The Cousteau reserve, the best diving spot in Guadeloupe

With its thousand hectares of seabed, the Réserve Cousteau has quickly become one of the best-known and most popular diving spots in the French West Indies. Several diving agencies are on hand to guide you through the reserve's most beautiful underwater sites.

Depending on your level, you can opt for a sporting sea outing or a beginner's scuba diving initiation course: the perfect way to discover this activity in a heavenly setting! This fun activity is open to everyone, from the age of 8. You'll pay around €50 to €60 per person for a 30-minute session. Don't forget to book ahead, especially in high season!

An unusual treasure not to be missed: in 2004, a bronze bust of Captain Cousteau was placed in the lagoon, 12 metres below the surface. This site, known as the "Coral Garden", gives the reserve the feel of an unusual underwater museum...

It's also worth noting that amateur divers or those on a more limited budget can swim in the reserve and go snorkelling (diving without a tank, using a mask and snorkel). However, this activity does not allow you to appreciate the full extent of the reserve.

Running alongside the lagoon and the Cousteau reserve, Malendure beach is renowned the world over! What makes it so? Quite simply because it's one of the beaches in Guadeloupe where you're most likely to spot green turtles. In the water (in the sea grass beds) or on the sand, these marine mammals can be seen in all seasons. Be careful, though, as the beach is often overrun by tourists; don't hesitate to come early to see the turtles in peace.

Would you like to discover the wonders of the Cousteau reserve, but prefer to stay dry? Some tourist companies offer mini-cruises aboard glass-bottomed boats. These boats, with glass bottoms up to 1.5 metres deep, offer 360° views of the marine flora and fauna.

More sporty visitors will prefer to hire a canoe to reach the îlets Pigeon, two small islands (Grand Îlet and Petit Îlet) located off Malendure. Canoe hire from Gwada Pagaie, one of Bouillante's many canoe hire companies, costs around €25 for 3 hours.

If you want to stay as close as possible to this exceptional marine reserve, the easiest way is to opt for accommodation in the commune of Bouillante. This tiny village is made up of a handful of houses, facing the Caribbean Sea on the west coast of Basse-Terre. Nevertheless, thanks to its privileged location at the gateway to the Guadeloupe National Park, Bouillante is one of the island's most popular tourist destinations. So you'll have no trouble finding a hotel or gîte to spend the night.

In Bouillante, a number of establishments have chosen to commit to sustainable travel, by implementing energy-saving and waste-reduction solutions. These include the Banan Woz (seasonal rental) and the Gîte Palmier, located as close as possible to the Cousteau reserve.