Gwadive - Cousteau Reserve
Gwadive in Cousteau Reserve is one of those spots where you feel like you’re dropping into a proper Caribbean aquarium. The main draw here is the sheer density of glass-bodied shrimp and those fascinating Red Heart Urchins. We often find the visibility is best in the morning, before the day boats stir things up too much. What we love about Gwadive is the way light filters through the schools of snapper and grunts, creating these shifting patterns on the sandy bottom. You’ll definitely want to spend some time looking for the Angular Brittle Stars tucked into crevices. It’s a relatively easy dive, perfect for divers who want to take their time and really soak it all in. Keep an eye out for foraging Green Sea Turtles, they’re frequent visitors here and always a treat.
- Location
- Cousteau Reserve, Guadeloupe, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 16.417833, -61.532314
Marine Protected Area: Pointe De L\'Anse Bertrand
Best Time to Dive in Cousteau Reserve
The warmest water temperatures in Cousteau Reserve occur in January, averaging 27.5°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.5°C (air: 24.9°C)
- February: 27.5°C (air: 24.8°C)
- March: 27.5°C (air: 25.2°C)
- April: 27.5°C (air: 26.2°C)
- May: 27.5°C (air: 27.4°C)
- June: 27.5°C (air: 27.8°C)
- July: 27.5°C (air: 27.6°C)
- August: 27.5°C (air: 27.9°C)
- September: 27.5°C (air: 27.9°C)
- October: 27.5°C (air: 27.4°C)
- November: 27.5°C (air: 26.5°C)
- December: 27.5°C (air: 25.3°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Cousteau Reserve
- Anse à La Barque - 20m
- Anse Caraïbe plongée
- Anse Christophe - 20m
- Anse des Tortues - 16m (reef)
- Anse Thomas - 17m (reef)
- Aplysina (reef)
- Aplysina (reef)
- Aquarium - 3-12m (reef)
- Balise de Petit Canal (reef)
- Balise de Petit Canal (reef)
- BERTINA - 0m (wreck)
- Bouée Anticyclonique
- Buste du Commandant Cousteau
- Crazy coral (wreck)
- Eden plongée
Nearest Dive Centres to Gwadive
Marine Life in Cousteau Reserve
Home to 345 recorded species including 259 reef fish, 27 hard corals, 16 whales & dolphins, 12 other, 6 seagrass & algae, 5 sea urchins.
Notable Species
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Spiny Brittle Star (Ophiocoma echinata)
- Angular Brittle Star (Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) angulata)
- Bridled Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Harlequin Brittle Star (Ophioderma appressum)
- Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
- Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
- Rusty Goby (Priolepis hipoliti) - Reef Fish
- Agassiz's Thread-sail Fish (Chlorophthalmus agassizi) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Orca (Orcinus orca) - Whales & Dolphins
- Serpent Brittle Star (Ophioderma brevispinum)
- Common comet star (Linckia guildingi) - Starfish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Smallmouth goby (Risor ruber) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Ruby Brittle Star (Ophioderma rubicundum)
- False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) - Whales & Dolphins
- Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Gwadive
Based on average water temperature of 27.5°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories