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.
This spot has been added by
4 spots added - 121 photos shared
Last updated on April 8, 2021
Ilet à Ramiers is a small uninhabited rocky island located at the southern entrance to Fort-de-France bay. This spot, which is not easily accessible, is still wild and uncrowded. Although the reef bordering the islet is in relatively poor condition, snorkelers can still spot a great diversity of Caribbean fish.
Ilet à Ramiers is located along the bay of Fort-de-France southern coast, near Anse à l’Ane. The easiest way to reach the islet is by kayak or boat. Good swimmers can consider walking to Anse Bellay by the hiking path which goes from Anse à l’Ane to Anse Noire (one of Martinique‘s most popular snorkeling spot).
From there, go swimming towards the islet, located just opposite the cove (about 300m, take a diving flag/swimming buoy with you). The start of the hike is located in a cul-de-sac (location here), between two fences.
The islet’s shore is rocky and steep, except at its southern end, where there is a small sandy cove and a pontoon.
We especially recommend the area which extends from the east coast of the islet. It is the most sheltered and shallowest area, ideal for snorkeling.
Near the shore, explore the large boulders (↕1-3m) around which live French angelfish, blue tang and sergeants majors. The lionfish – native to the Indo-Pacific, which has become invasive in the Caribbean – are often seen here. At the foot of the rocks, in the sand, snorkelers can sometimes encounter a cushion starfish.
30-40m from shore, deeper reef areas (↕3-5m), covered with corals, sea fans, sponges and Sabella, can be snorkeled. The reef is home to a great diversity of fish, such as the bluehead wrasse, the spotted drum and the harlequin bass. Reef squids are also common on this spot.
The Island is wild, and the only building on it is a former military fort. The closest restaurants are in Anse à l’Ane beach.
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.
The recommended side of the island is hard to snorkel if there is any waves. We snorkeled the protected side, and the coral was not great, but LOTS of fish life we haven’t usually seen in the bays. Trumpet, Box Fish, Queen Angels, eels.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
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.
