Location, location, location! This is the fundamental attraction ANSE CHASTANET resort has for traveling divers. It is in the heart of St.Lucia’s very best diving: the entire region surrounding ANSE CHASTANET is vested into an award winning marine reserve (SMMA) which has been established since 1995 to protect the pristine beauty of St.Lucia’s coral reefs.
SCUBA ST. LUCIAis a PADI 5 Star Dive Operations and DAN (Divers Alert Network) Partners in Dive Safety facility, located at the south end of ANSE CHASTANET beach. Founded in 1981, Scuba St.Lucia has established itself as one of the world’s top diving destinations. Scuba St.Lucia offers great diving and comprehensive facilities for divers of all levels.
Perfectly set up for both beach and boat dives, Scuba St. Lucia offers guests gear storage; a well equipped scuba store; three compressors; rental dive gear and an underwater Photo and Video center.
All dives offered by Scuba St Lucia are guided by an instructor or dive master to maximize diver safety and enjoyment. The marine reserve policy is to “look but don’t touch”. Even empty shells should be left on the sea bed, and great care taken not to touch or kick the corals so hopefully the reef can be preserved for future generations of divers to enjoy.
“…If you are looking for an unusual dive destination with strong components of romance, creature comforts, adventure and dive professionalism, Anse Chastanet Resort should definitely be on your wish list. By the way, while you are there, make time to visit the terrestrial delights of the island, including near by wonders such as the Sulphur Springs, Diamond Waterfall and Mineral Baths, the Rain Forest and, of course, a closer view of the twin volcanic spires known as the Pitons…”
– Stephen Frink
The Diving
The Anse Chastanet reef starts just 10 yards beyond the water’s edge. The reef’s remarkable ecosystem offers an amazing profusion of unusual tropical marine life, in 20 to 140 feet of calm, clear water. Anse Chastanet Reef which is home to more than 150 different species of fish makes for an amazing dive day or night. In the shallow areas be sure to keep your eyes open for peacock flounders, octopus, needle fish and turtles. Or drop down a little deeper over dense coral growth to see puffers, moray eels, parrot fish, lobsters and even sea horses. A unique dive site for all abilities and especially good for macro photography
The shore dive is a required “first” dive for dive guests. It allows divers to feel ensured that all equipment is functioning properly, that their buoyancy skills are adequate for entering the marine reserve and to provide an orientation to the type of diving for which St Lucia is known. This reef is a favorite of most professional underwater photographers and videographers who visit Anse Chastanet.
The boat dives should also not be missed – dramatic walls beneath the majestic Piton Mountains, Superman’s flight, a drift dive in the shadow of the Petit Piton, Coral Gardens and Jalousie under the Gros Piton, Piton Wall, the wreck of the “Lesleen M”, Anse La Raye and Anse Cochon. Closer to home for the afternoon boat trips but no less spectacular sites, the diver can explore Fairyland, Turtle Reef, Grand Caille, Trou Diable, the Pinnacles and much more…
Night dives are offered at least twice weekly on Anse Chastanet’s Reef, which really “wakes up” at night, with many interesting crustaceans on the move, large basket stars, sleeping parrot fish, octopus and squid, bioluminescence and the “THING”.