Diving under the tropical sun: scuba and snorkeling
With the exception of the islands of Saba and St Eustatius, the Leeward Islands are not yet a well-known diving destination in the Caribbean in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. If you know the diving pioneer Jacques-Yves Cousteau's fondness for this region, it's hard to understand why. The situation is different in France, England and the USA. In Germany, they tend to be insider tips or destinations that can only be reached with connecting flights. Antigua, for example, with the Cades Reef, which is also suitable for beginners. St Barthélemy offers beautiful coral reefs that reflect the sunlight. Wreck and cave diving is also a change.
Saba Marine Park - for very good divers
The "Saba Marine Park" surrounds the entire island. The Pinacles, Diamond Rock and other structures covered in colorful corals offer divers bottomless "drop offs" and exciting drifts such as the "Third Encounter". But gentle dives, e.g. on the shallow reefs off the coast, are also possible. Impressive wildlife can be observed, e.g. scorpion fish and nurse sharks. Numerous reefs and jagged rock formations are also exciting destinations for experienced divers. Join us on a diving safari: e.g. Saba - St Kitt's - St Maarten or a relaxing Caribbean vacation with diving.
Guadeloupe
Diving in Guadeloupe is known worldwide for the 400-hectare Cousteau underwater reserve near Bouillante on the mountainous island of Basse-Terre, which Jacques Cousteau considered one of the best dive sites in the world. The cave "Grotte aux Baracudas" (up to 45 meters), "Pointe Carangue" (carranes, tuna, up to 42 meters) or "Sources Chaudes (up to 60 meters deep, hot springs)" are reserved for very good divers, but there are "normal" dives for beginners and advanced divers. The 3 most important spots are: "La Piscine", "L'Aquarium" and "Le jardin de Corail" (up to 15 meters) or you can simply go to the statue of Commandant Cousteau at a depth of 10 meters. Diving is good off the west coast of Basse-Terre up to Sainte-Rose. Wreck diving is also possible there (Gustavia, 40 meters deep, level 2/PE 40; Le Franjack, 20 meters deep, Augustin Fresnel, 29 meters). The same applies to the west coast of Grande-Terre, e.g. Grand-Cul-du-Sac-Marin. There are good spots for all levels on the south coast off Grande-Terre and off la Désirade.
If you prefer to stay on the surface of the water, you can discover lots of colorful fish and corals while snorkeling
Literature: Pascal Martin, Plongée sous-marine en Guadeloupe: Guide de la plongéé sous-marine Guadeloupe, les Saintes, Marie-Galante, Edition 2022
St Barthélemy
St Barth is known to divers for its colorful coral reefs, caves and "shallow" water that reflects the sunlight beautifully. There are over 30 diving spots around the island. There are 7 diving centers on the small island. Whale watching is common from February to May. In the European winter, the Caribbean side is more suitable for diving due to the calmer sea.
Advanced divers: Toc Vert Islands, small rocky islands approx. 3 km north of St Barth's, in the nature reserve (play of light, schools of fish, 0 - 20 meters, several diving spots); in very good weather: Coco Island, approx. 1 km south of St Barth's (0 - 40 meters, cave system with rich flora and fauna, e.g. rays, sharks); Gros Islet (0 - 25 meters, suitable for beginners and for snorkeling, tropical fish)
Very good divers: Pain de Sucre, approx. 5 km off Gustavia (0 - 30 meters, N1 - N2, colourful corals, barracudas, cranes); Pointe de Colombier (10 - 25 meters, N1 - N2, rays, turtles); Les Grenadiers, approx. 2 km northeast (25 - 30 meters, N1 - N2, coral fish, often dolphins, rays)
St Kitts and Nevis
Most of the spots are off Basseterre Bay or to the south on St Kitts. Calmer sea on the Caribbean side, hardly any currents. There are currently 4 dive centers, 3 x Basseterre on St Kitts and one on Oualie Beach on Nevis. Around 20 spots on St Kitts: wreck diving, cave diving and reef diving, everything is possible.
Advanced dive sites off St Kitts and in the inlet between St Kitts and Nevis: Cocunut Reef, approx. 3 - 4 km off the coast of Basseterre (15 - 25 meters, barracudas, ammenaie, reef sharks); Camps Reef also off the coast of Basseterre (10 - 20 meters, colourful coral reef, hogfish, stingrays); Monkey Shoals (10 - 15 meters, approx. 4 - 5 km off the coast between St Kitts and Nevis, currents, wind, several spots, rich fauna)
Les Saintes
Anyone who thinks of diving on the islands south of Guadeloupe knows Sec Paté - one of the most beautiful, but also most dangerous dives in the world. Very strong underwater currents in the inlet between Guadeloupe and Terre-de-Haut/Terre-de-Bas, you are lowered down on a rope, etc. This spot is reserved for absolute "professionals (PE 40 minimum)". For this reason, we do not organize dives to Sec Paté to avoid divers misjudging their ability.
However, there are other very beautiful dives, e.g. at the Sugar Loaf on the island of Terre-de-Haut or on the offshore island of Cabrit. Several diving schools offer their services.
