Everything that mattersbefore you come.

Finding Otentika

Otentika sits by the lagoon at Rivière Banane, on the north-east coast of Rodrigues. From Port Mathurin, head for the north-east coast; the last stretch ends near the beach.

The landmark is a hand-painted sign, blue and yellow, standing in front of the lagoon and visible from the track down to the beach. If you can see the casuarinas, the string lights and the kayaks lined up, you have arrived.

• GPS coordinates: -19.6772, 63.4755
• Visual landmark: the hand-painted blue and yellow sign
• Let Westley know roughly when you will arrive

How booking works

You write to Westley on WhatsApp with your dates, how many of you there are and what interests you. He replies with what is possible, the conditions and the rate. Nothing is booked until you confirm, and there is no payment on this site.

• Write several days ahead if you would like the meal
• Say whether children or less confident swimmers are coming
• Mention allergies and diets in your first message

When to come

The lagoon shows itself best when the wind is light and the tide is right. Both change from day to day: Westley will tell you which window to aim for on your dates.

We do not publish fixed opening hours, because they would be wrong half the time.

What to bring

The list barely changes from one outing to the next.

• Swimwear, a towel and dry clothes
• Reef-safe sun cream, a hat, sunglasses
• Water, and a waterproof pouch for your phone
• Shoes that cope with sand and rock

What the weather decides

If the sea does not allow the outing, it is postponed or cancelled. That can be decided the day before, or on the morning itself. We would rather disappoint you the day before than take you out in poor conditions.

Safety

Every outing starts with a briefing on guidance, equipment and the limits of the area. Tell us honestly how comfortable you are in the water: it changes how the outing is organised.

What we commit to

These are the rules we hold ourselves to, and they explain what this site does not contain.

• You write to Westley and he answers himself
• Every experience starts from Rivière Banane
• If the sea does not allow it, the outing is postponed or cancelled
• No prices on display: the rate depends on the group, the format and the season
• No invented reviews, no label we do not hold
• No coral touched, no oversized groups