When well known scuba diving destinations like Egypt suffer from political unrest, many scuba divers may look for new locations for their next scuba diving vacation.

The Eastern Caribbean offers more excellent scuba diving opportunities than you may think.  Saint Lucia in particular has excellent dive sites most of which are located in the south west of the island, near the town of Soufriere and near their landmark mountains, the Pitons, which are now a Unesco World Heritage site.

Almost 20 years ago, in July 1992, the island took a very pro active step to ensure that scuba diving would remain an enjoyable activity for many years to come; it established  the Soufriere Marine Management Authority with the responsibility to protect and manage the island’s precious marine resources.

Scuba divers looking for quality accommodation and a professional dive operation can find both at ANSE CHASTANET. Just a mile and a half from the picturesque town of Soufriere on St. Lucia’s south-western Caribbean shoreline, ANSE CHASTANET is nestled amidst a 600 acre tropical estate with two soft sand beaches bordering  excellent snorkel and scuba diving sites.

SCUBA ST LUCIA is a Padi 5*  resort operation,  situated on the beach at ANSE CHASTANET just steps from the water. Perfectly set up for both beach and boat dives, Scuba St. Lucia offers guests National Geographic Specialty Programs, Enriched Air Nitrox; a well equipped scuba store; three compressors; rental dive gear and an underwater Photo and Video center.

Anse Chastanet is  as popular a St. Lucia honeymoon spot as it is a scuba diving resort destination.

“ Our strength here at Anse Chastanet is our amazing location not only in the heart of the marine reserves, but also in the most scenic part of the island”, says Karolin Troubetzkoy, the Director of Marketing.  “ Pair this with the great hospitality and Caribbean charm of our resort team, fabulous food and many other adventure activities and services available here and you ‘ll understand why the resort is so popular. “

Below here is a listing  of Saint Lucia’s most popular dive sites, all of of which are within a easy reach from Anse Chastanet beach and Scuba St.Lucia.

Parrot Fish on the Anse Chastanet Reef by Norbert Probst

The Anse Chastanet Reef  was voted one of the ‘top five’ shore dives in the Caribbean by Scuba Diving Magazine and is  just feet away from the dive center. Just 10 yards beyond the water’s edge, the reef’s remarkable ecosystem offers an amazing profusion of unusual tropical marine life in 20 to 140 feet of calm clear water.

The Anse Chastanet Reef makes for an amazing dive day or night. Just 15 yards beyond the waters edge, the reefs remarkable ecosystem offers an amazing profusion of unusual tropical marine life in 20 to 140 feet of calm clear water. In the shallow areas be sure to keep your eyes open for peacock flounders, octopus, needle fish and turtles. Or drop down a little deeper over dense coral growth to see puffers, moray eels, parrot fish, lobsters and even sea horses.

The Anse Chastanet Reef is a unique dive site for all abilities and is especially good for macro photography.

Underwater Photography by Norbert Probst

Boat Diving around Anse Chastanet

Dive along dramatic walls beneath the majestic Piton Mountains, Superman’s Flight, a drift dive in the shadow of the Petit Piton, Coral Gardens and Jalousie under the Gross Piton, Piton Wall, the wreck of the “Lesleen M”, Anse La Raye and Anse Cochon.  Equally spectacular are Fairyland, Turtle Reef, Grand Caille, Trou Diable and The Pinnacles. (see our map of dive sites below)

Wreck Diving in Saint Lucia

Whilst there are some wrecks near the southern tip of the island, these are located in rough waters  and not easily accessible.  Dive operations offer wreck dives mostly to the Lesleen M.  The wreck of the Lesleen M is located near the bay of Anse Cochon, approximately 20 minutes by dive boat from Scuba St.Lucia. The 165 foot freighter was sunk in October 1986 as part of a project by the Department of Fisheries to provide artificial reefs. It is covered in soft coral, sponges and hydroids and provides an ideal habitat for many juvenile fishes. The wreck sits on an even keel on the sand. It is 30 feet to the deck and 65 feet at the deepest point.

Night Diving

Divers staying at Anse Chastanet Resort can partake in night diving right off shore.After a briefing at dusk you enter the warm, clear water in search of eels, octopus, lobsters, sleeping parrot fish and even THE THING. The dive guides are experts in finding all those little creatures you don’t see during the day. Night dives are offered at least twice weekly on the Anse Chastanet Reef, which really “wakes up” at night, with many interesting crustaceans on the move, large basket stars, sleeping parrot fish, octopus and squid, bioluminescence, and the “THING”.

