Getting there and around
- Guadeloupe Maryse Conde Airport
- La Desirade airfield (Grande Anse)
Destination Guide•
La Desirade
Small-group diving, reef-backed beaches and wild geology on Guadeloupe's quieter eastern island.
Small-group diving, reef-backed beaches and wild geology on Guadeloupe's quieter eastern island.
Overview
La Desirade rewards travelers willing to cross from Saint-Francois for a quieter, locally organized island experience. Its established dive lead is L'ilot Plongee Desirade in Beausejour, which advertises introductory and certified diving in small groups. The official Guadeloupe tourism board singles out Le Tuyau at Pointe des Colibris, an old submerged utility pipe covered in coral, as an island dive highlight. Northern sites such as La Cathedrale depend on operator assessment and sea conditions.
For non-divers, Plage a Fifi, Souffleur and Petite Riviere offer beach days, while Pointe Double, the geological reserve and village heritage justify an overnight stay. Weather is typically easier to plan in January-April. Ferry times, dive departures and swimming conditions need direct confirmation, especially after the 2026 sargassum gas alerts around Beausejour.
This is a land-based island guide. Petite Terre is a different protected reserve, not a freely accessible side beach or substitute dive site.
A locally listed island operator advertises up to six participants, introductory dives and exploration at multiple sites, subject to direct confirmation.
Le Tuyau at Pointe des Colibris combines a coral-colonized pipe, historic anchors and reef fish noted by the official tourism board.
Quick shortlist before you jump into the full planning page.
Top species linked to approved dive spots in La Desirade.
Non-divers can choose beach time, the fishing harbor, a lighthouse walk and volcanic-geological landscapes while divers arrange a supervised excursion.
The eastern geological reserve and locally monitored nesting turtles demand careful, low-impact visits. Petite Terre has a separate permit system.
Ostraciidae (family)
1 linked spots
