Where are the best places in St Lucia for diving?

Friday, 27 January 2012 1:29 PM

If you're keen to try your hand at some exciting water sports on your next break, it is certainly worth thinking about going on St Lucia holidays. By coming to the Caribbean island you will get the chance to take part in fantastic snorkelling and diving.

With its tropical climate and crystal-blue waters, you'll find St Lucia is the ideal place for snorkelers and divers of all experience levels. As you explore beneath the waves, you'll get the opportunity to see exotic fish and beautiful coral formations.

Generally, the top diving spots can be found on the west coast of the island and while there will plenty of places for those visiting on luxury all inclusive holidays to choose from, perhaps one of the best is Malgretoute.

Located just to the north of the Petit Piton mountain, here you'll get the chance to walk on a pretty black sand beach on your way into the sea. Put on your snorkel and upon diving beneath the waves you'll soon be swimming with southern sennet, creole wrasse and other tropical sealife.

Trou Diable also offers wonderful diving for activity holidaymakers in St Lucia. Here, you can explore an expansive coral bed, featuring large barrel sponges, and swim alongside colourful chromis and grunts.

You'll also be to swim through some intricate coral formations, with the valleys and trenches here looking like the fingers of a hand.

Perhaps one of the best locations for divers on the island is Anse Chastanet.

Situated near the pretty town of Anse La Raye on St Lucia's west coast, this is an ideal place for beginner divers and snorkelers to explore the underwater world.

The shallow reef, which has a maximum depth of about 7 m, can be accessed directly from the beach, although if you continue to swim away from the shore you'll be able to dive down as far as 18 m.

There's plenty of gorgeous coral formations to look out for here, although it could be the numerous species of marine life - including turtles and trumpetfish, a long-bodied animal that has an upturned mouth - that really catch your interest.

Alternatively, you may want to spend some time exploring Rosmund's Trench. A relatively shallow site - it has a maximum depth of 10 m - this pretty spot enables you to catch a glimpse of sea turtles, frogfish and seahorses.

The above are just a selection of the top-quality snorkelling and diving spots to be found on this beautiful island, so why not book a luxury activity break to the island to find out some of the rest?