Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on June 17, 2021
With its stretch of golden sand edged by seagrape and coconut trees, Plage du Souffleur is one of the nicest beaches in Guadeloupe, and is much appreciated by families. Its calm and crystal clear waters makes it a perfect site for snorkeling. Underwater, you will be likely to spot triggerfish, butterflyfish, starfish, lobsters and -hopefully- a stingray flying graciously above the seabed.
The Plage du Souffleur is located in Port-Louis, a fishermen village settled on the northwest coast of Grande Terre, the eastern part of Guadeloupe island. From Pointe-à-Pitre, take the N5 to Morne-à-l’Eau, and then the N6 to Port-Louis (30km/50 minutes by car). The beach is at the north end of the village, close to the cemetery. A large parking area is available nearby.
Walk north up the beach and get into the water at the end of it. You will be closer to the best area for snorkeling, which is located in front of the cemetery.
You can basically explore the whole bay, but the area in front of the beach is mostly sandy, and poor in sea life. For this reason, we advise you to focus on the reef area bordering the cemetery, at the north end of the beach (↕3-10ft/1-3m).
In the area, the seabed is mostly rocky, and quite a few soft and hard coral species, as well as sponges, have colonized it. You might see dozens of fish species on the reef, particularly boxfish, needlefish, wrasse, butterflyfish, and triggerfish.
Numerous black sea urchins also inhabit the rocky seabed; be careful if you need to put your feet on the floor. In the deeper areas, you might spot a stingray, although there is much less likelihood of this here than in Petite Terre.
You will find on the beach large picnic areas with barbecues, making it very popular with local people during the weekends and school holidays. A wide range of snacks, food trucks, and restaurants fitting all budgets is available close to the beach or in the village.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
