NECK RESERVE

From Pointe Mahault to Pointe Lézarde, this maritime area, classified as a nature reserve, has been named after the famous Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, although this is not official. Aboard the mythical ship Calypso, the famous navigator and his crew stopped over on the Windward Coast in 1950 during the filming of the movie Silent World. Amazed by the beauty of the seabed after diving on the site, they wanted to protect the site and have it classified as a nature reserve, but they were unable to do so at the time. However, the local merchants named the place "Réserve Cousteau". Several diving clubs settled there. Since then, the site has become an unmissable diving spot in Guadeloupe with an international reputation. It will become a nature reserve only in 2009. It is now managed by the National Park of Guadeloupe.

A bronze bust of the illustrious explorer, with his famous red cap, was placed in 2004 at 12 meters deep, off Malendure on the site of the Coral Garden. This site is accessible to all, even during a first dive.

From the tourist beach of Malendure, with its black volcanic sand, many boats leave with divers and visitors to discover the seabed of the Pigeon islets, renowned for the quality of their water and their biodiversity. It is also the starting point for kayak or glass-bottom boat trips that allow you to admire the seabed without having to dive (with a swimming stop during the trip).

Most of the clubs are located on the beach of Malendure, an easy starting point. All the candidates for the first dive can discover the underwater treasures without apprehension. It is better to inquire in advance about the presence of guides at the diving centers. We counted no less than 19 sites with depths ranging from 0 to 40 meters. 3 wrecks, located 10 minutes from the beach(the Franjack at 23 m, the Augustin Fresnel at 28 m and the Gustavia at 40 m) are very popular with clubs for night dives. For snorkeling trips to the Cousteau reserve, it is not necessary to reserve. On the other hand, caution is still required; it is imperative to respect the safety instructions and in particular to signal to the boats with a buoy. You should also be aware of any contraindications; for example, pregnant women and people who have to fly during the day should not dive.