Diving St Lucia with Island Divers at Ti Kaye

[Interceptor121]

Just back from one week in St Lucia. The weather was excellent however there has been considerable rain in the previous months so visibility was 15 meters at best and lots of suspended particles in the water
We stayed at Ti Kaye due to the strategic position on Anse Cochon beach, this ensures the boat rides are at most 25 minutes from the further southern sites on the Pitons
Coming to the diving the staff at Island Divers were extremely helpful starting from the manager Robert but especially the DM Lester
Diving wise it seems all medium and large fish has been eaten out in St Lucia we did 10 dives of which 2 on Anse Cochon North Beach to take more picture of the resident Sea Horses, we had 3 in one dive
For what concerns the sites the best are between Anse Cochon and Anse Chastanet, the 3 dive sites in Anse Cochon (North and South Beach and the Lesleen M wreck are some of the best). Rosemond trench is also a great one together with Anse Chastanet beach. Another one worth nothing is the key holes pinnacles near Soufriere. The dive sites at the Pitons despite the scenic view were the less interesting with less fish and sometimes strong currents
Diving from Ti Kaye meant we left the centre at 930 and were back for 130 latest avoiding the long transfers from the resorts in the north, frankly if we had to entertain 1 and half hour boating to get to those sites we would have been put off

Resort wise Ti Kaye has a strategic location and a beautiful setting with a Spa with breath taking view of the bay and the wines are reasonably priced, logistically a perfect location though secluded and out of the action

There are some pictures we took on the trip in one of the flickr sets and soon we will add a youtube video

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This is the specific flickr set http://www.flickr.com/photos/interceptor121/sets/72157630047311313/

 

[ColoDale]

Nice photos. You're right on the locations of the dive sites. The ones to the north were not as good however there had been a hurricane passing through months before my last trip to St. Lucia so maybe they have recovered a bit by now.

 

[Wookie]

I was a resort instructor in St. Lucia back in the early '90's. When I was there, Anse Cochon (Bay of Pigs) was wild jungle beyond the beach, and Anse la Raye wall was the best diving north of Anse Chastenet. The Lesleen M looks good, but does anyone dive the sunken barge just south of Anse Cochon? It was put down while I was there and was a mighty fine, although deep dive. There weren't any fish there when I was there either, but the Japanese fishing co-op was doing a great business raping the ocean of anything they could buy. Sad when a culture sells it's resources for pocket change. Ask the Haitians about it.

 

[Interceptor121]

Hey Wookie

It is reassuring to know the fish did not disappear just recently

Am not aware of that dive site. The local standard seem to be 40 minutes dive at 18 meter 60 feet and not much more and honestly there does not seem to be more either at depth at least where we have dived

Anyway the place is great the local are fun and the operation was good, all in all a good trip to test new equipment and have a good beach holiday

We did not go Anse la Raye wall as it just rained and it was murky

 

[Rescue Diver68]

Nice pics, thanks for sharing!

 

[Interceptor121]

This is the relevant video of the same trip

Diving St Lucia June 2012 - YouTube