Coin de Mire Video. North Coast of Mauritius. 26-1-26
Coin de Mire, also known as Gunner's Quoin, is a small, steep volcanic island just off the north coast of Mauritius, near Cap Malheureux.
It was formed by ancient volcanic activity and rises sharply out of the ocean, making it one of the most recognizable landmarks in the north of the island.
For hundreds of years, sailors used Coin de Mire as a natural navigation point because of its dramatic shape. During the time of the Dutch, there were even attempts to grow sugar cane here, but the land was too dry, windy, and rocky, so the project failed.
All photos and video clips taken by Scott Oliver
Later, during the French and British colonial periods, the island remained important mainly as a lookout point and a sea marker rather than a place to live.
Today, Coin de Mire is uninhabited and protected as a nature reserve. Landing on the island is not allowed, in order to protect its rare plants and seabirds. It now stands as a wild, untouched symbol of Mauritius' volcanic past and natural beauty.
Scott Oliver is a retired British writer and independent researcher living in Mauritius. A former Royal Marines Commando and former Wall Street investment professional, he has spent more than four decades living and working internationally across 14 countries. During that time, he worked extensively in international wealth management, cross-border asset protection, international business structuring and global residency planning.
Today, Scott's focus is no longer on managing money or providing professional advice. Instead, through MauritiusWealth.mu, he writes independent educational articles designed to help successful African business owners ask better questions, make better decisions and, when appropriate, identify the right expertise to help protect everything they have spent a lifetime building.
His articles are published solely for general educational and informational purposes and should not be regarded as legal, financial, tax, immigration, investment or other professional advice. Every business owner's circumstances are unique, and readers requiring professional assistance should always consult an appropriately qualified and licensed professional.