• Skip to main content
Logo EnezGreen

EnezGreen

Visit islands and green your mind!

  • Home
  • Islands & Archipelagos
  • News
  • About us
  • Contact-us
EnezGreen » Îles & Archipels » Saint-Lucia » Diving in the Soufrière marine reserve
Saint-Lucia

Diving in the Soufrière marine reserve

Caribbean Sea

plongee-ste-lucie-nov-2011-41-copyright-enezgreen

Diving

The SMMA dive sites in the Soufrière reserve are known for their stunning views and their rich fauna and flora. Enjoy a captivating marine exploration alongside a reserve keeper.

  • Environment

  • Sustainable policy

Diving at the foot of the Pitons

The spectacle of the Soufrière Pitons rising from the sea is just a foretaste of the view that can be enjoyed under the water, where we discover the continuation of the steep mountains in the form of a drop-off that slopes gently to 500m deep, which boasts a colourful and diverse marine life. The height of the pitons gives an indication of the relatively recent origins of the island, which explains the absence of a lagoon along this coast. Coral reefs are concentrated in a very narrow belt along the coastline and covering almost 60% of the marine area of the site. Since the setting up of the marine protected area, the coastal belt is divided in various areas where activities are regulated. There are several remarkable dive sites in the marine reserve area devoted to underwater activities. We dive at the foot of the majestic Petit Piton, at the Superman’s Flight site – which owes its name to an underwater sequence of the film that was shot there. The underwater panorama is stunning and the words of Peter Butcher come to my mind, “Since the setting up of the park, the marine ecosystem has returned to excellent condition.” I can indeed see for myself! As we drift with the current, the multifaceted hard and soft corals pass before our eyes like a kaleidoscope.

The barrel sponges of Saint Lucia

A scientific study conducted in this marine region of Saint Lucia shows that it is the richest with the identification of 168 fish species as well as some 50 coral species, 8 mollusc species, 11 echinoderm species, 15 arthropod species, 8 spirobranchus species and 14 sponge species. Among the sponge species are fluorescent, digitate and cratered ones, but barrel sponges (Xestospongia muta) are the most curious ones. This sponge called ‘rum barrel’ by the locals is the largest in the Caribbean; it measures up to 2 metres long with a diameter between 1 and 2 metres! It is so deep that a diver could completely hide into it. However, this is not a good idea as there is too great a risk of damaging the sponge. Observations show that this reddish-brown sponge species can reach large proportions in calm areas. The outer part is wrinkled and chapped. I can see a couple of butterfly fish frolicking inside the sponge, safe from predators, and seize the opportunity of taking a few pictures.

Dazzling encounter in the blue

I am so fascinated by this spectacle that I almost forget to follow the group. As I step up the pace to catch up with them, I notice an opaque shape in the blue close to me. It’s a large shoal of bigeye trevally (Caranx Sexfasciatus)! I move away from the drop-off to get closer to them, the current is not too strong and I can swim fast without scaring them. They spring before my eyes like a tank and I find myself in the middle of this glittering pack of fish that continue on their way. This is a fleeting but unforgettable moment. I then get back to the drop-off, where the marine life is prolific. I swim up to Peter and my dive partner, who have spotted a small titan triggerfish. It is far from timid and undulates through the gaps in the corals in front of our cameras. We get back to the surface with star-filled eyes and our cameras filled with fantastic photos.

Situated at the foot of the twin mountain, the Gros Piton, the Coral Garden site is also worth the dive for its rich coral life. The view between 5m and 15m deep is as scenic as above the water surface.

Snorkelling outing in the Anse Chastanet reef

This is an ideal site for novice divers and probably one of the most beautiful sites for snorkelling in St Lucia. Only 10m from the shore of a beautiful fine sand beach, snorkelers and scuba divers can reach in a few strokes the natural underwater park reserve with a coral reef and little caves filled with a great diversity of corals, sponges and reef fish. Encounters with turtles are quite frequent. The remarkably preserved reef in shallow and crystal-clear waters is characterised by a profusion of marine life. Scuba divers and snorkelers alike will enjoy wandering in the coral maze.

