Diving & Snorkeling in St. Lucia

Diving & Snorkeling

Anse Chastanet, near the Pitons on the southwest coast, is the best beach-entry dive site. The underwater reef drops from 20 feet to nearly 140 feet in a stunning coral wall. A 165-foot freighter, Lesleen M, was deliberately sunk in 60 feet of water near Anse Cochon to create an artificial reef; divers can explore the ship in its entirety and view huge gorgonians, black coral trees, gigantic barrel sponges, lace corals, schooling fish, angelfish, sea horses, spotted eels, stingrays, nurse sharks, and sea turtles. Anse-La-Raye, midway up the west coast, is one of St. Lucia's finest wall and drift dives and a great place for snorkeling. At the base of Petit Piton, a spectacular wall drops to 200 feet. You can view an impressive collection of huge barrel sponges and black coral trees; strong currents ensure good visibility. At the Pinnacles, four coral-encrusted stone piers rise to within 10 feet of the surface.

Depending on the season and the particular trip, prices range from about $40 to $60 for a one-tank dive, $175 to $260 for a six-dive package over three days, and $265 to $450 for a 10-dive package over five days. Dive shops provide instruction for all levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced). For beginners, a resort course (pool training), followed by one open-water dive, runs from $65 to $90. Snorkelers are generally welcome on dive trips and usually pay $25 to $50, which includes equipment and sometimes lunch and transportation.

Buddies (Rodney Bay Marina, Rodney Bay. 758/452-8406) offers wall, wreck, reef, and deep dives; resort courses and open-water certification with advanced and specialty courses are taught by PADI-certified instructors. Dive Fair Helen (Vigie Marina, Castries. 758/451-7716; 888/855-2206 in U.S. and Canada. www.divefairhelen.com) is a PADI center that offers half- and full-day excursions to wreck, wall, and marine reserve areas, as well as night dives. Scuba St. Lucia (Anse Chastanet, Soufrière. 758/459-7755. www.scubastlucia.com) is a PADI five-star training facility. Daily beach and boat dives and resort and certification courses are offered; underwater photography and snorkeling equipment are available. Day trips from the north of the island include round-trip speedboat transportation.