POINTE AUX FOUS - Cousteau Reserve
Shark Reef, just southeast of Toberua, feels less like a traditional reef and more like a submarine obstacle course. We love it for the sheer fun of navigating those dramatic rocky overhangs and squeezing through the giant coral archways. You're not just observing here, you’re actively exploring. Visibility averages around 5 meters, which isn't huge, but it creates this amazing sense of intimacy as you duck and weave. It’s perfect for divers who enjoy a bit of an adventure, who like poking into crevices rather than just drifting along a wall. Keep an eye out for those big, curious coral hinds peeking from the shadows, and we've often spotted a startled turtle or two high-tailing it out of an archway as we approach. We'd suggest getting here earlier in the day; the light filtering through the arches then is just beautiful, a real shifting mosaic on the sandy bottom.
- Location
- Cousteau Reserve, Guadeloupe, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 16.298900, -61.803100
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 5-20m
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 POINTE AUX FOUS
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 POINTE AUX FOUS
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