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Diving in the Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve

Last Updated: January 25, 2022 · Guadeloupe

When first coming to Guadeloupe, one of the top things on my bucket list was none other than diving in the Jacques Cousteau Reserve (Réserve Cousteau). I had heard and seen incredible reports about the abundant coral reef and marine life here that I literally couldn’t wait to dive in and see it all for myself.

After all, what diver wouldn’t want to explore a location named after Captain Cousteau himself? You can even visit his underwater bronze statue on the seafloor just off the Pigeon Islands (but more on that below!).

I’m happy to now say that the Cousteau Reserve is a phenomenal place to go diving and/or snorkeling. On two occasions, I have been able to dive at Pointe Lézarde and also snorkel the dive sites at Pigeon Island.

In this guide, I will share the best dive sites in the Cousteau Reserve, which dive shops are available, prices/tarifs, and more.

Huge shout out and thanks to Guillaume (@wilhelm_te_artist) who kindly shared his GoPro Hero 9 photos of our diving excursion to the Pointe Lézarde dive site. All photo credit goes to Guillaume unless otherwise stated. Photos edited/color graded by me. Merci!

Table of Contents show
Diving in Jacques Cousteau Reserve
Where & What Is the Réserve Jacques Cousteau?
How to Experience the Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve
Diving
Snorkeling
Glass-Bottom Boat Tour
Popular Dive Sites of the Cousteau Reserve
Preparing for Your Diving Excursion

Diving in Jacques Cousteau Reserve

coral reef and marine life diving in jacques cousteau underwater reserve in guadeloupe

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

female diver in guadeloupe

Where & What Is the Réserve Jacques Cousteau?

The Cousteau Reserve is located just off the town of Bouillante on Basse-Terre island in Guadeloupe.

It inherits its name from the famous Commander Jacques-Yves Cousteau who pioneered the global scuba diving culture and underwater exploration that we know today.

According to this site, Captain Cousteau and his team aboard the CALYPSO came to the Pigeon Islands off the west coast of Guadeloupe in 1959 to perform a series of tests on the diving saucer—SP-350 nicknamed “Denise”—the first vehicle at the time to explore the depths of the sea.

While the saucer was getting fixed, Cousteau and friends dove the sites of the Îlets Pigeon. Cousteau later wrote a formal letter to the Director of the INRA requesting that the area become a protected marine reserve due to its exceptional conditions.

  • coral reef and marine life diving in jacques cousteau underwater reserve in guadeloupe
  • coral reef and marine life diving in jacques cousteau underwater reserve in guadeloupe
  • female diver diving in guadeloupe
  • coral sponges in jacques cousteau marine park
  • coral sponges in jacques cousteau marine park

The name “Cousteau Reserve” had already been in colloquial use by the local dive shops, so it was a no-brainer once the request had been accepted.

After 1996, the activity around the Pigeon Islands, including fishing, became regulated, but it wasn’t until 2009 that the area officially was declared “the heart of the Guadeloupe National Park.”

In 2004, a bronze statue of Captain Jacques Cousteau with his signature red beanie, sculpted by Albert Fage, was ceremonially immersed 12m deep at the “Coral Garden” dive site and attended by Cousteau’s son and former members of the CALYPSO.

Today, the Cousteau Reserve stretches from the south of Bouillante to the north of Pointe Noire.

How to Experience the Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve

  • coral sponges in jacques cousteau marine park

Diving

Scuba diving is by far the best way to explore the Cousteau Reserve!

There are 13 sites to explore, each with abundant coral reefs and marine life. There are a handful of dive shops that offer affordable group excursions (plongée d’exploration), first-time discoveries for beginners (baptêmes), or entire certification courses to get your PADI or SSI (formations).

  • Les Heures Saines — who I booked with! 👌
  • Archipel Plongée
  • CIP Guadeloupe
  • Alizée Plongée

🌟 Prices may vary slightly, but you can expect to pay around €46+ for a single dive with a group. Present your PADI Certification (or equivalent) to join one of the group excursions to the dive sites.

While you can choose to join a shipwreck site or a night dive, you can’t really choose which daytime dive site you visit as there are so many and they’re planned in advance. (If you have a specific site in mind, just ask when those are scheduled to go out and if there’s any availability.)

