St. Lucia - Anse Chastanet: How is the diving, really?

[LaiLaiDiver]

Hey divers, I'm considering a one week trip this August. The resort looks perfect (I'm not personally keen on being so isolated from the rest of the island, the culture, etc., but so be it.).

My only concern is the quality of the diving, and the plentitude of marine life. I've dived Fiji, Philippines, Bonaire, Roatan & Cozumel. Will I be disappointed in St. Lucia?

If so, what new spot might you recommend in the Caribbean that is affordable, and offers a nice topside experience? We'll have a non-diving mother-in-law along with us for this trip. Any thoughts on Vieques in Puerto Rico?

 

[Damselfish]

Define affordable, and people can make better suggestions. Affordable implies a lower budget than Anse Chastanet does...

You might look into Grenada. Wide variety of resort choices and very interesting topside. It's a place I would consider if I wanted a more well-rounded vaca and were taking my MIL. I only did a couple dives there on the last day of a liveaboard and actually wasn't super impressed especially with the viz we had, but we may have been somewhat unlucky as I've heard much better reports.

 

[rick00001967]

compared to your past dive locations. st lucia will not quite measure up. but we enjoyed our diving there. the resort you choose is in an amazing location but is certainly not "affordable" for many people.

what about utila ?? turks and caicos ?? i've never been to either but have heard good things

 

[ColoDale]

Ditto on the comparison to your past diving (Fiji and Cozumel) versus St. Lucia. St. Lucia is not bad but does not compare well - especially to Fiji (my favorite place for diving). St. Lucia does have some good sites and a few wrecks that are good. Anse Chastanet is nearer to good diving on the south end. There are some trip reports and threads in this forum in the past about the best St. Lucia dive sites, dive Ops and hotels.

I won't comment on affordable locations since it's subjective. The non-diving mother in law? Well... something near a population center. You could save money getting a condo or house somewhere which might save money but could mean cooking, etc.

 

[ginovega]

Vieques is a nice spot specially to relax, no big hotels chains just old school island time...There are many local own hotels and B&B very affordable...You will need to take the ferry from Fajardo ( the ferry is 2.50 one way trip from Fajardo - usually the ferry to Vieques is not as crowded than the one to Culebra) or a small plane form either the Ceiba airport ( The former airport for the now closed US Navy Base - Roosevelt Roads) ( Vieques Air Link or Flamingo Air Link - I paid 88.00 for one way to Culebera) or San Juan Isla Grande Airport ( this is not the international Airport) There are two diving ops in the island, Vieques- Black Beard Sports - www.blackbeardsports.com and Isla Nena Scuba Isla Nena Scuba | Vieques, Puerto Rico You can also check Culebra ...it has Flamingo Beach the fifth most beautiful beach in the world...In Culebra contact Culebra Divers - www.culebradivers.com . If you want the local perspective before choosing a dive site or operator contact a friend of mine , Jesus Morales of Blue Water Scuba - he has an Dive OP in Ponce but has a lots experience diving in the East and can give a more informed feedback on the PR East...(Blue Water Scuba) ...let me know and I will send your some tips....

However the best diving in PR is on the South West side... check my other post for more info or PM and I can help you w info...

Enjoy...

 

[diver 85]

OP, look into Little Cayman---or Cayman Brac, a slight step down IMO to LC...Either one is great, just one a little greater........OR.......Dominica, that is one GREAT trip, esp considering all the topside stuff to see & do(that none of the Caymans have).......

 

[rick00001967]

dominica ??? hmmmmmm now theres a place a never thought of going to

 

[diver 85]

dominica ??? hmmmmmm now theres a place a never thought of going to

IMO out of the 60+ Caribbean dive trips we've made, the best diving in the Caribbean.....

Some of my UW pics here---& topside were even better....
Dominica--July '09 - a set on Flickr