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Lovin’ Saint Lucia: Diving in the Shadow of the Iconic Pitons (Part 1)

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Whilst we have been lucky enough to dive in much of the Caribbean, Saint Lucia was still on our wish list. Until November, when we got a chance to visit this beautiful island on a 6-night diving trip that would see us enjoy incredible scenery both above and below the waves. We were able to sample three different hotels, dined at a host of local eateries, spoke to local school kids about the ocean and even took a tour into the rainforest canopy. Find out all about this trip over this series of three blogs on Scubaverse.


The Pitons are the most recognisable volcanic peaks in the Caribbean and are the symbol of Saint Lucia. Our first couple of days of diving would be in their shadow and what a backdrop they make. They are in the south of the island, and as we were based in the north, we had a 30-40 minute boat ride to take in the stunning coastline. We watched as pelicans and brown boobies hunted in the shallow water just off the coast, as we put our dive gear together.

Alas extremely heavy rain the day before we arrived had caused havoc with the visibility. The more northern dive sites were to remain un-divable all week. Even the southern dive sites we were heading to now had suffered. We were not holding out much hope for our images. But as we dropped below the surface at our fist site – Superman Drift, we were stunned at the healthy and colourful reef that greeted us. This must be a very special dive in good conditions, as we were delighted with it even though the vis was down to just around 10 meters.

At Keyhole Pinnacles, a moray eel took a shine to us and accompanied us for the majority of the dive. Just when we thought it had settled and found a crevice in the reef that suited, he or she would see us move away and come out free swimming alongside us.

Fairyland and Anste Chastanet also delighted us with sponges, coral and marine life covering every inch of our dives. It was wonderful to see large, healthy elkhorn and staghorn corals. The swim through at the end of the dive, filled with glassfish, was a real treat to finish off this part of our diving.

Saint Lucia is very well known for its beauty. It has to be the most stunning of Caribbean islands with its lush rainforest covering the hills and mountains and tumbling down to the white beaches and sparkling blue water. But for us it was the warmth of the people that put Saint Lucia firmly in our hearts. Our crew at Eastern Caribbean Diving could not have been more helpful and the greeting we got from every member of staff at the Bay Gardens Marina Haven made us feel so welcome.


Nick and Caroline were hosted by:

Eastern Caribbean Diving

Bay Gardens Marina Haven & Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa

The Harbor Club

Travel Saint Lucia

  • Beautiful corals are a feature of diving in the south of Saint Lucia

  • Our guide surfaces in front of the Pitons

  • Colour and marine life feature heavily

  • Schools of fish swim over the reef

  • A moray eel followed throughout the dive

  • Diver and elkhorn coral

  • Glassfish in cavern

  • Our dive boat with Pitons in background

Nick and Caroline (Frogfish Photography) are a married couple of conservation driven underwater photo-journalists and authors. Both have honours degrees from Manchester University, in Environmental Biology and Biology respectively, with Nick being a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a former high school science teacher with a DipEd in Teaching Studies. Caroline has an MSc in Animal Behaviour specializing in Caribbean Ecology. They are multiple award-winning photographers and along with 4 published books, feature regularly in the diving, wildlife and international press They are the Underwater Photography and Deputy Editors at Scubaverse and Dive Travel Adventures. Winners of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Photo-journalist of the Year for a feature on Shark Diving in The Bahamas, and they have been placed in every year they have entered.Nick and Caroline regularly use their free time to visit schools, both in the UK and on their travels, to discuss the important issues of marine conservation, sharks and plastic pollution. They are ambassadors for Sharks4Kids and founders of SeaStraw. They are Dive Ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas and are supported by Mares, Paralenz, Nauticam and Olympus. To find out more visit www.frogfishphotography.com

Gear News

The DYNAMICNORD SE series of neoprene wetsuits in a beautiful camouflage blue

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wetsuits

A head-to-toe camouflage look that focuses on style and comfort

Designed to provide an unforgettable diving experience, the DYNAMICNORD SE series wetsuits offer everything you need. They feature a unique camouflage design and protect you while offering optimum freedom of movement and keeping you warm.

Sometimes, divers just want a special look. In this case, the camouflage wetsuits from DYNAMICNORD are the perfect choice. Made from extremely robust, abrasion-resistant limestone neoprene, the SE-C wetsuits are built to last. Nevertheless, the neoprene is also soft and stretchy to offer all divers a high degree of comfort.

The SE series suits are optimally sealed thanks to their back zipper with flap and their design allows you to easily close and open them by yourself. They also have reinforced shoulders and knees to protect high-wear areas and extend the life of your neoprene suit.

The SE camouflage series suits are available in neoprene thicknesses of 3 and 5mm.

To complete the camouflage look, DYNAMICNORD also offers matching essentials, such as the MC-15 two-lens mask and SC-10 snorkel. They both feature a blue camouflage design, as well as the AF-70 freediving fins, which are available in a matching shade of blue. A head-to-toe camouflage look that focuses on style and comfort.

The SE series suits in camouflage look are now available from DYNAMICNORD retailers and in the online shop.

SE-31-C/SE-32-C: 3mm Men/Women – recommended retail price: £183

SE-51-C/SE-52-C: 3mm Men/Women – recommended retail price: £238

Size Men: S-3XL incl. ML

Size Women: S-2XL

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Gear News

Divers in the U.S.A. to get a free octopus with selected regulator purchases

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free octopus

Mares in the U.S.A. has announced an exclusive limited-time offer designed to keep divers safe and well-equipped underwater this summer dive season.

From June 15 through August 1, 2025, customers who purchase select Mares regulators will receive a free octopus—no extra costs, just added value.

Whether you’re upgrading your setup or gearing up for your next dive adventure, this promotion is the perfect opportunity to get premium Mares performance at a reduced cost.

Eligible regulators include:

  • ATLAS 62X
  • EPIC ADJ 82X
  • ATLAS ADJ 62X TBP
  • SXS 62X
  • DUAL 15X
  • ULTRA ADJ 82X
  • DUAL ADJ 62X
  • DUAL ADJ 62X – 75th Anniversary Edition

Choose from one of the following octos—free with your eligible regulator purchase:

  • DUAL
  • DUAL ADJ
  • LOOP
  • SXS
  • ULTRA
  • ULTRA ADJ

This promotion is available only at participating Mares dealers and while supplies last. It is not valid for purchases made through Mares.com.

Don’t spend another summer with outdated gear. Visit your nearest Mares dive center and take advantage of this incredible offer today!

To find a participating dealer near you, click here – https://www.mares.com/en_US/partner-locator.

About Mares

Founded in 1949 by Ludovico Mares in Rapallo, Italy, Mares is a worldwide leader in manufacturing innovative, high-performance scuba diving, snorkeling, and freediving equipment. From recreational divers to advanced technical enthusiasts, Mares is dedicated to enhancing the underwater experience through cutting-edge technology, comfort, and safety. Mares is a member of the HEAD Sports Group.

Find out more about Mares products at www.mares.com.

 

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