Beneath the Pitons – Diving the Soufrière Marine Reserve
If you ask us where in the Caribbean the best place to dive, our answer rarely changes: St. Lucia, and specifically the waters of Soufrière. The combination of dramatic geography, a properly protected marine reserve, and a small number of excellent dive operators makes this stretch of coast one of the most rewarding underwater destinations in the region.
The Soufrière Marine Management Area
Soufrière Marine Management Area protects the entire stretch of coastline running south from Anse Chastanet down to Anse l'Ivrogne. It was created through an unusual collaboration between local fishermen, dive operators, and the St. Lucian government, and remains one of the most successful examples of marine conservation in the region.
The reserve's geography is unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. The Pitons – those iconic twin peaks rising directly from the sea – continue beneath the surface, sloping down to depths of 500 metres. The result is a series of dramatic drop-offs, walls and pinnacles, all within minutes of the shore.
Scientific studies have catalogued more than 168 species of fish, around 50 species of coral, and an extraordinary variety of sponges, molluscs and crustaceans within the reserve. The "look but don't touch" policy is strictly enforced, and even empty shells are left where they lie.
The signature dive sites
A handful of sites stand out for guests:
Anse Chastanet Reef. Just 10 metres from the shore of the beach of the same name, this is one of the most accessible reef dives in the Caribbean. A shallow plateau at 5 to 25 feet drops dramatically to a wall reaching 140 feet, with more than 150 species of fish, including peacock flounders, octopus, seahorses, parrotfish and turtles. It is also one of the few sites in the region where night dives reveal something genuinely unusual.
Fairyland. Polled among local dive instructors, this is often named the most beautiful site on the island. Boulders covered in coral sit against a backdrop of dazzling white sand, with canyons leading off into deeper water. The Pitons loom in the background.
Superman's Flight. A drift dive along the base of Petit Piton, with the underwater wall of the Piton itself as a backdrop. Reserved for more confident divers and consistently mentioned by visiting dive instructors as one of the most dramatic dives they have ever done.
The wreck of the Lesleen M. A 165-foot cargo ship deliberately sunk in 1986 to create an artificial reef, now home to schools of fish and the occasional turtle.
For first-time divers, Anse Chastanet's PADI 5-star dive centre – Scuba St. Lucia – has been operating since 1981 and is widely considered one of the best in the Caribbean. Beach and boat dives, full PADI courses, night dives, and underwater photography programmes are all available.