Dive· Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin· Leeward Islands
Passe a Colas Dive Site (Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin)
16° 21.3′ N · 61° 34.2′ W
The only place in the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin park core where scuba diving is allowed: a reef pass where a plateau at about 4 m drops to sand at around 30 m, with barracuda, southern stingrays and eagle rays along the wall.
Practical
Position: Passe a Colas strait node in OpenStreetMap (node 14166350740), at the barrier reef east of Ilet Fajou. Park rules: diving is banned in the core zone except here, and only on the park-installed buoy, with only one boat on the site at a time; fishing, jet skis and night lighting are banned and anchoring is prohibited in the core zone. The classic dive starts from the 'Pierre aux Anges' and follows the drop-off before returning over the shallow plateau. Reef pass: expect current and breaking water on the reef in strong trades - dive with an authorised operator, navigate the lagoon in good light only.
Best for
Wall diving with rays inside the protected lagoon
Season
Best in light trades; avoid strong easterly swell on the reef