally(GT) on fly and the first of the season. The fish charged the fly hard, giving himexactly the kind of adrenaline-filled fight Cosmoledo is famous for.
The following day, the entire group committed to a full day of fly fishing, and Cosmoledo delivered, guide and diving instructor Liam worked with the father-and-son team, Sverre and Bjourne, putting them onto beautiful bonefish.Meanwhile, Elle, who had never saltwater fly fished before, hooked and landed her first GT. A first GT is always special, but a first GT on your first day of saltwater fly fishing is a story she’ll carry for life.Elsewhere on the flats, John and Jose enjoyed a red letter day. Together, they landed a Yellow-Dot Trevally, African Marble Grouper, and Bohar Snapper. José surpassed even his own expectations by landing two GTs, both his first ever.Bjarne, too, joined theGT club with his first fish, and later, Fred added his own first GT to the growing list of achievements.
Thee next morning, the group split once more, some chose to journey by boat to the South-Westcliffs, one of Cosmoledo’s dramatic and ecologically rich corners. There they encountered enormous colonies of red-footed boobies and drifting frigate birds riding the wind above them. The cliffs are home to one of the largest booby colonies in theIndian Ocean, and seeing the birds return in waves, filling the sky with movement and sound, was a powerful reminder of the island’s untouched wildness. Those who chose to fish had another unforgettable day. Lauren, daughter of Fred, landed her first GT on fly, following in her father’s footsteps from the day before.John caught a strong, beautifully coloured Napoleon wrasse, while Jose, still on a roll, hooked and landed a metre-long Napoleon wrasseon the flats which is a truly special achievement. To top off the day, Jan fought and landed a 96cm GT, a world-class fish and a tremendous achievement on a fly rod.
