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Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia

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Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia

Nick Troubetzkoy’s Anse Chastanet

Anse Chastanet, Soufriere, St. Lucia

Coordinates in degrees decimal:  N 13.864737, E -61.07788

Visited in  November, 2014.   Photographer: Nigel Thomas.    Cameras:  Pentax WG-II and Sea & Sea 1G with DX1G housin

http://www.ansechastanet.com

Anse Chastanet is situated on the west coast of St. Lucia.  It is an enclosed bay with large cliffs to the south, a sandy beach in the centre and rocky outcrops to the north of the bay. 

The wet season is July to October, with the best time to visit considered to be between February and May. Winds are almost uniformly from the east, hence the bay is sheltered year round, hence ideal for snorkelling.  

 The area has particularly good examples of open water fish species, that gather off the edge of the Marine Reserve, as well as a healthy array of sponge, hard corals and gorgonians.  

A total of 100 species were found, including over 34 fish species.  Particularly unusual were the Snake Polyps, (similar to anemones) which were found on the shallow water rocks.    

This site was created without the support of the resort.  

Several areas within the bay at Anse Chastanet are both safe and interesting to snorkel over. The two main areas of interest are the reserve area to the left (south) of the bay (1 & 3) and an area of rocky outcrops to the right, in the north of the bay (2 & 4).
To the left of the bay the Marine Reserve area is marked out with buoys and floating rope. No boats are allowed in this area. The safest entry point is off the steps at the end of the vessel landing jetty (1) although entry can also be made from the beach, watching out for boats. In the shallow waters there are a variety of habitats, including isolated rock outcrops, covered in tube and barrel sponges and surrounded by sand and seagrass.
Below the cliffs (3) the water is much deeper and open water fish may be observed shoaling at the boundary of the reserve area. At the base of the cliffs there are several caves, gullies and overhangs. The image illustrates the area below the cliffs where a variety of corals, sponges, seafans and urchins may be found.
The best entry point for the right hand side of the bay (2) is on the beach before the rocky outcrops start to appear. These rocks are covered in a rich variety of sponges and seafans, with numerous small fish species noted amongst them. The seafans dominate the rocks further to the right of the bay, suggesting wave exposure is greater in this area, so take care when there is a swell.
Interesting habitats, including the continuation of the rocky outcrops, with very dense growths of seawhips and searods can be found at the northern (right-hand) extent of the bay. These occur at their greatest density on the rocks below the large outcrop (4). The whole of the bay supports a wide range of fish species, including some of which are found exclusively over the seagrass, particularly in the centre of the bay.
Several areas within the bay at Anse Chastanet are both safe and interesting to snorkel over. The two main areas of interest are the reserve area to the left (south) of the bay (1 & 3) and an area of rocky outcrops to the right, in the north of the bay (2 & 4).
To the left of the bay the Marine Reserve area is marked out with buoys and floating rope. No boats are allowed in this area. The safest entry point is off the steps at the end of the vessel landing jetty (1) although entry can also be made from the beach, watching out for boats. In the shallow waters there are a variety of habitats, including isolated rock outcrops, covered in tube and barrel sponges and surrounded by sand and seagrass.
Below the cliffs (3) the water is much deeper and open water fish may be observed shoaling at the boundary of the reserve area. At the base of the cliffs there are several caves, gullies and overhangs. The image illustrates the area below the cliffs where a variety of corals, sponges, seafans and urchins may be found.
The best entry point for the right hand side of the bay (2) is on the beach before the rocky outcrops start to appear. These rocks are covered in a rich variety of sponges and seafans, with numerous small fish species noted amongst them. The seafans dominate the rocks further to the right of the bay, suggesting wave exposure is greater in this area, so take care when there is a swell.
Interesting habitats, including the continuation of the rocky outcrops, with very dense growths of seawhips and searods can be found at the northern (right-hand) extent of the bay. These occur at their greatest density on the rocks below the large outcrop (4). The whole of the bay supports a wide range of fish species, including some of which are found exclusively over the seagrass, particularly in the centre of the bay.

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All Reef & seabed associated fish Mid & Open-water fish Sponges Anemones & Sea Firs Soft Corals & Gorgonians Hard Corals & Coral like species Worms & worm like species Crustaceans Molluscs Echinoderms Algae & Seagrasses

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