Discover the seabed of Martinique
Martinique is also beautiful for its seabed, exceptional aquatic landscapes, made of corals, and multicolored exotic fish. Underwater marvels which make the happiness of the divers. From the North to the South, the island conceals fantastic spots, nevertheless the great majority of the diving spots are located on the Caribbean coast.
The sea bed of Martinique, with or without a bottle?
Martinique is the ideal place to start diving. Always warm waters (between 25 ° and 29 ° C), an exceptional setting, a unique biodiversity, we can not dream better.
Snorkeling without a tank is sometimes enough to discover exceptional sites. The coral reef shelters a remarkable diversity of fauna and flora. You will be able to admire coral fish, surgeon fish, damselfish, but also sea urchi…
…ns, starfish, seahorses and anemones.
So you can discover the richness of the underwater world with little equipment.
But for those who want to go further, scuba diving with tanks allows to go deeper. It is essential to visit the many wrecks that have been washed up on the island, or to observe sea turtles for example. There are diving spots for all levels in Martinique, it is of course possible to make a first dive for beginners.
The sea bed of the south of Martinique
Le Diamant
the rock of Le Diamant is one of the symbols of Martinique. But it is also an unavoidable diving site for all amateurs. Immersed in the sea south of the peninsula of Trois-Ilets, more than two kilometers from the coast, the rock rises to almost 200 meters high.
It is a protected reserve, where it is forbidden to land, and a habitat for many endangered species. But it is underwater that the visit continues with the famous “underwater fault of Diamant” which is an arch of 5 meters high that crosses the rock from one side to the other.
Anse d’Arlet
Ideal spot for quiet dives, good visibility, little current, and lots of beautiful things to see like green turtles, morays, barracudas, diodons (porcupine fish), or even the dreaded lion fish.
The wreck of the Nahoon is also there. It is one of the most beautiful dive of Martinique. This three-masted ship was sunk in the 90’s to serve as a habitat for underwater fauna, and lies at 35 meters depth. Life has settled there, presenting a colorful landscape with an abundance of fauna and flora. You will find at anse d’Arlet lobsters, crabs, barracudas and many others.
Anse Dufour
between Anses d’Arlet and Trois-îlets , this small fishermen’s hamlet has a magnificent white sand beach. It is at Anse Dufour where you can admire the magnificent green turtles
Grande Anse
Burgos Point is a shallow water dive site, which makes it an ideal spot for beginners.
Submarine reef
Next to Anse Céron, a reef protrudes from the waves and its shape reminds us of a submarine. The corals shelter an important aquatic fauna that is easy to observe.
The seabed in the North of Martinique
The wrecks of the bay of Saint Pierre
During the terrible eruption of Mount Pelee in 1902, more than 30,000 people died. Among them were also the crews of the boats that were then at anchor in the bay of Saint Pierre, of which more than 400 were sunk by the fiery clouds.
More than a hundred years later, these wrecks rest peacefully in their marine setting, filled with new life of plants and sea creatures.
Divers can explore a dozen wrecks, some of them stranded at depths of up to 55 meters. Here are the most famous wrecks that can be explored in the bay of Saint Pierre.
- The Roraïma was a 120-meter long cargo ship that dates back to 1883. Of the 68 crew members, only 11 survived. Today, the Roraïma is the most famous wreck in the bay of Saint Pierre, notably for its exceptional preservation. The area is forbidden to anchor to protect the site.
- Gabrielle : this three-masted schooner is located between 30 and 38 meters deep.
- Diamant : this maritime shuttle which ensured the link between Saint Pierre and Fort de France lies at a depth of 30 meters.
- Dahlia : About fifty meters from the wreck of Le Diamant, the Dahlia is an American mine-clearing vessel with a metallic hull. You have to go down to 30 meters to see it.
- Tamaya : Located at a depth of 85 meters, the wreck is identifiable thanks to a bell bearing the engraved mention “Tamaya 1862”. This bell has been brought to the surface and is now in the Volcanological Museum of Saint Pierre. The Tamaya was a large three-masted sailing ship of 50 meters long. It was sunk immediately during the eruption, taking its 13 crew members with it.
Pearl Rock
800 meters from the shore in front of Anse Couleuvre in one of the wildest areas of the island.
The islet is part of the territory of the Marine Reserve of Precheur. It is a site which shelters an important biodiversity, and many protected species, in particular of marine birds.
Anse Turin
At the foot of Mount Pelee, Anse Turin is a beautiful black sand beach. But its bottom shelters the wreck of the Amélie, a three-masted ship which sank during the volcanic eruption of 1902. The wreck can be observed from the surface because it is only 7 to 8 meters deep.
A white buoy marks the surface of this unmissable diving spot. Because the wreck is home to a large underwater fauna and flora that has colonized the area.