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The waters of Saint Lucia offer magnificent coral reefs to explore

The waters of Saint Lucia offer magnificent coral reefs to explore

A Green Gem in a Sea of Color

The island that is fast becoming the honeymoon capital of the Caribbean will also provide divers with pleasant memories. The sloping reefs and walls that run close to Saint Lucia's calm western coast are covered in vibrant multi-hued carpets of gorgonians, black coral trees, sponges and lace coral. Intricate crevices and fissures carve these surfaces into habitats for a wealth of reef fish and invertebrates, while nearby pinnacles rise from the deep water to attract swirling schools of both predators and prey. Shipwrecks and a mysterious serpentine creature known as “The Thing” add to the allure of a topside landscape that is also known for its stunning natural beauty.

Highlights

  • Best for: All divers, macro photographers
  • Best season to visit: Year round
  • Weather: Steady trade winds account for relatively minor differences in seasonal air temperatures, which range from the 70s into the mid 80s. Rain showers are less common from December to May

Saint Lucia Information

About Diving in Saint Lucia

Most dive sites are close to shore, where narrow coastal ledges at depths of 15 to 30 feet transition to slopes. The majority of these sites are accessed by boat, but there are also several excellent shore dives. Some slopes are gentle and lead to intermediate depths, others are steep to vertical, and drop to depths below 100 feet. Additional features include pinnacles, boulder fields and underwater canyons. Saint Lucia is known for colorful sponges, hard and soft coral growths, and for a high diversity of reef-dwelling species. Water temperatures follow a narrow seasonal range from 78 to 82 degrees.

Diving in Saint Lucia Tips

Saint Lucia offers a wide variety of diving experiences that could count towards advanced and specialty certifications, including drift, wreck, shore, night and deep profiles. Benign conditions put all of these experiences within the grasp of most every diver, making this a great destination to expand your diving horizons.

Best Places to Dive in Saint Lucia

Whether you arrive by boat or wade in from shore, the coral slopes of Anse Chastanet never fail to delight. Adrift along the wall at Fairyland reveals a riot of brightly colored sponges and corals. The Keyhole Pinnacles rise from the depths to attract fish to slopes covered in black and orange sea fans. The wreck of the Leslie M is a wreck dive for all, while a deeper dive reveals the twisted machinery of the Daini Koyomaru. Divers can imagine they are soaring along the submerged base of Petit Piton when propelled by the currents at Superman's Flight.

What to Pack for Diving in Saint Lucia

A 3mm wetsuit will suffice year-round. Though dives are guided, a surface marker is a good insurance on drift dives. A muck stick will help stabilize as you approach reefs for closer looks at small creatures. A small narrow-bean light will illuminate the crevices.

Specials

Dive

Saint Lucia

Anse Chastanet

SOUFRIERE - SAVE $600 ONTHE AMAZING ADVENTURE PACKAGE includes 7 nights in Superior Room accommodations; FAP (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner), welcome cocktail, drinks package in room fridge and culinary amenity on arrival, roundtrip airport taxi transfers, hotel tax and service charges.

Adventure Inclusions 8 scuba dives for certified divers, and/or 1-scuba beginner resort course for non-divers (2 dives); jungle biking; boat snorkel trips; guided walks and hikes on ANSE CHASTANET’s 600-acre estate; and 1-rain forest hike. Non-motor watersports (snorkeling, kayaking, paddle board, mini-sailing, windsurfing), sunrise/sunset yoga, jungle biking, kool kayaking coastal adventure, beach chairs and towels on the resort’s 2 beaches.

Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com Book within 14 days of the show.
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From $3,626 per person double

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Packages

Dive

Saint Lucia

Anse Chastanet

SOUFRIERE - THE AMAZING DIVING ADVENTURE PACKAGE includes 7 nights in room category chosen; FAP (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner), welcome cocktail, drinks package in room fridge and culinary amenity on arrival, roundtrip airport taxi transfers, hotel tax and service charges.

