The best places to snorkel in St. Lucia are not hard to find. Almost the entire western coastline of this idyllic Caribbean island is perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
This leeward side is sheltered from the strong winds coming off the Atlantic. It’s also where you will find St. Lucia’s most beautiful coral reefs.
From popular Reduit Beach in the north to the dramatic beaches under the Pitons mountains, there is plenty to see underwater. Average water temperatures range from a comfortable 79°F to 84˚F year-round and visibility is excellent—normally up to 100 feet.
Here are some of the best places for snorkeling in St. Lucia.
Reduit Beach
Reduit Beach
Outside Gros Islet village on the south side of Rodney Bay is one of the most popular beaches in St. Lucia. Reduit’s long expanse of golden sand and clear water makes it obvious why so many visitors love it.
For snorkelers, beginners in particular, the sandy bottom and clear, calm water create ideal conditions. You do need to be careful of boat traffic but less so if you stay in shallow water or in a guided group.
Underwater, there are plenty of small tropical fish, eels, and crabs but you’ll need to swim far out to see more. However, if you’re that experienced, you’re probably better off at several other beaches—including nearby Pigeon Island.
Reduit Beach itself is well supplied with bars, restaurants, and showers. Sun-loungers and umbrellas are also in abundance.
Pigeon Island National Park
Pigeon Island National Park
Despite its name, Pigeon Island has not been an island since reclamation works in the 1970s. Now reached by a causeway, fronted by a long, sandy beach, it’s one of the best things to do in St. Lucia, offering excellent snorkeling opportunities.
You can wade in off the beach and snorkel in shallow waters teeming with marine life. There is some coral but the main attraction is the schools of tropical fish.
Pigeon Island National Park
Pigeon Island is on the northern coast with great views over the Caribbean from its high points. On land, you can visit the lookout point of Fort Rodney, built here when Britain and France were fighting for control of the region.
In the water, you’ll discover species such as wrasse, angelfish, and damselfish. A number of companies offer guided snorkeling trips that take in the best spots.
Anse Chastanet
Anse Chastanet
This beautiful beach near Soufrière is known for the wonderful coral reefs just offshore. Its marine life, including parrotfish and striped sergeant-majors puts it firmly among the best places to snorkel in St. Lucia.
Besides reef fish, you’ll snorkel among shoals of open water fish. There is a wide range of habitats to explore, from rocks and coral to sand and seagrass beds.
Anse Chastanet is protected by a marine reserve which covers the center of the bay as well as the headland to the left. That headland is the best and safest place to snorkel, as boats are banned from a clearly-marked area.
Besides fish, there are plenty of soft and hard corals and colorful sponges. Two good hotels here mean the beach is well supplied with facilities, such as sun-loungers, bars, and restaurants.
Anse Mamin
Anse Mamin
North of Anse Chastanet is Anse Mamin, so close you might be tempted to swim between the two. With a busy boat jetty in the way, it’s more sensible to take the pleasant ten-minute walk along the shore.
You’ll find this beach much quieter than its southern neighbor. It’s also a good place to look for hawksbill turtles, as it’s protected within the Soufrière Marine Management Area, or SMMA.
If you are on a boat tour, there is an excellent reef offshore that offers some of the best snorkeling in St. Lucia. With a steep drop-off on both sides, you might want a life jacket or snorkel vest for reassurance.
There’s plenty of healthy coral, sponges, and fish life here. The variety and amount of colorful sponges is one of the highlights of snorkeling in St. Lucia.
On the beach, the Jungle Beach Bar & Grill is a popular spot to relax in. There are also hikes in the rainforest behind this romantic beach and around the historic Anse Mamin Plantation.
Anse Cochon
Anse Cochon
Hemmed in by thick palm trees, Anse Cochon—St. Lucia’s very own “Bay of Pigs”—is almost the cliché of a Caribbean beach. The only slight blemish in the image is that the sand is dark, thanks to its volcanic origins.
The corresponding benefit is that the beach is quieter than many others on the island. With great visibility underwater, particularly on the north side, it’s a paradise for snorkelers.
Most visitors come on the catamaran tours that moor here for a swimming break. Guests from the nearby Ti Kaye Resort also enjoy it and the resort’s beach restaurant is open to all.
In addition to snorkelers, the shallow reef and boulder fields here are popular with divers. The great visibility and gentle currents are ideal for beginners at either activity.
Among the coral and sponges, you can expect to see anything from parrotfish to seahorses. Underwater photographers love the photogenic species such as moral eels, yellow goatfish, octopus, and sea turtles.
Marigot Bay
Marigot Bay
The calm, clear waters of picturesque Marigot Bay are ideal for novice snorkelers. Access from the sandy beach is easy and equipment is readily available to rent.
That ease of entry and beginner-friendly environment makes the bay popular with boat tours. It’s not the most vibrant underwater environment but it does allow everyone a safe experience.
You’ll find large shoals of juvenile fish here, and many coral species. You might even spot a ray or a flying fish if you venture further offshore, especially on the north side.
Marigot Bay
The bottom shelves down to around 15 feet and the high visibility means you will miss nothing. After your swim, there are plenty of facilities, such as bars and restaurants where you can try local cuisine.
