Saint Lucia – Diving from Mediagistic Inc on Vimeo.
In spectacular natural beauty, St Lucia is a slice of paradise. This is echoed many times over once you hit the deep caribbean blue sea of the island. The island boosts a great number of spectacular diving locations dotted all over the island with more than enough dive operators to accommodate your every need.
Remember the C-card!
It may be necessary to present your C-card or log book as proof of certification before diving, so be sure to carry these items with you. A suggestion from the SMMA of St Lucia:
“If you’re planning on diving during your vacation, I have a suggestion that will help you always to be prepared. Order a replacement card from your certification agency and paper clip it to the last page of your passport. Or if you have an advanced rating, put your open water card in your passport. When you travel, so does your C-card. Otherwise, it can be an expensive overseas call to the certification agency for verification and a delay of one to three days if you arrive on a Saturday.
Why lose three days of diving because you were unprepared?”
The following was supplied by Jem Lord of Island Divers.
Telephone: 758-456-8110
Fax: 758-456-8105
Email: diving@tikaye.com
KEYHOLE PINNACLES
Four spectacular volcanic peaks rise up from the depths to within a few feet of the surface. The peaks are encrusted with Black and Orange Gorgonians and are home to Trumpet and Filefishes as well as larger species such as Grouper, Jack and Snapper. Sea-horses are also seen here.
ANSE CHASTANET REEF
The Anse Chastanet reef starts just 10 yards beyond the water’s edge. The reef’s remarkable ecosystem offers an amazing profusion of unusual tropical marine life, in 20 to 140 feet of calm, clear water. Anse Chastanet Reef which is home to more than 150 different species of fish makes for an amazing dive day or night. In the shallow areas be sure to keep your eyes open for peacock flounders, octopus, needle fish and turtles. Or drop down a little deeper over dense coral growth to see puffers, moray eels, parrot fish, lobsters and even sea horses. A unique dive site for all abilities and especially good for macro photography.
FAIRY LAND
At the point of Anse Chastanet, a plateau named Fairy Land slopes gently from 40-60ft. Since strong currents here keep the corals and sponges clean and the viewing is excellent and, this site is ideal for underwater photography.
LESLEEN ‘M’ WRECK
The Lesleen M, a 165-foot freighter, was sunk by the Department of Fisheries in 1986 to provide an artifi-cial reef. It is covered with hard and soft corals, sponges and hydroids, and provides an ideal habitat for many juvenile fishes such as Queen and French angel fish. Turtles and barracudas Also frequent this wreck. It lies upright in 60 ft of water near Anse Cochon on the west coast, just south of Marigot Bay. Divers can tour the ship in its entirety.
ANSE LA RAYE WALL
Known as one of the finest wall and drift dives in St Lucia, Anse La Raye can be found below a shallow wall. Interesting formations at the slope which consists of huge boulders, stimulate the eye and imagination. Its best dived at around 50 to 60 feet.
SUPERMAN’S FLIGHT
Named after a scene from the movie Superman II. Entry to the water is at the base of Petit Piton towering 2619ft/805M above you. This sloping wall dive has a depth of around 1500ft/461M. You will see massive fluo-rescent Sponges, large Gorgonians and many species of colourful tropical fish. A “must do” Soufriere dive.
CORAL GARDEN
Located at the base of the Gros Piton, the Coral Gardens offer breathtaking scenery above and below the water, where five finger coral runs from a depth of 15-50ft.
ANSE COCHON (SOUTH)
Anse Cochon means Bay of Pigs although we haven’t seen any underwater yet! Max depth 40ft/12M Very varied topography including reef, boulders, walls, pinnacles, all on one dive. This breeding ground is full of juvenile ma-rine life and home to many Flounder.
ANSE COCHON (NORTH)
Starting in as little as 5ft/1.5M of water and progressing to around 60ft/18M, this reef has a wide range of scenery. There are patches of coral, large fields of boulders and sandy areas. This is a great snorkeling site and we regularly see Turtles, Trumpet fish, Moray Eels, Octopus, Squid and much more.
JAMBET POINT
This horseshoe shaped reef has a small wall and then flat coral reef with a maximum depth of around 50ft/15M. You will find lots of Crabs, Lobsters, Spotted Drums and sometimes Stingrays hiding in the sandy bottom.
ROSEMOND’S TRENCH
This pretty dive has coral shaped like the fingers of a hand with valleys and trenches in between. There is also a small tunnel leading into a chimney. Max depth is around 36ft/11M. Home to Seahorses, Frogfish, Turtles and the “usual” tropical fish. This dive site is 30 second boat ride from Island Divers dive shop.
PITON WALL
Located at the base of Petit Piton this dramatic wall drops from the surface down many hundreds of feet. It is covered with Sea Whips, Gorgonians, delicate soft corals and lots of Feather Duster Worms. This is a colourful dive with lots of different things to see.
TURTLE REEF
Named for its crescent shape not because this is where Tur-tles hang out (although they sometimes do). Depths range from 40ft/12M to around 140ft/43M. Lots of Pillar Corals and Barrel Sponges in the shallows and plenty of varied marine life make this an interesting “critter spotting” dive.
TROU DIABLE (DEVIL’S HOLE)
A very easy going dive with flat coral reef at around 40ft/12M, however the maximum depth is over 100ft/30M. Features of the dive are Finger Coral, Brain Coral, Barrel Sponges, the usual tropical fish and on a lucky day maybe as many as three turtles.
VIRGINS COVE
Named after a shipwreck which killed a party of Nuns and is today commemorated by a Cross which has been erected on the point above the dive site. Shaped like a figure “9″, maximum depth is around 70ft/21M. There are lots of large Barrel Sponges, Brain Coral and occa-sionally Stingrays.
DAINI KOYOMARU WRECK
Wreck of a Japanese dredger sunk in 1996 as an artifi-cial reef. The 244ft/75M long wreck landed on its side, mostly intact. Max depth is 108ft/33M making this dive suitable for Advanced Divers only. It is home to large French Angelfish, Jacks, Barracuda and a huge Puffer.
