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 December 10, 2024
Petite Anse is the southernmost beach in the Anses d’Arlet region in southern Martinique. Snorkeling is not as popular here as other locations, such as Anse Dufour, Anse Noire or Anse d’Arlet, but the seagrass beds and reef are still nice to explore.
Petite Anse Beach is located a few miles south of the village of Anses d’Arlet. There are a few parking spaces behind Snack Fredo and in the streets around the stadium.
Once on the beach, we recommend walking north (on the right when facing the sea) to the rocks.
Water entrance is at the northern end of the beach, near the rocks.
The most beautiful snorkeling is to the north of the beach, by swimming along the shore (itinerary 1 on the map).
If you wish, you can also explore the areas facing the beach, where there are sandy bottoms and beautiful seagrass beds.
The seabed of Petite Anse is home to a variety of underwater life. The most common fish on this spot are wrasses, boxfish, damselfish and surgeonfish.
Angelfish are rarer, although juvenile individuals are sometimes seen on the reef.
Turtles are much rarer here than at other snorkeling locations in the Anses d’Arlet region, such as Anse Dufour, Anse Noire and Anse d’Arlet.
Cushion starfish are present in large numbers on the seagrass beds.
Snack Fredo is located near the beach. Several vacation rentals are available 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.