The most famous bar here is Hurricane Hole, named for the bay’s reputation as a refuge in storms. Its narrow entrance, steep walls, deep water, and thick, wind-breaking vegetation make Marigot Bay a great sanctuary.
Lady’s Slipper Arch
Lady’s Slipper Arch
This picturesque sea arch in Anse Feré Bay found worldwide fame when it was used as a film location. Johnny Depp’s “Captain Jack” saw pirate shipmates hanging from it in a memorable scene.
Now an essential stop on boat tours along the west coast, the arch is also known as Lover’s Rock or Cinderella’s Arch. Daring locals will dive off it into the sea in return for tips.
While it’s not considered a prime snorkeling spot, many of those on tours seize the opportunity to enjoy the clear blue water. The better, close-up view of the arch makes any swim a memorable experience.
The arch can also be reached from the roadside nearby if you’re on a self-drive tour. However, you’ll need some local advice as to the best place to get into and out of the sea.
Jalousie Beach
Jalousie Beach
Jalousie Beach sits in a picturesque setting backed by lush tropical greenery and the Pitons. These twin peaks—represented on the island’s flag and countless T-shirts—are a must-see for any visitor to St. Lucia.
The beach is perhaps the most beautiful on the island, with clear turquoise waters and soft white sand. It’s also called Sugar Beach, not actually for its sand, but because of the nearby Sugar Beach Resort.
Pitons
The best way to reach the beach is on a boat tour from Soufrière. There are sun-loungers available, in addition to several good bars and restaurants.
Sheltered on the south side of Petit Piton, Jalousie is perfect for swimming and snorkeling in the Caribbean, with a non-boating area in the bay clearly marked. You can expect to see parrotfish, butterflyfish, and snappers among many other underwater delights.
The waters around St. Lucia have more than 150 species of fish and other marine life. Even inshore here, you have a good chance here of spotting eels, lobsters, and some rays.
Malgretoute Beach
Malgretoute Beach
Malgretoute is a gem in the shadow of Petit Piton, near Soufrière. North of the Piton, it’s reached by a short hike from Sugar Beach Road or by water taxi.
The beach is a mix of pebbles and coarse, black sand, which makes it often less crowded than others that look prettier. Long popular with local people, a new resort is now putting it on the visitor map.
It’s known as an excellent spot for snorkeling, with great visibility and plenty to see. There are many different corals here including sea fans, as well as sea urchins and schools of reef fish.
The clear water and shallow depths up to 12 feet make Malgretoute perfect for beginners. The deeper waters towards the base of the Petit Piton are more challenging but also more varied.
Coral Gardens
Coral Gardens
South of Jalousie/Sugar Beach, at the foot of the Gros Piton, is Coral Gardens, where you will find St. Lucias’s longest reef. The healthy coral supports a vibrant marine ecosystem with plenty of colourful fish.
The Gardens is best accessed by boat, with regular snorkeling tours calling in to explore here. It’s a protected marine reserve so you don’t have to worry about other watercraft.
The reefs are a good place to look out for green or spotted moray eels and lobsters. You might even be lucky enough to see turtles here.
Underwater photographers love the dramatic shapes of brain and elkhorn coral, and the excellent visibility. For divers, it’s a deep, seductive wall dive, needing good buoyancy control, but that’s not a concern for snorkelers.
You do need to remain aware of the current, another reason to take a guided tour. Novice snorkelers, or those with young children, will obviously want to stay near the shallower parts of the reef.
Smugglers Cove
Smugglers Cove Photo by Derek Key on Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Another beginner-friendly, north coast gem, Smugglers Cove is well sheltered by cliffs. The rocks encourage a healthy population of fish for snorkelers to search out.
The deep cove is well sheltered and calm, with a dark sand beach on the shoreward side. Dominated by the sun chairs and parasols of a resort, the beach still has room for visitors.
However, the best way to explore the cove remains on a boat tour as you’ll see more, the further out you go. A range of interesting species from octopus and lobster to eels and squid have been spotted here.
The bay offers plenty of water sports if you want a change of pace. Naturally, you can also enjoy the restaurant on the beach or rent a lounger to dry off in the sun.
As with any of St. Lucia’s beaches, do remember to use coral-safe sunscreen to protect the marine environment. You might want to buy it at home to avoid the understandably higher island prices.
Piton Wall
Piton Wall
Along the base of Petit Piton is a wall that drops down as steeply as the mountain rises above. Strong currents bring plenty of nutrients to encourage marine life but also create some challenges for swimmers.
The solution is to float with the current in a drift dive from a boat. You can enjoy the passing show of coral and tropical fish with the crew at hand to pick you up at any time.
These boat tours provide all the equipment you need, including a snorkeling vest. The crew’s local knowledge will guide you to the best places for flamboyant soft corals, sponges, and squid.
Superman’s Flight
The Piton Wall drops off into dark, deep waters that can bring on vertigo if you go too far offshore. This dive site is known as “Superman’s Flight”, not just for this soaring underwater experience, as you might think, but for the Piton’s appearance in a film.
These deeper waters do mean there’s a good chance of spotting bigger pelagic species, such as barracuda or grouper. The purple Creole wrasse, puffer fish and lobster are also commonly seen along the Wall.
Snorkeling in St. Lucia
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