Sainte Anne Resort and Spa, Seychelles
Sainte Anne Resort and Spa has recently reopened (2020) as a Club Med resort. Sainte Anne Island, Seychelles.
Coordinates in degrees decimal: N -4.613506, E 55.496492
Visited in February 2017. Photographer: Nigel Thomas. Cameras: Pentax WG-II,
Olympus TG-870
Sainte Anne Club Med Resort is located at the south-eastern point of Sainte Anne Island in the Marine National Park. Three beaches are easily accessible from the resort with further beaches available if you are prepared to make the effort. A small boat is also provided to take snorkellers over to the other side of the channel off the southeast coast. Fringing reef is found off the three main beaches, including: Grande Anse, facing west-north-west and backed by shallow water seagrass beds; Anse Royale which wraps round the southern end of the island and has coastal defence features off the beach; finally Anse Tortues (also known as Anse Cimetiere), which faces southeast and has a reef edge backed by a shallow water lagoon. As a result of the variety of habitats the number of species recorded was in excess of 160.
Six locations were visited on Little Cayman. Area 1 is from the shore at Southern Cross Club out to Owen Island. Area 2 is on the south western shore, known as Preston Bay. Area 3 was visited while snorkelling from the Southern Cross Club dive vessel. Area 4 was off the shore at the north coast Southern Cross shelter. Area 5 was on the shore just off north coast road east. Area 6 was from the shelter at Point of Sand on the eastern end of the island.
The area off the beach at Southern Cross Club (Area 1) is very shallow and populated by dense growths of seagrass. It is possible to swim from the shore to a more interesting area around Owen Island, which can be seen in the distance on this photo, however it is recommended that you use one of the hotel's kayaks. The main lagoon reef is located about 100m further off shore.
The kayak can be beached on the western side of the island and it is then possible to wade into the shallow waters from the beach. The area of beach furthest west is the easiest area to enter. The initial area is very shallow but popular with feeding rays. You can then swim around a rock headland towards the inner edge of the main lagoon reef.
Much of the shallow water inside the main lagoon reef is covered in seagrass with very large numbers of Queen Conch present. Many fish species populate the inner edge of the main reef.
Heading back toward the island it is possible to find extensive, and quite unusual, coralline algal reef structures, which support diverse fish populations. This is all very shallow water!
Area 2 is located on the south western shore, known as Preston Bay. The shore can be accessed off the airport road, via the footpath to the Preston Bay Iguana Nesting Sanctuary. The area supports many coral heads, interspersed amongst healthy seagrass beds.
The coral heads with overhangs are ideal areas to find sleeping nurse sharks, as well as large populations of spiny lobster.
Area 3 was accessed from the Southern Cross Dive boat. It is located in Bloody Bay over the inshore back reef areas, with water depths down to 10m before the drop off occurs. The area is extensively covered in sponge species and a mixture of hard and soft corals, including many seafans.
This is also an ideal area to see some of the larger species, including sharks, eagle rays, turtles and barracuda.
Area 4 can be accessed from the shore at the Southern Cross shelter on the north coast of the island. The shelter can be found by following the footpath/rough track that is the other side of the road where Olivine Kirk Drive meets the North Coast Road West. The shore is fairly rocky so solid sole wetsuit boots are recommended.
Swim towards the nearest marker buoy over relatively bare rock areas, before reaching the reef edge, where populations of sponges, hard and soft coral, and, in particular, seafans may be found. It is possible to drop off the edge of the reef into deeper water, where large barrel sponges occur, although these tend to be in greater than 10m of water.
Areas 5 is off the north coast of the island. Follow the North Coast Road East. Pass the turn off for Kena Hall Road, about 2km later there is a set of 3 houses on the left. The third house has a path through to a jetty. This appears to be a rental property so make sure the residents are ok with you entering. Access is from the shore. Strong soled shoes are recommended.
Swim straight out and then follow the patch reef edges. There are multiple patch reefs which have breaks in them leading onto shallow flat rock areas with numerous Searods. These flat rock areas also have small burrows with interesting populations of Blennies and Jawfish. Inshore of the reefs are extensive areas of raised Seagrass beds.
