NECK RESERVE

From Pointe Mahault to Pointe Lézarde, this maritime zone has taken on the name of the famous Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, although this has no official significance whatsoever. Aboard the mythical ship Calypso, the famous navigator and his crew made a stopover on the Côte sous-le-Vent in the 1950s during the filming of Le Monde du silence. Amazed by the beauty of the seabed, they wanted to protect the site and have it declared a nature reserve, but were unable to do so at the time. However, local merchants dubbed the site the "Réserve Cousteau". Several diving clubs set up shop there. Since then, the site has become a must-see diving spot in Guadeloupe, with an international reputation. It was only in 2009 that it became a nature reserve. Since then, it has been managed by the Guadeloupe National Park. Renowned for the quality of its waters and its biodiversity, the reserve is unfortunately under threat. The coral is deteriorating as a result of tourism and global warming.

A bronze bust of the illustrious explorer, complete with his famous red bonnet, was deposited in 2004 at a depth of 12 meters off the coast of Malendure on the site of the Coral Garden. The site is open to all, even for first-time divers.

From Malendure beach, with its black volcanic sand, many divers and visitors set off to discover the seabed of the îlets Pigeon. It's also the starting point for kayak or glass-bottomed boat trips, which allow you to admire the seabed without having to dive (with a swim stop along the way).

Most of the clubs are also located on Malendure beach. Anyone wishing to try scuba diving can discover the underwater treasures here without any apprehension. Ask in advance about the presence of guides. We have listed no fewer than 19 sites, ranging in depth from 0 to 40 m. 3 wrecks, located 10 minutes from the beach(Le Franjack at 23 m, L'Augustin Fresnel at 28 m and Le Gustavia at 40 m) are very popular with clubs for night dives. For PMT (fins, mask, snorkel) outings to the Cousteau reserve, no need to book. However, caution is still the order of the day: it's imperative to follow safety instructions, and in particular to mark your position with a buoy. You should also be aware of any contraindications to diving; for example, pregnant women and people who have to fly during the day should refrain from diving.