Diving and Snorkeling
Several dive shops arrange scuba excursions. Depending on weather conditions, you may dive at Pain de Sucre, Coco Island, or toward nearby Saba. There's also an underwater shipwreck, plus sharks, rays, sea tortoises, coral, and the usual varieties of colorful fish. The waters on the island's leeward side are the calmest. For the uncertified, there's a shallow reef right off the beach at Anse de Cayes, which you can explore with mask and fins, and a hike down to the beach at Corossol brings you to a very popular snorkeling spot.
Big Blue. This is the only dive operator in St. Barth that offers underwater scooters to divers. The company offers snuba and snorkeling, too. Public Beach, Gustavia, n/a St. Barthélemy. 0690/38-11-24; www.stbarthbigblue.net.
La Bulle Diving Center. PADI certification, day and night dives, and snorkeling trips with friendly and watchful supervision make this a popular outfit. A beginners' package (€210) includes instruction and two dives. La Pointe, Gustavia, n/a St. Barthélemy. 0690/77–76–55; www.labullesbh.com.
Ouanalao Dive. Three organized dives a day, a good dive shop, snorkeling tours, and instruction are offered at the Grand Cul-de Sac beach location. A two-tank dive is €140. Grand Cul de Sac, n/a St. Barthélemy. 0690/63-74-34; www.ouanalaodive.com.
Plongée Caraïbe. This company is recommended for its up-to-the-minute equipment, dive boat, and scuba discovery program. They offer nitrox diving and certification. It also runs two-hour group snorkeling trips on the Blue Cat Catamaran (€60), or you can enjoy a private charter from €490. Quai de la République, Gustavia, n/a St. Barthélemy. 0590/27–55–94; www.plongee-caraibes.com.
Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Barthélemy. Most of the waters surrounding St. Barth are protected in the island's nature reserve, which provides information from its Gustavia office. The diving here isn't nearly as rich as in more dive-centered destinations like Saba and St. Eustatius, but the options aren't bad either. Gustavia, n/a St. Barthélemy, 97133. 0590/27–88–18; www.reservenaturellestbarth.com.
Splash. This company offers PADI and CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques—World Underwater Federation) diver training at all levels. All instructors speak French, Russian, and English. Although the boat normally leaves daily at 9, 11:30, 2, and in the evening for a night dive, times are adjusted to suit preferences. Seabob scuba scooters run €150 per hour. Gustavia, n/a St. Barthélemy, 97133. 0590/56–90–24.