More Dive Sites

Anse La Raye Wall : A dramatic wall falls from the surface, covered in Sea Whips, Gorgonians and soft coral.  Delicate soft corals and large feather duster worms can be found in this site.

Grand Caille: Patois for “Large Reef”, Grand Caille is known as a very dramatic dive site with deep water gorgonians and sea whips. On this dive site you can see huge brain corals and barrel sponges in pristine conditions.

Trou  au Diable: Patois for “Devil’s hole”, Trou Diable is a fascinating location with large barrel sponges and well developed coral heads with schools of chromis and grunts in profusion..

Anse Cochon: A steep slope with large boulders covered in sponges and gorgonians. In the shallower parts of the reef Seahorses, Scorpion Fish and cleaner shrimps are found in abundance.

Pinnacles: A visually stunning dive site with four spectacular seamounts that rise dramatically from the depths to within a few feet from the surface.  These structures provide a shelter for trumpet fish, filefish and sometimes seahorses.

Turtle Reef: A crescent-shaped reef that drops quickly from a plateau area starting at 40 feet to over 150 feet.  Spectacular pillar coral and barrel sponges can  be seen. On turtle reef you are very likely to see hawksbill and green turtles as it is adjacent to turtle grass beds.

Superman’s Flight: Situated at the base of the Petit Piton where the cliff face was used in the filming of Superman II.  The steep slope is covered by many soft corals and there is a great profusion of fish life. A fantastic drift dive.

Piton Wall: Also at the base of the Petit Piton with a dramatic wall that drops to many hundreds of feet below. A great opportunity to see many varieties of crustaceans and critters.

Fairyland: This reef sparkles with vibrant colors of many varieties of corals and sponges.  The plateau area slopes gently from 40 to 60 feet.  Turtles are occasionally seen on this site. This dive site offers great drift diving along one of the most colorful walls in the Caribbean

Jalousie: Situated at the base of the Grand Piton with lots of schooling fish, creole wrasse, bar jack and occasionally the southern sennet.  A great range of different corals and sponges can be seen.

Coral Gardens: The unusual sargassum trigger fish can be spotted in the deeper areas with the odd barracuda. In the shallows you can swim through dense sea plumes forests. These forests are great hideaways for the juvenile offspring’s of the reef.

To book your St.Lucia scuba diving at Anse Chastanet,  please visit SCUBA ST.LUCIA or call 1-800-223-1108.Dive Deal packages start at US 2119 this summer for a 7 night stay includingaccommodation, airport transfers, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, all tax/service, welcome drink and fruit basket on arrival, 12 beach or boat dives incl of tank, weights, belt, mask, snorkel, fins (other equipment at a charge if needed, marine park fee to be paid locally) comp non motorized watersports.

Two of Saint Lucia’s most romantic hideaway resorts, Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain, have launched an early summer promotion on basis of their “Total Romance” package. Guests may enjoy up to 2 nights free if they book their 7 night minimum stay prior to April 30 and as long as there is availability.

St.Lucia sister resorts ANSE CHASTANET and JADE MOUNTAIN enjoy an almost legendary status among honeymoon resorts in the Caribbean and the World at large. ANSE CHASTANET was named as one of the World’s Top Ten Romantic Resorts by A&E television and JADE MOUNTAIN’s Celestial Terrace  was the chosen location for the Final Red Rose ceremony in one of the more recent Bachelor episodes, arguably the most watched and most scenic finale in the entire series.  This January, both resorts were presented with Reader Choice Awards by Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine for “Best View”.

