Located on St. Lucia's southwestern coast, Anse Chastanet has beautiful views of the ocean and the Pitons, two peaks rising up from the sea. The entire region is a protected marine area and excellent, easily accessible beach diving is available directly in front of the resort. When not diving or snorkeling, guests can enjoy sea kayaking, jungle biking, yoga and sailing. Anse Chastanet is an environmentally-conscious, luxury resort with plenty of amenities and delicious food, making it a great destination for divers, snorkelers, and non-diving companions.
Project Focus: This purpose of this trip is to conduct fish surveys to support REEF's Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Click here to learn more about participating in fish surveys on a REEF Field Survey Trip!
Best Suited For: Divers, snorkelers, and non-divers. Most boat diving sites are considered drift dives. Guided shore diving is available at the house reef and unsupervised snorkeling can be done at the south and north ends of the bay. Guided snorkel boat trips are offered to nearby reefs for a small fee. There are also plenty of non-diving activities, including windsurfing, ocean kayaking, jungle biking, birdwatching, and other excursions as offered by the resort.
Accommodations: Anse Chastanet’s Superior rooms are located at various levels on the hillside* and are octagonal or rectangular in shape. The superior rooms have either coralina tiles, clay tiles or tropical hardwood floors, glass or wooden louvered windows, balconies and beautiful views of the Pitons and/or the Caribbean Sea. All of the superior rooms have fridges, electric water kettle, coffee makers and hair dryers. Handmade bathrobes and Molton Brown amenities are provided. There is daily housekeeping and turn down service. All rooms have king size beds, ensuite bathrooms with sink, shower and toilet. Upon request, extra bed or twin beds can be provided. In room amenities include fridge, coffee makers, in-room safes, hand made bathrobes, slippers, hair dryer, Molton Brown amenities, free Wi-Fi, twice daily housekeeping service with complimentary bottled water. If interested in upgrading to a different room category (Beach Deluxe, Hill Deluxe, Premium) please inquire for pricing and availabilty.
*Please note that there are approximately 100 stairs leading from beach level to mid-hillside level, thus making the property unsuitable for those with walking difficulties or cardiac problems. A complimentary shuttle service from beachside to hillside level is provided any time it is requested.
Diving: 6 days of 2-tank boat dives are included in the trip package. Shore diving is available at Anse Chastanet's home reef, and most dive sites are within a 10-15 minute boat ride. Average water temperature is 80-82 degrees Fahrenheit. A 3mm wetsuit is recommended.
Trip Leader: Alli Candelmo, Ph.D. is REEF's Conservation Science Manager. She has studied the population dynamics and management strategies of invasive lionfish in the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos and worked with the local stakeholders and communities on both islands to help improve removal efforts and gain a better understanding of invasive lionfish. She is also a member of the field research team for the Grouper Moon Project.
Pricing, Inclusions, and Other Fees
| Superior Room | |
|---|---|
| Diver, double occ. | $2,949 |
| Diver, single occ.* | $4,299 |
| Non-diver, double occ. | $2,669 |
*Subject to availability.
Your Package Includes: The trip package includes 7 nights of accommodations, 12 boat dives plus scheduled shore diving at Anse Chastanet's home reef, free nitrox, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner, non-alcoholic beverages, all taxes, round-trip airport transfers, welcome cocktail upon arrival, tanks, weights and weight belts. Participants may also join resort activities including sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, paddleboarding, tennis, hiking, sunrise and sunset yoga.
REEF Program Fee: A REEF Program Fee of $300 will be added to each package to cover the cost of the group leader, seminar, and REEF survey materials. The REEF Program Fee applies to all divers and any attendee age 18 or older.
Additional Fees - Not Included: All flights and associated travel to and from St. Lucia, marine park fee of $15 to be paid onsite, optional rental gear. Gratuities are not included in the trip package and are at each individual's discretion.
Registration
To reserve your space, email trips@REEF.org or call 305-588-5869. A $500 per person deposit will be due to confirm your reservation. Visit our Trip Policies page for more information on deposit and payment schedules.
St. Lucia Travel Info
Insurance: Travel insurance is not included. REEF strongly recommends that each participant purchase adequate dive travel insurance to protect you from unforeseen circumstances. REEF partners with both DiveAssure and DAN to offer travel insurance packages specifically for divers. REEF will receive a portion of the proceeds from travel insurance purchases when you click on the following affiliate links for DiveAssure or DAN.
How to Get There: Participants are responsible for booking flights to/from Hewanorra International Airport in St. Lucia (UVF), arriving on Saturday, May 7 and departing on Saturday, May 14.
Transfers: Transfers are included in the package. REEF will collect flight info before the trip departure date to arrange airport transfers.
Passports, Documentation and Visas: Visitors must have a current passport, adequate funds to support themselves, and a return airline ticket. U.S. citizens require a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the date of arrival. Please consult the appropriate consulate for specific travel regulations and to ensure that you have the correct documentation.
COVID-19 Considerations: All REEF Field Survey Trip attendees who are eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19 either need to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to participation or comply with additional safety measures in order to participate.
It is the participant's responsibility to ensure that they understand and comply with all local requirements (for entry and visit as a tourist) of the host destination, and for exit and entry requirements for their home country. Be prepared for your plans to change. Be sure your travel insurance covers COVID-related issues. No travel is risk-free during the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries may further restrict travel or bring in new rules at short notice, for example, due to a new COVID-19 variant. Please be aware that REEF is not a travel agent. We are doing our best to interpret the information provided by our trip vendor and the host country’s government COVID-19 webpages. We encourage everyone to do their own research, interpretation, and due diligence. Please see REEF’s COVID-19 Considerations and Vaccine Policies section in our REEF Field Survey Trips Policies page for more information.