Assumption Island Seychelles

Assumption Island (aka Assomption) is a small island in Seychelles' Outer Islands (aka Coralline Seychelles) located north of Madagascar, and approx 1135 km (705 mi) southwest of the country's capital city Victoria (on Mahe Island).

Assumption Island was discovered on August 14, 1756, by Captain Corneille Nicholas Morphey, who on November 1 officially took possession of Seychelles in the name of King of France (Louis XV the Beloved) and the French East India Company (1664-1793). The island was named after the religious feast day Assumption. In 1908, the island was leased to H. Savy who built a coconut plantation here. The first settlement was established on the northern coast. During a visit in 1910, Mr. Savy realized the island's guano potential and the villagers changed their labor force to guano mining camp (operated until 1983). In the mid-1960s, Assumption Island was proposed as a US military base. After strong protests from environmentalists, this plan was rejected.

In 2015, India leased the isle from Seychelles and built an army base. In August 2015, the Indian Army's building units arrived to start the construction of a communication station and to renovate (enlarge) the existing airfield. India was given permission to dredge sand and build a docking pier to replace the existing (ruined) jetty. This allows the island to have a deep-water berth served by port facilities, including the terminal building, maintenance buildings, fuel storage, clinic, a lounge for the military personnel.

Assumption was a popular cruise port alternative because of its long jetty. The number of tourists was maintained by Seychelles until the lease to India closed the island to the public.

Assumption Island Seychelles cruise terminal