The resorts created their Total Romance package with the intention to showcase the best of St.Lucia and the best of their facilities and services  in one all- inclusive package.  “Honeymooners very often want to be assured that there is no hidden unexpected expense awaiting them at their honeymoon destination, and we feel that with our Total Romance package, we can give them this assurance “, says Karolin Troubetzkoy, the Executive Director of Marketing at the resorts. “ But why stop at honeymoons, the package can be booked by anyone in the mood for a romantic escape, whether it is linked to a special occasion or not “, she added.
In addition to accommodation, meals, drinks and – of course – a bottle of champagne on arrival, the Total Romance package includes airport transfers both ways,  sightseeing tours to the Sulphur Springs, Diamond Botanical Gardens and to the Resorts’ old French Colonial Plantation of Anse Mamin, tennis, use of beach and watersports equipment, a guided boat snorkel trip, a resort scuba diving course for beginners or 2 dives for certified divers, a one hour Swedish Massage for 2,  a 1/2 day Jungle Biking pass, 2 resort t-shirts, a half day sailing on the resort yacht Searenity, and last not least, an anniversary certificate of US$ 500 to be used on a return visit.

Nestled amidst a 600 acre estate with two soft sand beaches bordering pristine coral reefs, Anse Chastanet is in complete harmony with its natural surroundings  and offers excellent scuba diving facilities (Scuba St.Lucia) The more active minded will enjoy the amazing range of adventure facilities right on property including 12 miles of custom designed “jungle biking “ trails with Cannondale bikes available to resort guests. Anse Chastanet is inspiration to many visiting artists whose stunning artworks are displayed in rooms and public facilities.  Forty-nine individually designed rooms are scattered about a lush hillside while some are located at beach level.

Anse Chastanet ‘s  “resort within a resort” Jade Mountain is located on the very top of Morne Chastanet. There, expect grand sweeping spaces where bedroom, living area and an extravagant private infinity pool glide into one another to form extraordinary platforms floating out into nature and  to the amazing views of the Pitons and Caribbean Sea. Since its opening in 2007, Jade Mountain has become the foremost St.Lucia Luxury Resort Experience, one of only 6 Caribbean resorts awarded the coveted AAA 5 Diamond rating.

At Anse Chastanet, a 7 night TOTAL ROMANCE stay on basis of the special  early summer promotion (7 nights for the price of 5)  starts at US 5025 per couple in Superior accommodation. Click here for full pricing.

At Jade Mountain, the “ 7 for 5” early summer Total Romance promotion starts at US 8270 in a  Sky Jacuzzi suite and at US 10040 in a  Star infinity pool suite. Click here for full pricing. Valid for travel dates July 15 – Sept 30, 2011 and subject to availability at the resort.

Contact the resort reservations if you like to book your St.Lucia Total Romance vacation or call them at 1-800-223-1108. The reservations team can also quote a yin and yang stay made  up between the 2 resorts, on same package basis If you like to read more about Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain visit their websites www.ansechastanet.com and www.jademountain.com

Condé Nast Johansens Luxury Travel Guide Announces Winners of 2011 Awards for Excellence and St.Lucia’s Jade Mountain reaps yet another award

On Jan 17, 2011, Condé Nast Johansens, the international luxury travel guides, announced the winners of the 2011 Awards for Excellence.  The winners of these prestigious awards were chosen as the premier properties throughout the Americas.  The winners were selected from the collection of more than 270 outstanding properties throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific Islands.  Readers of the Guides, hotels guests and the Condé Nast Johansens inspection team all contributed votes for the 2011 awards. The 2011 Awards for Excellence cover 29 categories, including Most Excellent Resort, Most Excellent Hotel, Most Excellent Eco Resort, and Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway.

Lesley O’Malley-Keyes, Vice President & Publishing Director, The Americas noted, “Condé Nast Johansens recommends only properties that meet our specific standards, so the Excellence Awards winners represent the very best of the best.  Our readers are discerning, sophisticated travelers who know what they want when they travel – outstanding accommodations, exceptional service and value for money.”  The Guides, which are celebrating their 29th year of publication in Europe, have attracted a loyal readership in the United States by guaranteeing that each Recommended property undergoes a rigorous annual inspection process to ensure exceptional quality is maintained.

The winners of the Condé Nast Johansens 2011 Awards for Excellence in The Americas, Atlantic, Caribbean & Pacific included the Hotel Guanahani & Spa, Saint-Barthélemy as the Most Excellent Resort, Parrot Cay & COMO Shambhala Retreat, Turks & Caicos as  the Most Excellent Spa Resort, Curtain Bluff Antigua as the Most Excellent Eco Resort and  St.Lucia Resort Jade Mountain as the Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway. For more information, you may visit the company website  www.condenastjohansens.com

Rising majestically above the 600 acre beach front resort of Anse Chastanet, Jade Mountain is a cornucopia of organic architecture celebrating St Lucia’s stunning scenic beauty.