8 scuba dives for certified divers, and/or 1-scuba beginner resort course for non-divers (2 dives); jungle biking; boat snorkel trips; guided walks and hikes on ANSE CHASTANET’s 600-acre estate; and 1-rain forest hike. Use of non-motorized watersports (snorkeling, kayaking, paddle board, mini-sailing, windsurfing), sunrise and sunset yoga, jungle biking, kool kayaking coastal adventure, beach chairs and towels on the resort’s 2 beaches.
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Dive

Saint Lucia

Anse Chastanet

SOUFRIERE - DIVE PACKAGE includes 7-nights accommodations, 6 days of 2-tank boat dives, welcome drink and culinary amenity upon arrival, 3 meals daily with afternoon tea, roundtrip airport transfers, hotel taxes, and service charges.
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Resorts

Dive

Saint Lucia

Jade Mountain

SOUFRIERE Located on St. Lucia’s southwestern Caribbean coastline and celebrates St. Lucia’s stunning scenic beauty. Bold architecture includes bridges leading to infinity pool sanctuaries and rugged stoned-faced columns reaching toward the sky. There is a dedicated resort team ensuring outstanding service around the clock. Jade Mountain Club is wrapped around an infinity pool with a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors and celebrates “Jade Cuisine.” Enjoy the privacy with all of sister resort Anse Chastanet’s restaurants, bars, boutiques, art gallery, spa, scuba, bike and watersports as well as 2 soft sand beaches available at all times. Embrace the full glory of St Lucia’s Pitons World Heritage Site and the eternal Caribbean Sea.

Jade Mountain offers Various Specials & Group Discounts-Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for Exclusive Pricing and Information or email sales@caradonna.com.
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Dive

Saint Lucia

Anse Chastanet

SOUFRIERE - A spectacular scenic hideaway on a 600-acre tropical estate with two beaches bordering pristine coral reefs, this resort features 49 rooms in a unique hillside/beachside setting, two restaurants/bars, boutiques, art gallery, 42’ day sailing yacht and a full-service spa.

Optional add-ons for Watersports Activities and Topside Activities available in the shopping cart after room category is selected.

Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for additional information.
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Dive

Saint Lucia

Marigot Beach Club & Dive Resort

MARIGOT BAY - Exclusive waterfront resort uniquely situated in a stunning and secluded part of St Lucia that's only accessible by boat. Marigot Beach Club and Dive Resort is nestled in lush tropical rainforest overlooking one of the most beautiful and exotic bays in the world. From the veranda of your studio or villa you'll enjoy spectacular St Lucian sunsets, and within a few steps you'll be on our palm-fringed white sand beach, sipping exotic cocktails from Doolittle's Restaurant and Bar. On site health retreat offers yoga, pilates, aerobics, meditation.

Optional add-ons for Watersports Activities and Topside Activities available in the shopping cart after room category is selected.

Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for additional information.
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Diving in St. Lucia

Saint Lucia is kind to divers seeking easy explorations of colorful reefs. But it is equally accommodating of those who want to ride the currents or explore the depths. Sites on the island's west coast to the north of the town of Castries and near the Pigeon Island National Monument offer some of the most relaxed diving environments. This area includes a number of shallow reefs that can be accessed from shore, with slopes that begin at depths of 15 to 20 feet and drop gradually to 40 to 60 feet, with numerous trenches and shelves to explore. Also in the area are several exposed rock islands that rise from an intermediate sand bottom, with profiles that attract eagle rays, barracuda, kingfish and schooling snapper and jacks. Near Pigeon Island, a field of large boulders provides hiding places for moray eels and a variety of crustaceans. Close to the entrance of Castries Harbor, the broken remains of a World War II-era vessel sit at a depth of 45 feet, creating habitat for lobster and shy marine life. The underwater landscape transitions to steeper slopes as you move south, and many of Saint Lucia's most popular and dramatic dive sites are situated on the west-central coast of Anse Cochon and the Anse Chastanet region. This area includes two wrecks and a range of walls, pinnacles and reefs slopes with vertical drops of more than 100 feet. Mild currents are encountered at some sites, making for enjoyable drift diving opportunities. Notable sites include Anse La Raye Wall, where eagle rays often follow divers on a drift along a sloping wall that drops to a depth of 110 feet. Anse Cochon delivers walls, pinnacles, coral heads, boulder fields and sandy shallows on a single dive, and the semi-circular Turtle Reef is covered in the large barrel sponges that are a signature of many Saint Lucia dive sites. Nearby, the 165-foot cargo vessel Leslie M sits upright at a depth of 65 feet. The open hold and shallow pilothouse of this wreck are ideal for first-time wreck divers and a good place to search for small marine life. A mile to the west, a huge abandoned dredge, the Daini Koyomaru, sits on its side at a depth of 100 feet, with its machinery intact and awaiting exploration. Saint Lucia's most famous dive sites are found near the twin volcanic spires known as the Pitons. Most famous is the House Reef at Anse Chastanet, which is done both as a shore dive from the resort of the same name, or by boat. Dropping from depths of 25 feet to beyond 140, this reef supports more than 150 species of fish, including a rarely-seen creature known as “the thing,” which resembles a giant worm. An adjacent site that is the subject of countless photographs is the projecting point known as Fairy Land, where more frequent currents nurture riotous, multi-color growths of soft corals and sponges. Two of the island's more adventurous sites are also nearby. Superman's flight is a drift dive along a wall at the base of Petit Piton that carries divers along a wall that plunges to more than 1,000 feet. With typically excellent visibility, this profile creates the sensation of weightless flight. The Keyhole Pinnacles are a group of four tall spires that perch close together on the edge of a steep slope, reaching almost to the surface. Divers can swim into the narrow gaps between these monolithic formations to discover a wealth of fish and invertebrates.