Read about each dive site description below! You can also watch this short clip of the sea turtle that came to visit us during our dive at Pointe Lézarde.

Snorkeling

If you aren’t a fan of whole-body underwater immersion, but still want to enjoy the beauty of the marine park, then go snorkeling around the Pigeon Islands.

Glass-Bottom Boat Tour

Finally, if you don’t want to get your feet at all, then you also have the chance to board the Nautilus glass-bottom boat and tour around the Pigeon Islands and Cousteau Reserve.

Popular Dive Sites of the Cousteau Reserve

coral sponges in jacques cousteau marine park
Pointe Lézarde

There are an incredible amount of dive sites speckled around the Cousteau Reserve—13 or more, I think! Here is a quick snapshot of the most popular sites.

  • The Coral Garden, The Pool, and The Aquarium (Pigeon Islands)
  • Pointe Mahault
  • The Japanese Garden
  • 3 shipwreck sites — plongée épaves
  • Pointe Malendure
  • Pointe Lézarde — the dive site we did!

Pigeon Islands: The three dive sites off the Pigeon Islands—Coral Garden, the Pool, and the Aquarium—all have beautiful colorful reefs. Spot trumpetfish, blue tang, barracudas, sea turtles, angelfish, and more tropical Caribbean fish. If you dive the Coral Garden, you’ll also get the chance to salute Captain Cousteau!

Pointe Mahault: Fairly shallow, rocky dive (15–45 ft deep) with an abundance of fish.

Japanese Garden: This site has gained recognition as one of the most beautiful dive sites in the reserve with sea sponges. I initially signed up for this dive site, but due to the buoy breaking the morning of, our excursion was rerouted to Pointe Lézarde instead. Dommage!

Shipwreck Dives: There are three shipwreck sites you can explore diving in the Cousteau Reserve—The Gustavia, The Franjack, and the Augustin Fresnel II. Two of the three may require advanced diving certification (niveau 2).

Pointe Lézarde: This is one of the southernmost dive sites in the Cousteau Reserve. It also offers a different type of site, seeing as the thermal activity from nearby Bouillante is present here. As such, you can spot geothermal vents in the seabed as you dive. Hover your hand over one, and you will feel hot water coming from the underground hot springs! (Careful not to get burned!) In addition to the hot springs, we saw two turtles and lots of colorful reef fish plus a rare frogfish, angelfish, lobster, eel, and more.

  • female diver in guadeloupe
  • coral sponges in jacques cousteau marine park
  • coral sponges in jacques cousteau marine park

Preparing for Your Diving Excursion

It had been a whole year since I last went scuba diving in Tulum, Mexico. So, I was a bit nervous to join a dive group like this. It served as a good reminder of all those diving techniques I learned. Here are some tips to keep in mind when heading out diving:

  • Hydrate — drink plenty of water days in advance to help you regulate and decompress your sinuses!
  • Show up 30 minutes before your dive time.
  • Bring a spare change of clothes.
  • Use the restroom before wiggling into your wetsuit!
  • I like to use my own dive bask — this one by Beuchat — but all dive shops include the gear in their prices.
  • ALWAYS ask if you have a doubt!
  • Triple-check all your gear is working properly before you get in the water
  • Make sure your underwater action camera has a proper-fitted underwater housing case for dives deeper than 10m.

My curiosity begs me to go back to the reserve and dive at ALL the sites. My bank account begs otherwise, however!

  • coral reef and marine life diving in jacques cousteau underwater reserve in guadeloupe
  • coral sponges in jacques cousteau marine park
  • eel hiding under corals at Pointe Lezarde dive site in Guadeloupe
  • diver in guadeloupe Jacques Cousteau Marine Park

If you have the chance to dive in the Cousteau Reserve during your time in Guadeloupe—do it! You won’t regret it.

I can only imagine what it must’ve looked like when Captain Cousteau dove here 70 years ago. I expect he would be rather broken-hearted at the state of the reef today and the loss of abundant marine life.

Also Read:

  • One Day Itinerary: Les Saintes, Guadeloupe
  • Les Chutes du Carbet, Guadeloupe

Is diving in the Jacques Cousteau Reserve on your dive bucket list? Add your comments and dive experiences below!

By: Bri · In: Guadeloupe

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💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
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📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
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🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

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Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
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