Fairyland

Situated opposite the rocky point of Anse Chastanet, Fairyland is exposed to currents, which provides divers, especially photographers and videographers, with great visibility and encounters with some predators such as jackfish and barracudas. Scuba divers can drift above a 12m plateau gently sloping down to around 60m deep, with a multitude of multifaceted and multicoloured sponges, clams, Acropora, brain and table corals. Shoals of fusiliers, snappers, soldier-fish, morays, octopuses, monkfish and parrotfish can also be admired.

The Key Holes Pinnacles

Situated at the foot of the northern cliffs surrounding the Soufrière Bay, The Key Holes Pinnacles is a spectacular site. As its name suggests, the site comprises four volcanic underwater pitons that reach up to 5m beneath the water surface. Damselfish and other reef fish frolic at their top. Divers can enjoy the diversity of landscapes between the pitons and the wealth of wildlife. Butterfly fish, trumpet fish, squirrel fish, tick fish, cow fish, puffer fish, tetraodon fish and globefish roam around the multitude of multicoloured sponges, gorgonian and corals.

SMMA

Pricing (from) - 60.00 €

Divers must pay an entrance fee to the marine reserve of EC$13.5 per diving day.

Opening period - All year round

Diving, key-features

A remarkable marine environment ★★

The Soufrière Pitons site is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004 and the namesake bay, which has been declared a nature reserve, is managed by the Soufrière Marine Management Area (SMMA).

The best dive sites in St Lucia are concentrated in this area and are renowned throughout the Caribbean for the diversity of their coral species and reef fish, as well as for the passage of predators and cetaceans. Water visibility is good most of the year.

Quality service to discover the environment ★★

Peter Butcher is a PADI dive master who is entitled to supervise certified divers in the marine reserve, which he knows by heart. Diving with chief of the SMMA rangers is a unique opportunity to discover the local marine biodiversity.

Peter is a native of the area and participated in the setting up of the area, watching over it like a guardian angel. He started by placing moorings in the bay for leisure craft and then actively pursued his mission and holding various positions from fining users to scientific monitoring, through rescuing pleasure boaters or supervising the training of rangers from other marine reserves in the Caribbean.

This dynamic and friendly man shares his passion for the seabed and his commitment to protect it. He has a knack for finding hidden treasures among the sponges or corals and likes to share his knowledge on the local marine fauna and flora. Far from the often expensive mass diving outings offered by some centres forming part of international hotels, the services offered by Peter Butcher lend a certain sense of adventure enhanced by the fact that all safety standards are met.

It is advised to book the services many days in advance as Peter is very busy with his duties as head of the team of rangers.
Divers must pay an entrance fee to the marine reserve of EC$13.5 per diving day.
Red mooring buoys are available for dive boats in order to avoid any inadvertent mooring in the marine reserve.

Comfort and services

The dives are supervised by Peter Butcher, who takes on his role as independent dive instructor and temporarily abandons his duty as chief of the reserve keepers.

The SMMA is not a dive centre and while the rangers’ boat can be used to take you on site, no reception facility is available. You should thus bring your own diving equipment or rent equipment from a neighbouring dive centre, such as the one at the Plantation Jalousie international luxury hotel, which is situated close to the main dive sites. You can collect the equipment and filled cylinders with the boat just before diving. The organisation may appear a bit complex but it is worth it considering that we have the privilege of enjoying qualitative service and freedom of discovery.

Galleries Photos

Saint-Lucia, other islanders to discover

You might also be interested in reading this…

  • EnezMember need to add a picture Whale watching in la Soufrière with Mystic Man Tours » Cetacean and sea bird watching
  • Guided hiking tour with Tet Paul Nature Trail » Educational activities
  • Marine Protected Area of the Soufrière SMMA » Protected Marine Area
  • Ecolodge Fond Doux Holiday Plantation at the foot of Pitons » Eco lodge & Eco hotel
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Handcrafted with by EnezGreen · Copyright © 2023 · Legal Notice

  • Français (French)
  • English