Saint Lucia’s pair of dramatically tapered mountains, drive-in volcanic beaches, impressive waterfalls, hiking trails, fishing villages, and local street parties are definitely reasons to go here, but if you’re after the best snorkeling beaches in St Lucia, read on.
Here are several must-visit St Lucia snorkeling spots and info on the best time to visit, fees, guidelines, and places to stay to make your snorkeling experience a memorable one.
10 Best Snorkeling Beaches in St Lucia
There are many other snorkeling spots in Saint Lucia, but these 10 definitely take your experience to a whole other level.
If you’re visiting St. Lucia and have plans snorkeling, check out these 10 beaches to decide which one you’ll
1. Anse de Pitons (also known as Sugar beach)
Anse de Pitons, located within the Anse Piton Marine Preserve in the south of Saint Lucia, is a great spot for diving and snorkeling if you want to skip the crowds of other more famous areas like Anse Chastanet.
The Anse de Pitons waters are deeper than other St. Lucia beaches since the dive site is located at the base of Petit Piton (the famous Saint Lucia twin peaks).
It’s also why the coral reefs underwater thrive with many species of fish and other aquatic animals like parrot fish, eagle rays, trumpet fish, scorpion fish, and moray eels calling it their home.
2. Reduit Beach
Reduit beach, located within the Rodney Bay area in the northern part of Saint Lucia, is a recommended spot for beginner snorkelers because the waters here are clear and mostly calm.
You can swim alongside eels, crabs, and a wide range of big to small fishes.
You can go further out to sea if you’re an advanced snorkelers, but it isn’t recommended for a couple of reasons:
- Jellyfish presence, and
- The proximity of Reduit beach to a marina, meaning there could be times when boat traffic prevents you from enjoying the place.
And once you’re done, Reduit beach has the perfect chill vibe with restaurants, bars, and shops lining the area.
3. Marigot Bay
Marigot Bay is one of Saint Lucia’s mesmerizing spots, both underwater and above-the-water.
Located 15 minutes away from Castries (near the northern end of Saint Lucia), the Marigot area actually makes up several beaches.
The most popular snorkeling spot is the beach easily accessible by a ferry ride.
It’s a highly-recommended day tour spot for beginners due to the shallow waters. The area boasts of a gorgeous coral reef and the presence of many sea horses.
Advanced snorkelers can explore further near the outer edges of Marigot Bay for clearer waters and lesser crowds.
4. Pigeon Island
Pigeon Point, located within the Pigeon Island National Park to the extreme north of Saint Lucia, is a destination on its own.
Many people focus their trip exploring the park.
You’ll need to pay an entrance fee of $3 for kids and $8 for adults, but this already includes a hiking permit and access to other park activities.
The marine life found here are some of the most gorgeous you’ll see – from lobsters to starfishes, eagle rays and moray eels, as well as anemones and giant barracuda.
After snorkeling on Pigeon Island, there are plenty of other things to do such as hiking Fort Rodney, a piece of history from the American Revolutionary War that now provides a stunning viewpoint from above the island.
You can stay at the ever-so-reliable Sandals Grande, which has been welcoming guests since 1993. Plus, it’s a quick walk away from Pigeon Island.
5. Smuggler’s Cove Beach
Snorkeling is always enjoyable when you choose a relatively secluded beach such as Smugglers Cove.
Located north of Saint Lucia, Smugglers Cove is accessed by driving to the Cap Estate.
Directions can be tricky, but once you get here, you’ll agree that it’s worth the trip.
My favorite thing about snorkeling at Smugglers Cove is you don’t need to go too far out into the water to find lobsters, flying gurnards, sea turtles, large trumpet fish, and other tropical fishes.
Of course, if you do decide to venture out with a boat, you’ll be rewarded with clearer waters, healthy coral reefs, and more sea creatures.
Smugglers Cove has its own beach bar, so if you want to just relax by the beach after a day of snorkeling or diving, the cove can accommodate your needs.
6. Anse Cochon Beach
If you’re visiting Castries, the capital of Saint Lucia, and are looking for a quick beach getaway that will allow you to do some snorkeling or diving, Anse Cochon Beach is your best bet since it is just 20 minutes away.
It is accessible by either boat or by car.
One striking thing about Anse Cochon Beach is its gorgeous stretch of black sand.
For snorkeling, both ends of the beach are the go-to spots where the waters are calm and visibility is perfect.
You can begin to see all kinds of aquatic life from sting rays to lionfish, shrimps to trumpet fish, sharp tail eels, squids, octopus, and more.
Scuba divers flock to this beach because of two known shipwrecks – Lesleen M and Daini Koyomaru.
7. Virgin Cove
Virgin Cove isn’t the most-recommended and popular snorkeling.
Some folks don’t even consider it as one of the best snorkeling beaches in St Lucia, but it does have a huge advantage – this place is never crowded and the waters (and marine life there) are protected and virtually untouched.
Located very close to the Anse Cochon beach, Virgin Cove can only be accessed by boat, so you’d either have to join a snorkeling tour or hire a water taxi to get here.
The snorkeling area at Virgin Cove is only 15-feet-deep, making it ideal for beginner snorkelers.
Add clear visibility and it’s extremely easy to spot scorpion fish, cleaner shrimp, sea crabs, moray eels, various snapper species, and a plethora of coral species such as gorgonian sea fans, large barrel sponges, brain corals, and more.
8. Anse Chastanet Beach
Anse Chastanet Beach is located in Soufriere on the southern end of Saint Lucia.
If locals choose to recommend just 1 of the best snorkeling beaches in St Lucia on this list, Anse Chastanet would be it.
Here are several reasons why Anse Chastanet is a good snorkeling spot:
- The area is protected by buoys (boats cannot damage corals or disrupt marine life)
- Called “Fairy World” for its colorful coral reef paired with bright tropical fishes
- The shallow water reef makes it ideal for beginner snorkeling and underwater photography
Anse Chastanet’s beautiful reefs directly affect the number of marine life you can find here.
Some of them include puffer fish, parrot fish, needlefish, Seargent majors, peacock flounders, sea turtles, seahorses, octopus, and other 150+ fish species.
Both ends of the Anse Chastanet beach offer ideal visibility, making them perfect conditions for snorkeling and diving.
9. Anse Mamin
If you visited Anse Chastenet, make sure to spare an hour or two to visit the neighboring beach Anse Mamin, which is just a 10-minute-walk away and separated by a 700-km path.
Because of its proximity to Anse Chastenet, you can expect the same biodiversity and marine life in Anse Mamin, including sightings of hawksbill turtles.
The only difference is that this beach is a LOT quieter, more secluded, and has fewer boats around.
10. Coral Gardens
Coral Gardens isn’t as popular as others on this list, but it is a pretty special place.
This beach holds the record for the longest coral reef in Saint Lucia.
Located near Sugar Beach at the base of the Gros Piton, Coral Gardens is also home to a rich marine life with fish like feather stars, eels, Christmas tree worms, and more.
What are the Best Snorkeling Beaches in St Lucia You’d Recommend?
Have you visited Saint Lucia recently and snorkeled to your heart’s content?
Which beach is your go-to beach when it comes to snorkeling in the Caribbeans?