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 8, 2021
Immersed at a depth of 20ft/6m in front of Saint-Pierre beach, Manman Dlo is a monumental concrete mermaid created by the Martinican artist Laurent Valère. Over time, the sculpture has been colonized by corals and sponges, and is now attracting many fish. If you visit Saint-Pierre, don’t miss a short snorkeling over to the sculpture, which is surrounded by a strange and silent atmosphere.
The sculpture is immersed in the bay of Saint-Pierre, at the town’s entrance. It is located under the yellow buoy that can be seen about 60m from the beach, opposite the Fish bo Kay restaurant. A dive boat is often moored on the spot.
Enter the water from the sandy beach, and swim to the yellow buoy (approx. 60m).
Manman Dlo is a monumental concrete sculpture weighing over 20 tons. It depicts Manman Dlo, a Creole version of a mermaid, a legendary creature who is said to capsize the ships passing overhead.
The sculpture is immersed about 6m deep and is surrounded by seagrass beds. It is made up of a head and a caudal fin placed a few meters apart, giving the impression that the creature is partly silted up.
Immersed since 2004, the sculpture has begun to be covered with small sponges, corals and Sabella. As an artificial reef, the sculpture attracts many fish, such as sergeant majors, dusky squirrelfish and French grunts. On the surrounding seagrass beds, sea turtle or stingrays are occasionally spotted.
Even if you don’t skindive, the sculpture is worth a look from the surface.
Fish bo Kay restaurant is just opposite the spot. There is a large choice of restaurants and accommodation in and around Saint-Pierre (the spot is about 500m walk along the beach from the town center).
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.