Passport and/or Visa Requirements

U.S. citizens need a valid passport that must be valid 6 months beyond the date of entry into Saint Lucia, with available space for entry stamp. No visa is required with proof of onward or return ticket and accommodation confirmation. Check the entry/exit requirements here. A departure tax of $68EC, approx $25.30 should be included in your international airline ticket.

Immunizations

Vaccinations are not required for entering the Caribbean if you're coming from the United States. Before traveling check with the CDC here.

Culture and Customs

Saint Lucia is a land of vibrant greens set in a sapphire sea. Rainforests cover the island's interior, providing vacationers with a variety of eco-adventures that range from sedate birding hikes and relaxing rides on an aerial tram to off-road adventures and soaring zip line flights through forested canopies home to endemic birds such as the Saint Lucia parrot. The lush surroundings also set the stage for a number of unique resort properties that blend luxury and nature, and provide some of the best dining experiences in the Caribbean. The island's rich volcanic soil yields a cornucopia of tropical fruits and vegetables. This bounty is reflected in the savory dishes of traditional Creole cooking, and it has inspired a new wave of organic and fusion cuisines that have earned island chef's top honors in international culinary competitions. In addition to enlivening resort kitchens, Saint Lucia's farms and orchards support a thriving agricultural export sector that includes bananas and chocolate. One of the island's sweetest day trips involves a tour of historic cacao plantations, followed by a chance to create your own chocolate confections. Across the island English influences are obvious, but so too are the cultural contributions of France and Africa. The local version of relaxing is known as “going on the lime” or “liming,” which simply involves stopping by a favorite local pub or rum shop and spending time with friends.

Electricity, Phone and Internet Access

Saint Lucia runs on 220 to 230-volt AC (50 cycles), so bring an adapter if you plan to use U.S. appliances. Some hotels are wired for U.S. appliances.

Check with your local provider to see what plans are available, otherwise, you will be subject to roaming charges. The country/area code for Saint Lucia is 758.

Many hotels offer WiFi.

Water Quality

The local tap water is chlorinated and considered safe to drink. Alternatively, bottled water is available for purchase at restaurants, bars, hotels and local grocery stores.

Language & Currency

English is the official language, but islanders often speak a French-Creole patois or Kweyol similar to that heard on Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Grenada and Dominica.

The currency in Saint Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, (EC$). You can see the current exchange rate here. However, nearly all hotels, restaurants, and shops accept US dollars. Change may be given in EC Dollars. ATMs are available which dispense EC dollars and credit cards are widely accepted.

Time

Saint Lucia is on Atlantic Standard Time (AST) and does not observe Daylight Savings Time. St. Lucia is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT).

Location, Size and Population

Saint Lucia is a sovereign island country in the Eastern Caribbean that is part of the Lesser Antilles. Saint Lucia is a mountainous island of 238 sq. miles, located about 25 miles north of St. Vincent and 25 miles south of Martinique and northwest of Barbados.

The population of Saint Lucia is 185,868 (2016).

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