Sources · Destination Guide

Guadeloupe main islands: Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre

Three coasts, protected reefs, local dive boats and a rainforest escape.

View On Map

Research Sources

Destination Guide Sources For Guadeloupe main islands: Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre

Reference links used to build and maintain this guide.

42 sources • Updated Oct 30, 2026

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Oct 30, 2026.

Guadeloupe tourism board, named dive sites - Primary destination evidence for Ilets Pigeon, L Avion at Port-Louis and Les Arches at Anse-Bertrand; excludes separately assigned islands.
Centre des Ilets, Bouillante - Operator identifies Malendure base, recreational introductions, training, boats, snorkeling and wreck exploration; schedules still need confirmation.
Centre des Ilets, named local dive sites - Direct operator list of Jardin de Corail, Franjack, Gustavia and more distant Augustin Fresnel.
National Park, Pigeon marine core rules - Binding visitor and commercial-use distinctions, no anchoring, buoys, no touching, fishing and navigation restrictions.
National Park, Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin rules - Differing core and adjacent-area regulations, named permitted guide categories, restricted scuba and protected islet landings.
National Park, administrative orders 2026 - Current 2026 decrees include Ile Blanc temporary closure, activity permits and a specific diving derogation; consult individual orders.
National Park, Ile Blanc order 2026-058 - Pages 1-2 verified visually: public landing and terrestrial access prohibited from 1 October 2026 through 15 April 2027 inclusive; surrounding navigation not categorically prohibited.
Escale Plongee, Saint-Francois - Marina base confirms scuba, instruction and guided boat snorkel on Grande-Terre Atlantic side.
Escale Plongee, dive excursions - Named local Saint-Francois and Pointe des Chateaux dive sites and indicative operator rates, separate from Petite Terre and other islands.
Escale Plongee, guided reef snorkeling - Guided Saint-Francois lagoon boat snorkeling, equipment and group format.
Guadeloupe tourism board, SeacretDive Port-Louis - 2026 tourism listing confirms Port-Louis operator and booking/rental services; marketing is not a live schedule or protected-area permission.
CIP Guadeloupe, supervised freediving - Direct Malendure operator intro and progression sessions, listed initial and follow-up depth limits.
Anbadlola, freediving courses - Direct operator lists beginner freedive coaching and more advanced Franjack and Augustin Fresnel routes subject to prerequisites.
Guadeloupe tourism board, Malendure - Beach access and snorkeling context, turtle habitat and protected-area proximity.
Guadeloupe tourism board, Souffleur Beach - Port-Louis shore snorkeling, beach facilities and lack of formal lifeguard coverage.
Guadeloupe tourism board, Bois Jolan beach - Sainte-Anne sheltered lagoon, shore snorkeling and family-use context.
Meteo-France Guadeloupe, climate - Local dry-season January-April and rainy June-November climatology; warm water year-round.
Meteo-France Guadeloupe, weather alerts - Official actionable marine swell, rain, cyclone and wind vigilance, including caution for bathing and diving.
Meteo-France, Sep-Nov 2026 seasonal outlook - 2026 outlook notes unusual warmth/drier conditions but persistent wet/cyclonic-season exposure; do not treat forecast as a guarantee.
Guadeloupe tourism board, Cousteau Reserve - Protected reserve access by boat, kayak or guided activity and seasonal conditions commentary.
Guadeloupe tourism board, humpback whales - January-April seasonal sightings, February-March emphasis; not a wildlife guarantee.
Guadeloupe tourism board, sea turtles - Marine turtle ecology, nesting mainly March-November, peak May-August, no touching or feeding.
Agoa sanctuary, cetacean approach law - September 2024 rules prohibit approaching cetaceans within 300 m above, on or under water unless specific legal derogation.
National Park, Soufriere summit restriction - 2024 summit gas/fumarole exclusion and specially qualified guide requirement for crossing restricted zones.
National Park, Soufriere hiking information - Summit access, weather, trails and current safety warnings.
Guadeloupe tourism board, Cascade aux Ecrevisses - Accessible rainforest waterfall stop on Route de la Traversee; weather-dependent.
Guadeloupe tourism board, Deshaies botanical garden - Verified year-round botanical-garden non-diver option.
Guadeloupe tourism board, Pointe des Chateaux - Saint-Francois rocky-headland trail and viewpoint; not a protected lagoon swimming recommendation.
Guadeloupe Maryse Conde Airport, ground access - Airport at Les Abymes and Karulis bus connections, with operator-specific rental car access.
Guadeloupe tourism board, airlines and flights - 2026 air service examples; schedules and routes must be rechecked when booking.
France-Visas, overseas short-stay rules - Overseas France is outside Schengen; visa requirements depend on nationality and residence status.
Guadeloupe tourism board, practical advice - EU travel basics, French electrical sockets, euro, climate and packing.
Guadeloupe tourism board, euro and cash - Currency, card acceptance and cash useful for small outlets and boat excursions.
Bouillante municipality, tourist tax - Local accommodation tourism tax enacted; exact per-night amount depends on current ordinance/property.
Riviera du Levant, tourist tax authority - 2026 lodging tax applies in Le Gosier, Sainte-Anne and Saint-Francois; property-dependent amount.
French public directory, Guadeloupe SAMU - Medical emergency numbers 15 and 112 and emergency coordination.
French Ministry of the Sea, CROSS rescue - Emergency sea rescue on 196 or VHF channel 16.
French hyperbaric medical society, Guadeloupe - Professional directory lists Pointe-a-Pitre CHU hyperbaric unit; current operating capacity not independently verified.
DAN, flying after diving guidance - Evidence-based 12/18-hour minimums after certain no-stop profiles, longer after decompression dives; conservative buffer suggested.
ARCEP, roaming between France and overseas - 2026 explanation of domestic roaming rights and fair-use limits in French overseas territories.
Destination hero photo by Zivax (historical) - Guadeloupe (10).JPG. Photo: Zivax / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. Cropped and resized. Cropped image retains the same license.
Destination hero photo by Alexis - Turquoise lagoon near Sainte-Rose. Unsplash License (https://unsplash.com/license). Photographer: https://unsplash.com/@alexisc35. Cropped and resized for the cover.