It is 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Mahé and lies at the northern edge of the Seychelles bank, along with the nearby Bird Island, which is the northernmost Seychelles island.

The 1.4 km2 (0.54 sq mi) coral island was named after the French Navy officer Denis de Trobriand,[3] who explored it in 1773.

Denis Island is privately owned and has a short airstrip.

A lighthouse built in 1910 still stands on the northern edge of the island.

The island has an abundance of coconut palms, Takamaka and Casuarina trees.