Defending champion Antoine Rozner produced ten birdies, an eagle at the par-5 18th and two bogeys to take the lead with a 10-under 62 at AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
"I just think I have good vibes here," said the Frenchman. "Maybe the ocean helps me disconnect a little bit in the evening, I can go for a swim and relax a little bit more than usual.
"The atmosphere is amazing, the people here are very friendly, it's French-speaking. I feel just like at home and I'm enjoying myself a lot here."
He matched his lowest round on the DP World Tour and opened with his lowest nine hole score with 29 from the 10th.
"I definitely thought about 59 after the birdie on number five that got me to 11 under with a few holes to go including a driveable par four and a par five," he added.
"Unfortunately that bad tee-shot on number six cost me that magic score but it's golf, it's a phenomenal round, probably the hottest I've ever been on the course.
"I'm really happy with my round, an amazing score - ten under is my lowest score ever - an amazing day."
England's Paul Waring produced a bogey-free 63 and lies in second place at 9-under.
"I'm made up to shoot nine under," said Waring. "It's a really nice low opening round, it puts me into the tournament.
"I saw Antoine Rozner going really deep early this morning so I knew there was a low one out there... I felt like I played nicely today and kept control of it.
"It was a little bit unexpected in total honesty but to be fair I felt like I was playing myself into form last week at Leopard Creek, I played a lot of good golf there."
South Africa's Jayden Schaper eagled the par-5 5th but also made two bogeys and lies in solo third place at 7-under.
England's Laurie Canter made two eagles at the par-5s 5th and 12th as well as two birdies for a 66 and a share of fourth place at 6-under alongside South Africans Darren Fichardt and Lyle Rowe as well as American Dan Erickson.
