Coming to St. Lucia, water based activities are a must and snorkelling is no where far from your mind. If you are wondering if you are in the right spot, here are 10 of some of the best snorkelling in St. Lucia.
Saline Point:
This site is in the north of the island off of Cariblue beach. Accessible by both boat and land, it houses the Body Holiday resort.All beaches are public St. Lucia, hence you can access the beach from the land. The reef comprises of mainly hard coral and also sand and grass on the other side. Seasonally, you would find star fishes and also sting rays!
Pigeon Island:
This snorkel site can be found on the national land mark pigeon island. Once an island on its own, until a causeway was built linking it to the main land. Before the snorkel you can enjoy the history of this landmark, which was used as a fort during the battle of the British and French. Ruins and canons can be seen there and the snorkelling there is really amazing. This reef is one of the most diverse reefs you can find in St. Lucia. You could see seahorses, octopus and more there!
Honeymoon’s Reef:
Located along the area of Cul D Sac, St. Lucia, Honeymoon’s reef is a site only accessible via boat. It is a shallow site with many tropical fish and an arch, in which you can see many cup coral on the walls of the base of the arch.
Rusty Cove:
Rusty Cove is located after Marigot bay, lower Roseau beach. This reef is a reef with beautiful Elk Horn Corals and also a few Sea Plums, which are soft coral. Made up of a few huge rocks, this reef is truly amazing and as diverse as many others in their own way.
Anse Cochon North:
Based in the Bay of Anse Cochon, this site sits on a black sand beach with the Ti Kaye and beach resort being housed on the shores, allowing it to be accessed by land and sea. on this snorkel site, anything could be found. From squids to octopus and more. Many hard corals could be found there, along with various colourful sponges, and very few soft coral.
South Beach (Anse Cochon South):
This site is also based in the same Anse Cochon Bay, on the black sand beach. Being in the same bay, you would think these sites would be different, however, that is far from the truth. The only thing these sites share is the bay. The south part of this reef is a site filled with a forest of Sea Plums and also hard coral. Also diverse, this site is more of a nursery for juvenile fish and creatures.
Turtle Reef:
With forests of Sea Plums, and beautiful Sea Fans. Turtle reef is a black sand beach located in Soufriere, home to the Anse Chasnet Resort. This beach is accessible by both beach and land. With an array of creatures lurking on this site, from turtles to rays, you never know what you will get.
Anse Chasnet Reef:
Off the Anse Chasnet beach, in a buoy off area, Anse Chasnet Reef is a shallow site with one of the most diverse fish life in St. Lucia. There are also lots of hard coral found on that site. From pamelos to wahoos and barracuda are seen here!
Grande Caille:
Round the point of Anse Chasnet Reef, is Grande Caille. This snorkel site is accessed by boat and has many soft and hard coral. With all the colourful corals and also sponges, you could possibly find squids and more. There are many schools of tropical fish along with many different types of creatures.
Piton Wall:
Being in between the Pitons under the Petitie Piton, you could enjoy the best snorkel inside of a swimming area by boat or land, off the coast of Sugar Beach resort. Being a black sand beach, the owner imports white sand to put on the black sand. The snorkeling is great, seeing seahorses and squids and more! This site is mainly home to hard coral.
For a bonus snorkelling under the Gros Piton is also awesome and the longest and biggest reef in St. Lucia. I call it the great barrier reef of St. Lucia! It is only accessible vis boat and so worth it with the variation of coral, sponges, fish and creatures. Both big and small frequents this area due to it being extremely deep. How deep? Well no one knows. The pitons (both that is) continues all the way down into the abyss of a sea.
PLEASE NOTE:
- A surface identifier need to be worn by all snorkelling parties. All snorkels as well need to be lead by a local guide.
- All sites are coastal and not mid water, and we advise staying away from mid water, a there are heavy boat traffic on the waters.