Africa’s richest country turns former military ship into artificial reef to attract tourists and boost marine economy

Seychelles, Africa’s richest country by GDP per capita and the continent’s most tourism dependent economy, is expanding its ocean based tourism strategy after sinking a decommissioned military patrol vessel to create an artificial reef and underwater diving attraction.

• Tourism makes up about 46.6% of Seychelles' GDP, making it Africa’s most tourism-dependent economy and the eighth in the world.
• Seychelles has expanded its ocean-based tourism strategy by sinking a decommissioned military vessel, PS Topaz, to create an artificial reef and diving attraction.
• Seychelles holds Africa’s strongest passport and ranks 22nd globally, prioritizing international travel access and reciprocal visa agreements.
• The artificial reef is expected to support marine biodiversity and strengthen the growing diving tourism sector.

The Indian Ocean archipelago intentionally sank PS Topaz, a former Seychelles Coast Guard patrol vessel, shortly after officially decommissioning it on May 9 as part of celebrations marking Seychelles’ 50th Jubilee Independence anniversary.

Authorities say the move is expected to support marine biodiversity while strengthening the country’s diving tourism industry, one of the pillars of its broader blue economy strategy.

Tourism contributes roughly 46.6% of Seychelles’ gross domestic product, making it Africa’s most tourism reliant economy and the eighth most tourism dependent country globally, according to international tourism and IMF data.

Last year, Seychelles recorded nearly 400,000 tourist arrivals, with Europe remaining the country’s largest source market, followed by Asia and Africa.

The tourism driven model has helped transform Seychelles into one of Africa’s wealthiest nations despite its small population and limited domestic market.

According to the HelloSafe Prosperity Index 2026, Seychelles ranked as Africa’s richest country with a score of 98.09, supported by high per capita income, strong human development indicators, and relatively advanced infrastructure.

In its latest tourism push, the country is repurposing former military assets to support marine tourism growth.

Artificial reef project gives military vessel a second life

According to local reports, PS Topaz served in the Seychelles Coast Guard for more than two decades, supporting anti piracy, anti narcotics, illegal fishing enforcement, and maritime security operations across the country’s waters.

The 46 metre vessel was originally built for the Indian Navy as INS Tarmugli before being gifted to Seychelles by India in 2005 as part of growing maritime cooperation between the two countries.

The patrol ship later underwent a major refit in India in 2019 and became one of Seychelles’ best known military vessels during the Indian Ocean piracy crisis, when Somali pirates targeted commercial shipping routes across the region.

Its final major deployment came in January 2024 during a hostage rescue mission.

Now, instead of patrolling the waters, the vessel is expected to help attract divers and marine tourists to the archipelago’s growing marine tourism sector.

Seychelles holds Africa’s strongest passport

The country’s tourism driven model has also helped strengthen its global mobility and international standing.

According to the latest Henley Passport Index, Seychelles ranks among the world’s strongest passports and remains Africa’s top ranked passport for international travel access.

Officials in Seychelles say diplomacy continues to play a major role in strengthening the country’s international mobility and tourism positioning.

“Being a visa-free destination, we would like other countries to reciprocate this, so that when Seychellois go to these countries, they do not face certain restrictions,” Jacques Belle, director general for protocol, consular, and diaspora affairs, said while discussing ongoing visa waiver negotiations.

India remains a major strategic partner

Beyond tourism, Seychelles has increasingly expanded its role in maritime security and environmental conservation across the western Indian Ocean.

Much of the archipelago’s land and marine territory remains protected under conservation programmes that help preserve ecosystems attracting high spending visitors from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

India remains one of Seychelles’ closest security partners and has supplied several military assets to the island nation over the years, including patrol vessels, aircraft, and maritime surveillance support.

Beyond PS Topaz, India previously gifted Seychelles vessels including PS Constant, PS Zoroaster, and PB Boudeuse, alongside two Dornier aircraft delivered in 2013 and 2018.