Courtesy Nicolas GuinandInvasive lionfish have been spotted in Guadeloupe since 2009.
"In Guadeloupe, beauty is everywhere.”
Nicolas Guinand is a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, specialty instructor and French professional diving instructor who fell in love with Deshaies, Guadeloupe, while visiting on a trip with his wife, Ludivine. In March 2025, Nicolas and Ludivine took over Tropicalsub Diving, a PADI Five Star Dive Resort in Deshaies.
“The peaceful atmosphere, the stunning natural beauty and the vibrant marine life made a deep impression on us. When the opportunity came up to take over the dive center, it felt like the perfect way to make our passion into a way of life and share unforgettable experiences with fellow ocean lovers,” Guinand says. “Ludivine now manages the boutique and guest services at the shop, while I’m mostly out at sea, guiding dives and teaching.”
Courtesy Nicolas GuinandEyes peer out from inside a conch shell.
Guadeloupe is best known for La Reserve Cousteau, the nature reserve in the Caribbean waters off the coast of Basse-Terre named after Jacques Cousteau. Basse-Terre is Guadeloupe’s largest island and has an appropriate reputation for being a diver’s paradise. The area’s warm water and diverse marine life ensure there is no shortage of pleasant tropical options.
Deshaies, located on the leeward coast of Basse-Terre, has grown in familiarity as the setting of the BBC TV show Death in Paradise, which has filmed there since 2011.
The town’s position north of the reserve lends itself to convenient access across multiple dive sites in this corner of the island. Two spots stand out to Guinand as the highlights of local diving: Pointe Morphy and Anse Thomas (also known as Paul Thomas).
Pointe Morphy is very close to Deshaies, and its 15 to 75-foot depth range is approachable for all divers. Marine life, such as eagle rays and barracuda, is often spotted among two large boulders in calm water with little current flowing through.
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Courtesy Nicolas GuinandLook closely for macro life within giant Caribbean sea anemones.
“The visibility is often excellent, and the site is full of vibrant colors, coral formations and a wide range of marine life, including frequent sightings of sea turtles,” Guinand explains.
Anse Thomas is a bit farther south but still a short trek from the shop, and a bit deeper, with a depth range of 30 to 80 feet.
“This site is popular for its calm conditions and the regular presence of turtles,” Guinand continues. “It’s suitable for all levels, from try-dives to advanced divers. Underwater, you’ll find large coral ridges that lead into rocky drop-offs, home to a wide array of reef fish and pelagic species.”
After a day on the water, divers can head to Grand Anse for an amazing sunset walk on the beach (only a five-minute drive from Tropicalsub Diving). The topside views are as dynamic as the underwater ones, with over half a mile of sand stretching along the coast. The many restaurants along the coast offer plenty of opportunities to unwind (or fuel up before a night dive!).
For longer visits to the island, Guinand recommends more experienced divers plan a trip to Sec Pâté, an underwater mountain site located near Les Saintes, an archipelago off the southern tip of Basse-Terre. The currents at Sec Pâté can be intense, but divers are rewarded with thriving corals and an abundance of marine life.
“The dive community in Guadeloupe is warm, welcoming and truly international,” he says.
“In Deshaies, we regularly welcome divers from all over, [including] locals, of course, but also a great mix of travelers. There’s a great sense of camaraderie between dive centers here. We often share information about sea conditions, lend each other a hand when needed, and we enjoy relaxed moments together after dives, often around a drink or watching the sunset. It’s a true community of ocean lovers.
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Cassidy Vincent
Site Spotlight: Hawksbill Sea Turtles
Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are found throughout the world’s oceans and are crucial to maintaining the complex ecosystems around coral reefs. They are the most common type of sea turtle that nests in the waters around Guadeloupe, with Grand Anse being one of the nesting sites monitored by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations, a mapping tool that tracks global patterns of marine species.
They have been deemed critically endangered since 1996, due to human threats like the illegal wildlife trade and fishing bycatch, and their nesting habits can help us understand how to help them recover.
Need to Know Diving Guadeloupe
Certification
PADI’s Underwater Naturalist Specialty course can open your eyes to new species, even in familiar dive sites.
When to Visit
While December to May is dry season, June to November is rainier but less crowded.
Local Resources
Tropicalsub Diving tropicalsubdiving-plongeeguadeloupe.com
Where to Stay
Ecolodges Karet is a five-minute drive from Tropicalsub Diving. ecolodgeskaret.com
