Snorkeling Spots in St Lucia – Where to Go and What to See
Saint Lucia is best known for its spectacular landscape featuring volcanic Pitons but is less famous for its underwater attractions. The preserved fringing reefs surrounding the island attract rich marine life, offering superb conditions for those who love exploring the ocean’s wonders. If you’d like to observe the colorful aquatic life of the Caribbean Sea, don’t miss out on snorkeling in St Lucia! We will tell you now what spots are worth visiting!
St Lucia snorkeling conditions
Thanks to the region’s tropical climate, there is no wrong time to snorkeling in Saint Lucia, but some months offer more ideal conditions than others. If you are looking for the lowest chance of rain and the best underwater visibility, schedule your trip for the dry season between December and May, with February, March, and April being the driest months.
The rainy season starts in June and runs until November. This doesn’t necessarily mean bad weather all day, so you can consider coming during this period, too, but the rain can affect the water clarity. It is advisable to avoid the hurricane season (July-October).
Like in most of the Caribbean, the northeast trade wind blows regularly most of the year. Therefore, most St Lucia snorkeling spots are on the west side, which is protected from the wind.
Along this coast, around Soufriere, in the Pitons region, and towards Castries, many small bays offer shallow fringing reefs with excellent conditions for snorkeling. Some are accessible from shore, but due to the island’s landscape, many snorkel spots can only be reached by boat.
The sea is warm enough throughout the year for water activities with temperatures between 79-84F/26-29C so there is no need to pack a wetsuit, but don’t forget about UV protection clothing and sunscreen.
Best spots to go snorkeling in St Lucia
Anse Chastanet
Anse Chastanet is the most famous spot for snorkeling in St Lucia, with good reason. The site enjoys the protection of a marine reserve, is suitable for beginners, and is easy to reach from shore. You can also take a boat to get to it on a half-day or full-day excursion from the capital, Castries, or from the nearby town, Soufriere.
You can expect to see a great range of colorful tropical fish at the coral reef that runs along the shoreline, thanks to the area’s protected status. Reef fish are common here (parrotfish, trumpetfish, sergeant majors, trumpetfish, and many more), and sometimes also, hawksbill turtles can be spotted near the reef towards Anse Mamin, where the shallow plateau ends and the shallow seabed drops into a 60ft/18m deep wall.
The site also boasts hard corals, sponges, and gorgonians. Two hotels on the bay mean that you can stay at Anse Chastanet in either the Jade Mountain Resort or the Anse Chastanet Resort to make the most of your St Lucia snorkeling adventure.
Tip: Hawksbill turtles lay their eggs on this beach! If you want to experience the nesting, schedule your trip for July/August, while September- October is the hatching season!
Anse Mamin
Separated only by a 700m long path (10-minute walk) from Anse Chastenet lies Anse Mamin, another fantastic Saint Lucia snorkeling spot! It is a lot quieter with fewer boats around, so it is a recommended beach for those who wish to relax and also for those who seek the best snorkeling in St Lucia since there is an extensive reef on the south end of the beach available from the shore and another one on the north end.
Snorkeling enthusiasts often say that people who say snorkeling in Saint Lucia is not good have never seen the Anse Mamin reef, which is full of lively corals and different kinds of Caribbean fish. And just like at Anse Chastanet, there is a chance to see hawksbill turtles here!
Tip: Discover other Caribbean snorkeling destinations too near St Lucia!
Where to go snorkeling in Grenada
Best snorkeling places in Barbados
Snorkel spots in Martinique
Piton Wall
The Piton Wall is a dramatic wall along the base of Petit Piton that drops down to a few hundred feet deep. Thanks to the constant nutrient-rich currents, it is full of marine life, especially soft corals and feather duster worms making it a fantastic diving Saint Lucia snorkeling spot.
To snorkel the Piton Wall, you must sign up for a boat trip. It is a drift snorkel trip, meaning you’ll be dropped into the water, the current will take you along the wall, and the boat will pick you up at the end of the reef.
Smugglers Cove
Smugglers Cove is ideal for snorkeling off the beach in St Lucia. You can access this somewhat hidden gem through Cap Maison. A dark sandy beach awaits you with its several pools adjacent to it.
The reef in this larger bay is small but sheltered from the wind. It makes Smugglers Cove a terrific spot for beginning snorkelers with a max depth of 40ft/12m. Under the clear waters, you will see many tropical fish and other exotic sea creatures. These include octopus, eels, lobster, trumpet fish, and even squid.
Tip: Should you wish to explore this fantastic location, the best is if you stay at Hideaway at Royalton!
Reduit Beach
To the north side of Castries and only a little to the south of Gros Islet lies one of the prettiest beaches of the island that offers visitors beautiful golden sand.
It might not be the most fantastic spot for snorkeling in St Lucia in terms of marine life, but the sandy bottom and calm, clear waters make it a great place for beginners and kids who can enjoy a wide variety of fish while snorkeling at this beach.
Reduit is a rather touristy beach and due to the many boaters, it is a good idea to deploy a diver down surface marker flag. A few restaurants on the beach make it easy to pick up lunch or a beverage. There are also showers and bathrooms at the restaurants. You can also rent umbrellas and chairs here.
Jalousie Plantation Beach (Sugar Beach)
Jalousie Plantation Beach in Pitons Bay is more commonly called Sugar Beach. It lies between the two Pitons on St. Lucia’s southwest. The bay may be small, but it includes a range of natural habitats. Among these are rocky places, sandy shores, and a marine life-rich zone found in the Marine Reserve.
The reef here is known as the Sugar Beach Viceroy Resort. The waters provide a great amount of interesting sea life to see at this St Lucia snorkeling spot. Among the bright corals, sponges, and algae you can typically hope to see tropical fish, groupers, snappers, and moray eels. You will find many of these creatures among the seagrass bed.
Marigot Bay
A Saint Lucia snorkeling vacation would not be complete without a trip to Marigot Bay. The spot is one of the most popular beaches in St Lucia for snorkeling, and there is a good reason for that. It boasts large coral formations and significant underwater life, especially on the north side of the bay. The boat tour companies are well aware of this, so you can expect to share the bay with other snorkelers when you arrive.
One advantage this beach offers is a place to rent snorkel equipment near the beach at the Marigot Beach Club Dive, although we recommend bringing your own equipment if you have it. Once in the water, there are many tropical creatures to view, especially juvenile fish. Food and beverages are conveniently available at this beach.
Anse Cochon
Anse Cochon is another snorkeling site in Saint Lucia suitable for beginners. The black sandy stretch draws in numerous boat tours and day trip tourists. Snorkeling is excellent on the north side of the cove, with fantastic visibility in the water.
After you finish your underwater expedition you can sit at the beach restaurant found at the adjacent Ti Kaye Resort and Spa (which is one of the top places to stay on the island by the way!). If you come to Anse Cochon by car on the main road, be prepared for the bumpy ride. The boat ride is a smoother way to arrive.
Malgretoute Beach
Not far from the town of Soufriere is another superb place for snorkeling in Saint Lucia: Malgretoute Beach. You can get to the spot by hiking or taking a water taxi.
The pebbles and coarse black sand make Malgretoute different from the other snorkeling sites in St Lucia. Since it’s not a sandy beach, it is less popular among tourists and rather a locals’ favorite place, but it is recommended to visit when you are around.
The finest snorkeling area is at the end of the beach, adjacent to the Petit Piton base. The water is the deepest here, providing more marine life to view.
Our accommodation tip nearby: Stonefield Estate Resort
Coral Gardens
Close to Sugar Beach at the base of the Gros Piton lies Coral Gardens, a lesser-known yet fantastic place to go snorkeling in St Lucia. The beach’s claim to fame is that it holds the longest coral reef on the island.
The coral growth here is dramatic, and it provides a home for rich marine life. You can expect to see many colorful tropical fish, Christmas Tree Worms, Feather Stars and eels while snorkeling in the Coral Gardens. This is definitely a place to bring along an underwater camera.
Summary
St Lucia offers a fantastic mix of vibrant marine life and stunning underwater landscapes, making it a top destination for snorkeling enthusiasts. Whether exploring the famous Anse Chastanet, drifting along the Piton Wall, or relaxing at Smugglers Cove, there’s something for everyone. Remember, the best time to snorkel is during the dry season (December to May) for clear waters and ideal conditions. Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen, UV-protection clothing, and snorkeling gear, and always stay aware of local weather conditions. Happy snorkeling!
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