The bold architectural design – individual bridges leading to exceptional infinity pool sanctuaries and rugged stoned-faced columns reaching towards the sky – makes Jade Mountain one of the Caribbean’s most mesmerizing resort experiences.

Expect grand sweeping spaces where bedroom, living area and an extravagant private infinity pool glide into one another to form extraordinary platforms floating out into nature. With the fourth wall entirely absent, Jade Mountain’s sanctuaries are stage-like settings from which to embrace the full glory of St Lucia’s Pitons World Heritage Site, and of course, the eternal Caribbean Sea.

Wrapped around an infinity pool with a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors, the Jade Mountain Club caters exclusively to resident guests, celebrating James Beard Award winner Chef Allen Susser’s “Jade Cuisine.” Hovering in space above the Jade Mountain Club is the Celestial Terrace, perfect for sunset cocktails or star-gazing.

A wide range of spa services can be enjoyed in the privacy of the Jade Mountain sanctuaries or at Kai en Ciel, Jade Mountain’s boutique spa and fitness studio. The resort major domos and a dedicated resort team ensure outstanding service around the clock.

Enjoy the exclusivity and privacy of Jade Mountain plus all of Anse Chastanet’s restaurants, bars, boutiques, art gallery, spa, scuba, bike and watersports facilities as well as 2 soft sand beaches available to Jade Mountain guests at all times.

Rates start at US 1200 nightly per couple for travel until April 15, 2011, in a sky Jacuzzi suite; star, moon and sun sanctuaries  are available from US 1550 – 2500 nightly, plus 18% tax/service charge

Free night promotions are available for selected travel periods. For more information call 1-800-223-1108 or visit the Jade Mountain website.

Rob Z Taylor is one of Saint Lucia's foremost jazz musicians

St.Lucia, 17^th January 2011

JOHN LEGEND CONFIRMED TO HEADLINE AT SAINT LUCIA JAZZ 2011!

- Tourist Board reveals star-studded 20^th anniversary lineup -

The Saint Lucia Tourist Board today announces that R&B star, John Legend, will perform as the headline act at Saint Lucia Jazz 2011, which this year celebrates its 20^th anniversary. John Legend joins a host of musical stars set to grace the stage at the internationally acclaimed event, which will take place between 4^th and 8^th May 2011. Confirmed artists include some of the world’s biggest Jazz, Reggae, Soul, World Music and R&B musicians with four-time Grammy nominated Ledisi, World Music marvel, Angelique Kidjo, and renowned Reggae artist, Tarrus Riley taking to the stage.

Delivering world-class sounds to crowds of thousands, the 20^th anniversary event is set to be the biggest yet. In celebration of this milestone, and for the first time ever, 2011 will see UK Facebook competition winners Bad Ass Brass wow the crowds with their New Orleans style jazz funk sounds. Bad Ass Brass beat off stiff competition to be crowned winner and will join the line up to perform a 30 minute set at the prestigious event.

Jean-Marc Flambert, Director of Marketing UK and Europe, Saint Lucia Tourist Board, comments: ‘We are really excited to announce our headline act and supporting line up for the 20^th anniversary celebrations. Saint Lucia Jazz truly is one of the most important dates in both the Saint Lucian and Caribbean calendar and the line up is always hotly anticipated. The event draws in worldwide attention and we plan to make this year’s celebration the best yet.

‘The success of our Facebook competition has given the anniversary a unique twist for the UK and we’re delighted that Bad Ass Brass will represent us’.

