One of the activities that we really wanted to do in Guadeloupe was scuba diving. Guadeloupe is home to Jacques Cousteau’s Underwater Reserve, and as a result is a popular destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. Snorkeling is a great way to see the reserve, and you can do so without any experience. Scuba diving is an amazing way to go deeper into the reserve; to enter into the reef as opposed to float above it.
Scuba Diving
(Photo from http://www.ppk-plongee-guadeloupe.com/le-club/ )
We found a great company that takes people out in groups according to experience with diving (we had none). Due to the inherent risk involved, and because we are not certified, we needed to do it one on one with an instructor.
The instructor that worked with us inexperienced divers was tremendous. He took his time with everyone, allowing us to go at the pace our bodies would allow. We were each given 15 minutes of time, an amount that seemed too short prior to. But 15 minutes felt like an eternity floating around the coral and tropical fish. The instructor worked with us to establish our breathing, telling us to breath in deeply to rise, and to exhale slowly to fall. He was observant of us, always checking to make sure our ears were not under too much pressure (like you get when you take off in an airplane, but the feeling was more intense). He pointed out eels and coral, making sure that we got the most out of the experience. We were able to descend up to 6 meters (almost 20 feet).
Because we only had 15 minutes each to dive, we spent the rest of the time snorkeling. We visited a small coral reef a ways off shore on a small rocky island. There we saw a wide variety of amazingly colored tropical fish and coral.
Overall, our first experience scuba diving was a great one, floating in a world so different from the one you are used to, was incredible. In the future, we would like to get certified to go diving on our own, but we want to emphasize that there are great companies out there that will guide you if you are new.
Snorkeling
One of the things that led us to choose the company we did was that they guaranteed that we would see sea turtles. They took us out to a number of spots that are popular for sea turtles, particularly the areas that they go to feed. The instructor emphasized strongly that we were not to spook the sea turtles in anyway, because if we did the turtles would not return. If they do not return, they would likely end up starving to death. We were told to avoid sudden movements and to stay still if the sea turtles were near, especially if they swam underneath.
We did end up seeing a number of sea turtles, one of which swam right up to and around us, a moment that was incredible to experience. The necessity to avoid movement added to the excitement, and I found myself holding my breath at times to avoid frightening them.
The Good
The diving instructor that we had was amazing. He spoke English, and did his best to make sure that everyone got the most out of the experience.
The snorkeling company held true to our expectations and we were able to spot numerous sea turtles. Being able to watch a sea turtle swim right in front of you will forever be one of our favorite memories.
The Bad
I looked fat in my wet suit. Everything else was amazing!
The Beautiful
I did not realize that scuba diving was so much like flying (I haven’t flown, but I imagine it is similar). Floating underwater, surrounded by such an amazing and beautiful ecosystem was fascinating. The feeling of awe that you have by just being there is something that I will remember fondly the rest of my life.
On a Serious Note
We apologize for ending on a serious note, but it is worth mentioning. Many of the guides that we talked to all said the same thing, that the coral is not what it used to be. Much of the coral surrounding Guadeloupe is losing its color and dying due to climate change. It was a sobering contrast to the amazing feeling we had being immersed in that world. The corals were mostly browns and tans, a result of the bleaching that happens when the ocean temperature is too high. Many of us don’t see the impact of climate change, but maybe it is time to take notice.
