Mauritius Underwater Waterfall an Optical Illusion? One-of-a-Kind Phenomenon Due to Sand Erosion

The sight of a waterfall underwater may not sound possible. However, a strange phenomenon was observed in Mauritius, where the underwater waterfall was spotted. But there's more to it than meets the eye.

Mauritius Underwater Waterfall Optical Illusion?

The breathtaking underwater waterfall that may be seen near Le Morne Brabant on Mauritius' southwest coast is an optical illusion, according to Travel Awaits. Sand and silt sediments flow due to strong underwater currents resulting in the impression that they were sucked into a large sewer.

As Big Think puts it, what's going on is more than erosion, the same process through which air and ocean currents wear away coastal regions and break up a solid land mass into tiny, grain-sized pieces.

Sand is abundant throughout Mauritius's coastline, an island produced by volcanic activity, and ocean currents carry it back and forth over the shallow shelves surrounding the island.

There are only deeper, bluer, darker seas where the shallow shelves that make up this underwater plateau stop. And what looks to be an "underwater waterfall" when the ocean currents carry that coastline sand off Mauritius' southern point and into the deep ocean waters is the result of sands sinking through the deep water to the ocean floor.

Due to the highly directed nature of the erosion, the underwater waterfall off the southern coast of Mauritius is genuinely a one-of-a-kind phenomenon. At the extreme tip of the underwater plateau, a horseshoe-shaped chasm leads to the deep ocean depths below.

The famous waterfall scene emerges very strongly when the sand is pushed by ocean currents off of the shallow shelf and into that crevice, demonstrating both the might of rushing water and the fragility of small land masses.

The Canadian side of Niagara Falls and the magnificent Icelandic waterfall Goafoss, sometimes known as the "Waterfall of the Gods," are two of the many horseshoe-shaped waterfalls in existence. Perhaps as a result, whenever we encounter something visually similar, even when it appears underwater, our thoughts automatically assume that we are looking at a waterfall.

ALSO READ: Video Footage of Iceland's Baby Volcano Shows the Collapse of Its Crater, Releasing 'Spatter Bombs' of Lava Into the Air

How to Watch the Underwater Waterfall in Mauritius

For those who want to witness the splendor of the Mauritius attraction, the underwater waterfall is difficult to see from the coast. Thus, a bird's-eye view is necessary to comprehend its remarkable grandeur fully.

Due to this, many visitors decide to observe the underwater waterfall from a helicopter or seaplane, producing some amazingly distinctive images that make the waterfall feel real.

One can book a seaplane with Mauritius Attractions to make their visit to the island unforgettable. They offer different flight durations with the following options.

15-minute flight over the Underwater Waterfall Illusion
25-minute flight over the Underwater Waterfall Illusion with an extended seaplane flight
40-minute flight over the Underwater Waterfall Illusion + Unique Bird's Eye View of Mauritius' Southern Coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Le Morne Mountain

The travel agency also offers an exclusive underwater waterfall helicopter tour with a fully customized tour itinerary.