Cousteau Reserve

Today we arrived at The Pigeon Islands (often nicknamed “Réserve Cousteau”) are two tiny islets laying only 1 kilometer from Bouillante and Malendure beach, on the west side of Guadeloupe.

This protected area, part of the Guadeloupe National Park since 2009, and accessible only by the sea, provides a unique concentration of marine life. The islets are famous for the magnificent elkhorn and staghorn corals covering the seabed, where snorkelers can spot a large number of colorful reef fish species (angelfish, parrotfish, butterflyfish), as well as sea turtles.

The best snorkeling area in the Pigeon Islands is the Coral Garden, which covers the coral reef fringing the eastern side of the islets.

The northern part of the Coral Garden is Sheltered from the swell, the seabed is covered by healthy and good-sized staghorn corals and elkhorn corals. These reef-building corals are vital to life in the Caribbean reefs.

The Pigeon Islands have some of the fishiest seabeds in Guadeloupe, due to the currents: several species of forage fish, snappers, damselfish… parrotfish butterflyfish, trumpetfish, trunkfish, angelfish and more.

On our voyage sailing here we caught a couple of black fin Tuna and enjoyed some of this prepared as Sushi for lunch today

We have started watching “Becoming Cousteau” with the kids, a documentary about Jacques Cousteau’s life, enhancing everybody’s appreciation for the reef and where we are.

Tomorrow Emilie’s Dad Phillippe, uncle Laurent, and Marie Laure who will join us for a few days cruising around Guadalupe and Dominica.

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:7304925/zoom:10