PAUL THOMAS - Cousteau Reserve
Scotts Head Drop Off is a solid second dive, often paired with something deeper. We like the wall here; it’s genuinely colorful and provides plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. Expect to spend time peering into crevices, where you'll often spot lobsters, crabs, and various shrimps. The Yellowhead Jawfish is a regular here, and if you’re lucky, a ray or turtle might cruise by. It’s a good spot for macro enthusiasts, and generally quite sheltered, though we have hit a bit of current when drifting outside the main bay. Maximum depth clocks in at 21 meters, so it’s a nice, relaxed profile.
- Location
- Cousteau Reserve, Guadeloupe, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 16.284700, -61.803500
- Type
- wall
Marine Protected Area: Gros Morne - Grande Anse
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 PAUL THOMAS
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 PAUL THOMAS
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