🇸🇦Snorkeling, Freediving, and Scuba in Saint Barthelemy
Quick Facts
- • Best season: Year-round (varies by region)
- • Typical visibility: 10-30m depending on location
- • Entry types: Shore diving, Boat diving
- • Highlights: Explore Saint Barthelemy's underwater world
Welcome to the ultimate guide for snorkeling, freediving, and scuba diving in Saint Barthelemy. With 10 documented dive spots across 3 regions, Saint Barthelemy offers diverse underwater experiences for all skill levels. From vibrant coral reefs to mysterious wrecks, from shallow snorkeling bays to deep freediving drops, discover what makes Saint Barthelemy a must-visit destination for underwater enthusiasts. Our community-driven platform provides real-time conditions, detailed spot information, and local insights to help you plan your perfect diving adventure.
Regions in Saint Barthelemy (3)
Dive Spots in Saint Barthelemy (10)
Aquarium Gros Ilets
Aquarium Gros Ilets is located just 5 minutes from Gustavia harbor, making it an accessible site for beginner divers. The dive site features shallow waters starting at a depth of 2 meters and extending to 16 meters. The area is known for its calm sea conditions, which are ideal for novice divers. Marine life includes a variety of species such as tarpons, barracudas, lobsters, and sting rays, providing an engaging underwater experience. The site is characterized by a diverse marine ecosystem, often described as resembling an aquarium due to the abundance of fish and lobsters present.
17.8999, -62.8601
Baleine de Gros Ilet
Baleine de Gros Ilet is located near Gros Ilets and features two notable shipwrecks at a depth of 20 meters. The larger wreck, the Non Stop, measures 63 meters and sank during Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The second wreck is a smaller fishing vessel known as the Dakar. This site is suitable for divers seeking to gain experience in wreck diving due to the shallow depth and accessibility of the wrecks.
17.8999, -62.8620
Baleine du pain de sucre
Baleine du pain de sucre is a dive site located near the small rock formation known as Pain de sucre, reaching a maximum depth of 25 meters. Divers can navigate around the rock easily, ensuring a straightforward return to the entry point. The site is characterized by vibrant colors and a diverse array of marine life, with a notable chance of encountering grey sharks or nurse sharks. Additionally, there is a small canyon situated in shallow waters, providing an interesting feature for divers to explore.
17.8980, -62.8765
Fourchue
Fourchue is situated approximately 15 minutes by boat from Gustavia, within a protected bay that accommodates divers of all skill levels. The site features a vibrant coral garden, known for its rich colors and diverse marine life. Commonly observed species include various turtles and seabirds such as gannets and frigatebirds, highlighting the area's status as a sanctuary for wildlife.
17.9561, -62.9099
Kayali (Wreck)
The Kayali Wreck, located near Sugarloaf Island, is a 30-meter long trawler that was intentionally sunk in 1994 to enhance diving opportunities and support marine life. The wreck lies at a depth of 29 meters, providing a unique environment for wreck diving. Trained divers can explore various accessible rooms within the wreck. Common marine life sightings include sea turtles and eagle rays, making it an interesting dive site for observing these species.
17.8983, -62.8783
L’âne rouge
L’âne rouge is located near Colombier Beach and features a shallow entry that leads to a prominent pinnacle situated between depths of 10 meters and 20 meters. This site is known for its diverse marine life, including large feathered stingrays and turtles, along with a variety of fish species that inhabit the area around the rock formation.
17.9192, -62.8761
Le tombant de colombier
Le Tombant de Colombier features a vertical wall adorned with various marine plants, corals, and sponges. Divers may encounter species such as tarpons, stingrays, turtles, and lobsters. The site can experience mild currents, making it suitable for drift diving. Depending on the conditions, divers have the option to explore around the small island or return to the entry point by retracing their path.
17.9198, -62.8778
Pain de sucre Est
Pain de sucre Est is recognized as one of the notable Sugarloaf dive sites, offering a sheltered environment that minimizes wind and wave impact. This makes it an ideal location for novice divers and those seeking a straightforward diving experience. The site features an artificial coral structure known as the 'coral tree,' created by the St Barth’s non-profit Association for Coral Protection, which adds to the ecological diversity of the area. The entry to the dive site is from the shore, providing easy access for divers.
17.8977, -62.8767
Pain de sucre Sud
Pain de Sucre Sud features a prominent pinnacle that divers can explore through an easy swim-through. The site is home to various marine life, including lobsters and lionfish, as well as large schools of barracudas. Visibility is typically excellent, making it suitable for divers of all experience levels. The dive site is accessible from the shore, allowing for convenient entry.
17.8965, -62.8762
Roche Roube
Roche Roube is a dive site located at coordinates 17.872100, -62.798000, accessible via shore entry. The site is known for its diverse marine life, including the possibility of encountering large shark species such as tiger sharks and great hammerheads. However, diving conditions can be challenging due to often rough weather, which may limit accessibility. It typically requires a 20-minute journey to reach the site, and divers should be prepared for variable conditions.
17.8721, -62.7980