Page 944 - Visitor Guides

Land, Sea and Air
Scuba Diving & Snorkling
The beguiling volcanic formations that give the island its unique beauty extend
underwater to create incredibly fascinating dive sites. The fringing coral reefs attract a
wide range of stunning marine life. Intriguing corals, brilliantly coloured fish species
and curious crustaceans all add their own charm to Saint Lucia’s underwater world.
Experience the warm and inviting waters, clearly offering some of the best diving
you’ll ever encounter.
Several shops are available for diving and snorkeling excursions. One tank trips,
6-dive and 10-dive packages, resort courses, and dive shops ensure everyone has
what they need. Snorkelers can accompany divers on trips at a reduced fee.
Anse Chastanet – Offers the best beach entry site and is located near the Pitons. An incredible
underwater reef steals the show as it begins at 20 feet and plunges to nearly 140 feet creating a
stunning coral wall.
Anse Cochon – A fabulous dive and snorkel site. Explore the Lesleen M, a 165 foot ship wrecked
freighter, deliberately sunk at 60 feet. Divers investigating the ship can relish the huge gorgonians,
black coral trees, gigantic barrel sponges, lace corals as well as schooling fish, tropical fish and
sea horses, eels, rays, sharks and sea turtles.
Anse Jambet Point – Horseshoe shaped reef with maximum depth of 50ft/15m. Crabs, lobsters,
spotted drums and stingrays frequent the area.
Anse-La-Raye – One of the finest wall and drift dive sites of Saint Lucia. The Anse-la-Raye Reef
slopes gently from the beach making it a popular dive for novices and photographers. The Wall,
nearer the village, creates an incredible drift dive.
Coral Gardens – Base of the Gros Piton which towers you, depths ranges from 15ft to 90ft. Fine
finger corals and juvenile reef fish make this dive and snorkelling site a favourite.
Dinosaur Reef – Located at the base of Pigeon Island, the reef resembles a sleeping dinosaur.
The wreck shelters lobsters under the keel. Parrot fish and eels.
Fairyland – A drift dive outside the Anse Chastanet cove, occasional strong currents carry divers
over plateau slopes of 40 to 60 feet.
La Roche (the Rock) – Also known as Barrel ‘O’ Reef, this small island quarter mile outside Rodney
Bay Marina. Triggerfish, lobster and Grand Barracuda are known to roam the reef surrounding
the reef about 50ft deep.
Le Spor – To the north of the island where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meets, Le Sport
is popular for Scorpion Fish, Flying Gunard, a few turtle sightings and rays.
Le Trou Diable (Devil’s Hole) – Easy dive with flat coral reef at 40ft with a maximum of 100ft
featuring finger coral, brain coral, barrel sponge usual tropical fish and turtles.
Petit Piton – A spectacular drop at the base of the mountain produces unbelievable sites. Huge
barrel sponges and black corral trees sprout from the cliff base. Strong currents ensure good
visibility. “Superman’s Flight” is a drift dive along a sheer 1000 feet wall below the Petit Piton, thus
named because of the feeling of flight.
Pinnacles – Near Soufriere Bay and the Pitons four curiously spectacular coral-encrusted, natural
monuments rise from 300 feet below to within 10 feet of the water’s surface.
Smuggler’s Cove – Nestled in a secluded cove, the shallow sandy beach is ideal for beginner
dives and further out 40ft/12m deep are many trenches and shelves where Flying Gurnard,
lobster and large Trumpet fish have made their home.
Turtle Reef – Known as turtle reef because of its crescent shape located in Anse Chastanet
Bay. With depths from 40 to 140ft, pillar coral and barrel sponge in the shallows makes this
reef an interesting spot.
Virgins Cove – Named after a ship which killed a party of nuns and is commemorated
with a cross erected on the point in Choiseul. Home to Barrel sponges, brain coral and
sting rays about 70ft deep.
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