Guadeloupe · Guadeloupe · Wall · Reef
Pointe Barracuda
Barracuda and wahoo along the drop-off at Grand Îlet's tip
Photo: Patrice78500 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Pointe Barracuda sits at the tip of Grand Îlet, where the reserve's ground turns into a drop-off. The 20 m zone is the heart of the site, with wahoo, barracuda, pufferfish, triggerfish and turtles over the rock, while the wall below it carries dive profiles down to 50 m for divers qualified to go there. Niveau 1 or Open Water is the stated minimum.
Where it is and how deep
16.1674° N, 61.7924° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The mooring sits off the point at the end of Grand Îlet, a short crossing from Malendure, and the dive divides by depth from the moment you drop. The 20 m zone is where the site earns its name: wahoo and barracuda hold off the edge, triggerfish and pufferfish work the rock, and turtles cross through. That is the whole dive for most groups, and Niveau 1 or Open Water is enough for it.
Below that the drop-off keeps going, and the operator quotes dive profiles reaching 50 m for experienced divers who want the deep version of the site. It is the same wall with less light and less bottom time, and it needs the certification to match. Either way the boat stays on one of the reserve's fixed moorings rather than dropping an anchor on the reef.
Marine life and season
- Barracuda
- Sea turtles
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Guadeloupe: Dec–May is the dry season with the calmest water; Aug–Oct brings hurricane risk and the heaviest rain.
Dive videos
pointe Barracuda 23 02 2023 · W.I Dive and fly 971 on YouTube
Questions divers ask
What certification do you need for Pointe Barracuda?+
Niveau 1 or Open Water is the stated minimum, and it covers the 20 m zone where most of the fish are. Dive profiles along the drop-off reach 50 m, so the deep version of the site needs a matching deep qualification and the experience behind it.
Sources
- Réserve Cousteau — Spots de plongée — Les Heures Saines
- Îlets Pigeon — Wikipédia
- Pointe Barracuda (OpenStreetMap) — OpenStreetMap contributors
Photo credits
- Rocky headland of Grand Îlet jutting into turquoise water, seen from the shoreline. by Patrice78500, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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