Less experience: e.g. Ti paté (coral fish, approx. 12 - 15 meters),
La Baleine (max. 10 meters for beginners, advanced divers can dive deeper to approx. 20 meters), coral fish
Advanced: La Pointe Cabrit: dive sheltered from the currents (approx. 20 meters deep), tropical fish, Pointe à Vache (also approx. 20 meters deep) larger fish such as barracudas and
carangs
Wreck diving: the Lynndy (approx. 15 meters deep) and the Océan Skipper (approx. 20 meters deep) offer a diverse world of fish
Deshaies, Guadeloupe
Deshaies is certainly one of the most beautiful spots in the Caribbean. Here you will find 3 diving centers that offer dives for all levels. On our doorstep you will find a diving destination that is less well known in Europe and North America, but very attractive and varied. Our partner is Calypso Plongée, directly on the jetty in the town center. You can get an impression of the variety of marine life just by walking along here. It is nowhere near as busy as in the high season off the Pigeons Islands at Bouillante.
Less experienced: e.g. Pointe Ferry (corals), Pointe Morphy (corals, turtles)
Advanced divers: e.g. Pointe Batterie (corals)
Only for very good divers: e.g. off the island "Tête aux Anglais", "Le Sec des raies", "Stanior", island "Kahouanne".
Martinique
Martinique's interesting dive sites are located on the Caribbean west coast, mainly in the Baie du Diamant in the south and near Saint-Pierre in the north. The 175 meter high rock island "Rocher du Diamant" off the coast of Anse d'Arlet (level 1, level 2, currents) with its rock tunnels is certainly the best diving spot in Martinique. There you will find a rich underwater world with rays, tropical fish and turtles as well as a grotto.
Particularly suitable for wreck diving... is of course the bay of Saint Pierre with its approx. 10 ships - but mostly only for excellent divers... Dive there, for example, to the ship Roirama, which sank 120 years ago (minimum level 3, depth 50 - 60 meters).The wreck of the Raisinier (6 - 9 meters deep) is suitable for all levels. You will discover a rich underwater world at the somewhat easier spot "Les Sources Chaudes" (level 1) or at the wreck of the Nahoon (level 3, 30 - 36 meters deep) in the south in the Baie de Fort-de-France. There you will also find the Ramier Island (level 1, 5 - 15 meters, diverse flora and fauna).
Other top spots:
Rocher de la Perle /Anse Couleuvre (level 2-3, currents 10 - 50 meters, barracudas) in the north
Les Canyons de Babody / Le Prêcheur (level 2 - 3, 20 - 60 meters, variety of colors) in the north
Grandes Jorasses / Pointe Burgos (level 2 - 3, 10 - 40 meters, tropical fish) in the south
La Petite Siréne / Pointe Burgos / (level 1, 10 - 20 meters, tropical fish)
Sint Maarten / Saint Martin
Diving in St Maarten, with a few exceptions, goes down to 18 - 20 meters in the south and southeast of the island, making it a very good destination to learn this fascinating sport. You can dive to wrecks, old coral reefs, sponges and tropical fish at around 35 spots.The clear visibility also makes the island particularly interesting for snorkelers (15 - 30 meters). In the two underwater parks (Man of War Shoal Marine National Park off the coast of Philippsburg) and Réserve Naturelle sous-marine (in the north-east of the French part) you will find one of the most diverse flora and fauna in the Caribbean, including around 700 different reef fish such as dolphins, rays, sharks and barracudas.
Popular dive sites:
Charlie's Shoal off Simpson Bay (max 20 meters, stingrays, barracudas)
Big Mama's Reef (max 12 meters, nurse sharks, most popular spot for shark diving)
HMS Proselyte, 32-gun frigate, overgrown with corals, rich flora and fauna (depth: 6 - 16 meters, most popular wreck, watch out for surges)
Fish Bowl (depth 18 meters, barracudas, reef sharks)
Snorkeling is also very good in the parks, e.g. at Anse Marcel Reef and off the island of Pinel in the French part.
Antigua and Barbuda
The insider tip in the Caribbean with several diving centers. Antigua, not Barbuda. This beautiful island is ideal for turtle watching in the water. Favorites among divers and snorkelers in Antigua are the 2 to 3 kilometer long Cades Reef near the coast (barracudas, rays, parrotfish) and the wreck of the three-master "Anden" in the shallow waters off Deep Bay near St John's. However, there are also other very good spots (10 - 30 meters) on the south and west coast. Here are a few examples:
Advanced divers: Pillars of Hercules (very good visibility, flounders, reef fish); wreck of the cargo ship Jettias (trumpet fish, parrot fish); Mary Kay Reef (soft corals, baracudas)
Very good divers: Snappers Ledge (bigeye mackerel, barracuda, 50 - 80 feet, currents - drift dive). Other spots on request, as they are not entirely safe.
Anguilla
Anguilla is an absolute insider tip with wrecks (e.g. Osterdiep), coral reefs and a rich flora and fauna. Diving is mainly done on the north side of the island and off Scrub Island and Dog Island. Unfortunately, there is only one diving center on the island and around 20 spots.
Our diving tip 1: Grand-Cul-de-Sac-Marin, Guadeloupe
Do you know Port-Louis? An insider tip.....Crand-Cul-du-Sac-Marin.
Our diving tip 2: Rocher Créole off Saint Martin
Rocher Créole is located off the coast of Grand Case in the French part of the island of St Martin, in the direction of Anguilla.