Area 6 is located on the eastern area of the island at Sandy Point. Follow Guy Banks Road almost to its end where a turnoff to the right leads you to another of the Southern Cross shelters. Beware of the west to east current, i.e. right to left, which is quite pronounced in the inshore area. From the tip of Sandy Point swim in the direction of the western end of Cayman Brac (just visible in the photo.)
In the inshore areas many coral heads can be found, with associated fish populations, occasional nurse sharks and frequent groups of Barracuda.
Further offshore the main reef can be found, with diverse hard and soft coral populations. This reef becomes more dispersed towards the east, with reduced swell, but be wary of the current.
Six locations were visited on Little Cayman. Area 1 is from the shore at Southern Cross Club out to Owen Island. Area 2 is on the south western shore, known as Preston Bay. Area 3 was visited while snorkelling from the Southern Cross Club dive vessel. Area 4 was off the shore at the north coast Southern Cross shelter. Area 5 was on the shore just off north coast road east. Area 6 was from the shelter at Point of Sand on the eastern end of the island.
The area off the beach at Southern Cross Club (Area 1) is very shallow and populated by dense growths of seagrass. It is possible to swim from the shore to a more interesting area around Owen Island, which can be seen in the distance on this photo, however it is recommended that you use one of the hotel's kayaks. The main lagoon reef is located about 100m further off shore.
The kayak can be beached on the western side of the island and it is then possible to wade into the shallow waters from the beach. The area of beach furthest west is the easiest area to enter. The initial area is very shallow but popular with feeding rays. You can then swim around a rock headland towards the inner edge of the main lagoon reef.
Much of the shallow water inside the main lagoon reef is covered in seagrass with very large numbers of Queen Conch present. Many fish species populate the inner edge of the main reef.
Heading back toward the island it is possible to find extensive, and quite unusual, coralline algal reef structures, which support diverse fish populations. This is all very shallow water!
Area 2 is located on the south western shore, known as Preston Bay. The shore can be accessed off the airport road, via the footpath to the Preston Bay Iguana Nesting Sanctuary. The area supports many coral heads, interspersed amongst healthy seagrass beds.
The coral heads with overhangs are ideal areas to find sleeping nurse sharks, as well as large populations of spiny lobster.
Area 3 was accessed from the Southern Cross Dive boat. It is located in Bloody Bay over the inshore back reef areas, with water depths down to 10m before the drop off occurs. The area is extensively covered in sponge species and a mixture of hard and soft corals, including many seafans.
This is also an ideal area to see some of the larger species, including sharks, eagle rays, turtles and barracuda.
Area 4 can be accessed from the shore at the Southern Cross shelter on the north coast of the island. The shelter can be found by following the footpath/rough track that is the other side of the road where Olivine Kirk Drive meets the North Coast Road West. The shore is fairly rocky so solid sole wetsuit boots are recommended.
Swim towards the nearest marker buoy over relatively bare rock areas, before reaching the reef edge, where populations of sponges, hard and soft coral, and, in particular, seafans may be found. It is possible to drop off the edge of the reef into deeper water, where large barrel sponges occur, although these tend to be in greater than 10m of water.
Areas 5 is off the north coast of the island. Follow the North Coast Road East. Pass the turn off for Kena Hall Road, about 2km later there is a set of 3 houses on the left. The third house has a path through to a jetty. This appears to be a rental property so make sure the residents are ok with you entering. Access is from the shore. Strong soled shoes are recommended.
Swim straight out and then follow the patch reef edges. There are multiple patch reefs which have breaks in them leading onto shallow flat rock areas with numerous Searods. These flat rock areas also have small burrows with interesting populations of Blennies and Jawfish. Inshore of the reefs are extensive areas of raised Seagrass beds.
Area 6 is located on the eastern area of the island at Sandy Point. Follow Guy Banks Road almost to its end where a turnoff to the right leads you to another of the Southern Cross shelters. Beware of the west to east current, i.e. right to left, which is quite pronounced in the inshore area. From the tip of Sandy Point swim in the direction of the western end of Cayman Brac (just visible in the photo.)
In the inshore areas many coral heads can be found, with associated fish populations, occasional nurse sharks and frequent groups of Barracuda.
Further offshore the main reef can be found, with diverse hard and soft coral populations. This reef becomes more dispersed towards the east, with reduced swell, but be wary of the current.
