The best dive sites in Guadeloupe
Straddling the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Guadeloupe is a small archipelago made up of 7 islands offering a wide variety of diving sites. Between nature reserves rich in flora and fauna, turquoise waters perfect for a first dive and deep sites for experienced divers, discover now the best diving spots in Guadeloupe!
Whether you've been scuba diving before or not, you're bound to find the diving activity you're looking for in Guadeloupe, where there are plenty of sites for divers of all levels to enjoy the island's seabed. With water temperatures hovering around 27°C in both winter and summer, Guadeloupe is a great place to dive all year round! All that's left to do is choose which diving spots you'd like to visit to take advantage of the exceptional richness of the Caribbean underwater world.
1 - The Cousteau Reserve
To the west of Basse-Terre, the Cousteau Reserve is THE diving site in Guadeloupe not to be missed. Renowned for the beauty and diversity of its underwater flora and fauna, this marine area, an integral part of the Guadeloupe National Park, is sure to amaze you, whether you're looking for a first dive, an exploration dive or even a diving course! Mainly departing from Bouillante, you'll sail to the dive site best suited to your level around the îlets Pigeon to admire an exceptional underwater world: between multicoloured fish and turtles, wrecks, dry reefs, coral shelves and many other underwater landscapes, you'll come away from your dive at the Réserve Cousteau with stars in your eyes!
And diving isn't the only activity available on site: don't miss out on the top 5 activities for visiting the Réserve Cousteau!
2 - The sublime archipelago of Les Saintes
To the south of Basse-Terre, the Saintes archipelago is a little corner of paradise made up of 9 islands, making it a popular day trip from Trois-Rivières or Pointe-à-Pitre. So if you're looking for dreamy scenery and turquoise waters in which to dive in Guadeloupe, a boat trip with diving in Les Saintes is an experience not to be missed! Whether you've already passed a level or you've never been scuba diving at all, this activity can be adapted to your level, but also to your desires: beginners can take their first dive, while the more experienced can go on 1 or 2 exploration dives with a dive guide! The captain will take you to some incredible dive sites in Les Saintes, where you'll be able to meet a host of coral fish.
3 - The impressive Grand Cul-de-sac marin
A large lagoon covering around 15,000 hectares in the north of the island, the Grand Cul-de-sac marin is a must-see marine reserve, whether or not you want to dive in Guadeloupe. Bounded by a long coral reef and containing numerous sea grass beds, this reserve is home to a wealth of protected flora and fauna that you'll be delighted to observe up close: sea urchins and crustaceans of all kinds in the sea grass beds and mangrove swamps, numerous species of coral fish in the coral reef, etc. The shallow Grand Cul-de-sac marin is ideal for a first dive in Guadeloupe, but it also has some great exploration dive sites that will delight diving enthusiasts! Simply book your diving experience in Port-Louis to enjoy the underwater treasures of the Grand Cul-de-sac marin!
4 - The wild island of La Désirade
If you're looking for Guadeloupe's less-visited diving sites, La Désirade is the destination for you. Located on the Atlantic side, to the east of Grande-Terre, this little-visited island offers just what you're looking for: unspoilt marine areas where you can admire the underwater life in full bloom: turtles, coral, fish of all kinds, and even dolphins and whales in season for the lucky ones! First dives and exploration dives are available, even on the east coast of the island, which is classified as a geological nature reserve. So if you've got the chance, discover diving on La Désirade by joining the island from Saint-François!
5 - Pointe des Châteaux and Saint-François
In the far south-east of Grande-Terre, diving in Saint-François means you can not only enjoy the lagoon that borders the town, but also dive sites around Pointe des Châteaux, and even on the islands of Petite-Terre. First dives, expedition dives and FFESSM or PADI training courses are offered from Saint-François for the enjoyment of divers of all levels, at a large number of suitable sites: the Main Jaune, the Jardin Japonais, Jolly Roger, Mervillon, etc. In all, more than twenty sites are accessible from Saint-François, an incredible choice that will help you make the most of diving in Guadeloupe!
Of course, the Guadeloupe archipelago also has other diving spots such as Marie-Galante and the islet of Gosier, which is ideal for a first dive in shallow turquoise water sheltered by a coral reef. All that's left for you to do is choose where you'd most like to dive! And if you've never taken the plunge before and still have lots of questions about this water sport, don't hesitate to consult our complete guide to scuba diving, which is sure to answer all your questions.
Guadeloupe is a real paradise for scuba divers in the Caribbean, but it's not the only one: find out now what activities you can do in Guadeloupe for a dream trip!