With further acts still to be announced at the official Saint Lucia Jazz launch party on 10^th February, here’s a sneak preview of this year’s star-studded line up so far:

4th May 2011	5th May 2011	6th May 2011	7th May 2011	8th May 2011
Ledisi Regina Carter Allison Marquis	Sixun Augustin ‘Jab’ Duplessis Bad Ass Brass	Morgan Heritage/Tarrus Riley Carimi Angelique Kidjo Mervin Wilkinson	Maceo Parker Yellowjackets Taj Weekes	Chuck Brown Mike Stern/Richard Bona Saint Lucia Collective Anacoana

Guests staying at Soufriere Resorts such as Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain in the south west of the island will be able to partake in the St.Lucia Jazz festivities by using the resort boat shuttle to the main events on Pigeon Island. Pigeon Island is near the most northern tip of Saint Lucia. Traditionally the Jazz Festival will also incorporate jazz events in the south of the island – these details have not yet been published. Resort reservations can be made via Tel 1-800-223-1108

The St. Lucia Jazz Festival is one of the most successful of the region. Caribbean Travel and Life magazine presented the St.Lucia Tourist Board with  Reader Choice Award for best Caribbean Jazz Festival at the Caribbean Marketplace, a trade event held in Jamaica Jan 16-18, 2011

 

A galaxy sanctuary at Jade Mountain St.Lucia

Readers of Conde Nast Traveler voted Saint Lucia’s Jade Mountain Resort to be one of the Top Two Caribbean Resorts in the magazine’s 23rd Annual Survey showcased in the November issue currently on the newsstands.

“ This is the first time that Jade Mountain was included in these prestigious awards and we are very happy to know that Conde Nast readers have taken not only note of Jade Mountain, but also rated it so highly “, says Karolin Troubetzkoy, the resort’s Executive Director of Marketing and Operations.

Not that there has been a shortage of awards for Jade Mountain.  From the moment the resort opened its doors (or should one say “bridges to infinity”) in the fall of 2006, there has been a myriad of accolades, magazine covers, reviews and nominations.  The resort was recently featured as the Resort with the World’s Best Service in Travel and Leisure magazine and the American Automobile Association ( AAA )  awarded Jade Mountain with their 5 Diamond rating for 2011, as one of only 5 resorts in the entire Caribbean.

“We commend our small hotels and resorts for their consistency in receiving the approval of today’s discriminating travelers, and Jade Mountain in particular for inspiring our industry stakeholders across the island,” said Senator Allen Chastanet, Saint Lucia’s Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation in a recent interview.

Jade Mountain's Bridges to Infinity

Jade Mountain is a celebration of Saint Lucia’s magnificent scenery. The entire unique structure resembles more an artist’s sculpture than a hotel building.  The 24 suites are referred to as sanctuaries, and in addition to the omnipresent jaw-dropping views, guests are stunned by the size of their private infinity pools.

Here is how Nick Troubetzkoy, the Russian- Canadian architect owner, architect and builder of Jade Mountain describes his property :

Share your creative vision of JADE MOUNTAIN with us.

NT: To create a cornucopia of organic architecture. It was imperative for us that this complex creative act was accomplished using the palette of indigenous materials lying at our very door step. Our mantra throughout, as well as being location, location, location, was as importantly also local, local, local.

Give us a word picture of JADE MOUNTAIN

NT: The traditional daunting hotel corridor has been transformed. The adventurous journey to your sanctuary is via a long suspended sky bridge to infinity which is yours and yours alone. Your entry door is a massive rough hewn slab of exotic tropical hardwood. Your first step inside creates an instant spiritual uplift. The infinity pool in front of you is a luminescent Persian carpet floating you out into space, to hover over the Caribbean Sea, hypnotized by St Lucia’s magnificent Piton Mountains.

We understand that all 24 sanctuaries differ completely from each other. Are there any elements in common?

NT: The use of earth, air and water to give intense pleasure. The air has been cleansed by crossing countless miles of Atlantic Ocean. This air is the world’s purest . If only you could bottle it and take it home with you. The Infinity Pool water is sanitized, softened and ozonated to the highest possible standard. The water’s surface has been elevated well above your floor in a basin that puts it within arm’s reach of your lounge chair for you to intimately interact with it. The earthy plants, stone walls and crushed coral finishes are all intimately connected to the environment.

When you combine earth, air, water and the ethereal view in this way, I believe you unlock a potential for an almost profound and magical level of enjoyment and celebration

Please visit the Jade Mountain website for more information or call 1-800-223-1108.  Become a Jade Mountain Facebook fan or follow Jade Mountain on Twitter. Rates this fall start at US 1000 for 2 in a sky Jacuzzi suite, rates are subject to a 10% service charge and an 8% government tax. A 5^th night free promotion is available is selected categories. Click here for all resort promotions.

The views of Saint Lucia's Pitons mountains from Jade Mountain have an almost surreal quality