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 April 1, 2023
The tiny Pain de Sucre Beach, situated in Les Saintes archipelago, is a little taste of paradise. In the shadow of the Pain de Sucre, its golden sand and palm trees bathe in translucent waters that are ideal for a snorkeling session. On either side of the little bay, you will never tire of following the fish as they move between the sea fans, sponges and coral that have colonized the rocky seabed.
Les Saintes archipelago is situated some 10 miles/15km south of Guadeloupe. It is within easy reach during the day from Trois-Rivières, the starting point for a number of boats each day. Once you are ashore at Terre de Haut, you will need to travel over 1.5 miles/2km to arrive at your destination, along the main road towards the west (to the right when you reach the road).
Renting transportation is easy, but expensive (scooters or cars), but you can also get to the beach on foot in about 40 minutes. Since the road is hilly, this option may prove grueling when the sun is at its height.
You can enter the water anywhere along the little beach. Since the central part of the bay is the least interesting part to explore, it is easier to begin on the far right or far left of the beach.
All the little bay is worth exploring, but underwater life is at its most abundant along the rocky outcrops on either side of the bay. The central part of the bay (where a few boats are moored, so be careful) is mainly made up of seagrass and sandy beds (↕3-10ft/1-3m) without much interest.
Only a few groups of small bar jacks and damselfish seem to venture there. So move along quickly toward the rocky areas along the shore, on each side of the bay (↕3-15ft/1-4m).
The area to the right is probably the most spectacular. Although the seabed is rocky, it has been colonized by large numbers of multi-colored sea fans that sway in the current. You can look for flamingo tongue snails, extremely elegant small gastropods.
Sponges and sabella, as well as some fine coral formations, complete this underwater garden. You will see blue tang, banded butterflyfish and many others. Don’t leave the water until you’ve taken a look at the left-hand part of the bay, which is less spectacular, but just as rich in fish.
Visibility is generally excellent and the waters are particularly calm. Photography is easy and enjoyable, as a result. But you should be careful near the coast, where the water can be rougher and you could be thrown against the rocks.
A few sea urchins inhabit the seabed, particularly in the seagrass, but they are not dangerous as long as you don’t put your foot on the seabed, as is the usual recommendation.
There are no restaurants on the beach. To get something to eat, you need to go back to the main road, a ten-minute walk away. In any case, bring at least some water and a snack.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. 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.
