Guided snorkeling in the Cousteau Reserve
Expert marine environment instructors
State-certified instructor & expert in Guadeloupe’s seabed.
Encounter with turtles
Second site dedicated to the respectful observation of green sea turtles.
Accessible to everyone
A premium experience: Why choose our guided tour?
Our rate (€60) reflects the quality and safety of a truly professional experience. Far from basic equipment rental, you set off with marine environment experts.
- Safety & comfort: Groups of up to 10 people. Full equipment provided, including full wetsuits and snorkeling boards for less confident participants.
- Education: Naturalist interpretation of the reef and turtles. Understand what you are seeing.
- Double spot: We take you by boat to both the coral reef AND the turtles’ seagrass meadow.
From age 4 – Equipment included – Flexible cancellation
Sans hésitation, nous recommandons Anbadlola.
Nous avons fais une excursion avec Adélaïde. J'ai tout trouvé fabuleux ... L'accueil, les consignes, la conduite du bateau, le Snorkelling, les infos sur la vie marine, le petit goûter et aussi le matériel prêté.
Je recommande chaleureusement 💙💙💙
Très passionnée elle nous a transmis ses connaissances des fonds marins peuplés de coraux, de poissons tropicaux et tortues. Elle s adapte et fait attention au bien être de tous pendant la randonnée. Superbe expérience et emerveillement dans nos yeux.
Très belle sortie. Je recommande.
Superbe accompagnement, mais je crains qu'il ne nous fasse abandonner ces visites qui ne doivent que rajouter aux dégâts précédemment évoqués.
Merci dans tous les cas pour ces magnifiques instants !
La guide vaut largement 5 étoiles : elle est passionnée et passionnante, nous avons appris tellement de choses en une seule matinée. Un grand merci.
Seul bémol : la formation des groupes pour l'excursion ; nous nous sommes retrouvé avec une famille en difficulté et très peu à l'aise avec le milieu marin, ce qui a ralenti voire pénalisé la progression du groupe tout entier.
Malheureusement, la réserve Cousteau n'est pas en bon état. En partie à cause du grand nombre de touristes, mais aussi à cause de la pollution, de la dégradation des sols et du ruissellement. Vous pouvez voir où les coraux ont été endommagés par les nageoires. Il devrait y avoir une sorte de force de gardes de réserve protégeant et éduquant, financée par une taxe de séjour pour toute personne séjournant dans la région. De même pour tous les bateaux qui s'amarrent, il semble étrange qu'ils puissent s'amarrer gratuitement. J'ai vu trop de lignes de traînage d'ancre qui avaient arraché les herbiers marins... celui-là même qui attire les tortues et les nourrit ! Mon Dieu, nous, les humains, sommes un cauchemar !
Antoine est très compétent, gentil, aime ce qu'il fait et le fait par passion.
Fortement recommandé.
Justine et Evelyne
À bientôt en Bretagne
A faire absolument.Un grand merci.
Your adventure at the heart of biodiversity
Total duration: 3.5 to 4 hours | Boat ride: 10 min | Time in the water: ~2 hours
An activity for everyone: Families, Beginners and Enthusiasts
- Not a confident swimmer? No worries. Your guide has large inflatable boards. You can hold on to them at all times. The guide can even tow you: all you have to do is watch and breathe.
- Families with children : Accessible from age 4. An ideal educational discovery for youngsters to discover the beauty of the ocean.
- Experienced snorkelers, divers & freedivers: Our expert freediving guides will take you to deeper areas and share technical and biological details.
Prepare your visit
- Meeting point: Club Plage Caraïbes, Pointe-Noire (Waze / Google Maps: ANBADLOLA).
- Hours: Morning (8:30am – 12:00pm) or Afternoon (1:00pm – 4:30pm).
- Price: 60€ Adult / 50€ Minor (All-inclusive: Equipment, Guide, Boat, Snack, Insurance).
- Weather & Guarantee: The Côte-sous-le-vent is protected and the sea is generally calm (26°C to 30°C). In the event of extreme conditions, we will postpone or refund in full.
All you need to know about snorkeling in Guadeloupe (FAQ)
Why take on a guide for snorkeling?
Going alone is seeing. Going with an ANBADLOLA guide is understanding.
The guide knows the currents, the animals’ hiding places, and ensures your safety.
They turn a simple outing into a live wildlife documentary.
What do you see when you snorkel in the Cousteau Reserve?
Do I need to bring my own equipment?
No, we provide everything: full wetsuit (sun and thermal protection), fins, mask, and disinfected snorkel.
What is the difference between snorkeling, PMT, and fin swimming?
Snorkeling, also known as “randonnée palmée,” is a surface water activity using fins, a mask, and a snorkel to observe marine life while floating and swimming at the surface. In French, the term PMT is also used and stands for Palmes, Masque, Tuba (Fins, Mask, Snorkel).
I’m not comfortable in the water or I’m afraid of deep water — is this for me?
Absolutely! This is even our specialty. If you are anxious, not in great shape, or cannot swim, our guides take care of everything. We go beyond safety: we guarantee your comfort.
In practical terms, your guide has a large inflatable board (float) that you can hold onto at all times. They will tow you throughout the tour: you only have three things to do—watch, listen, and be amazed by the turtles and fish. In addition, we provide a full wetsuit that helps you float effortlessly and protects you from the sun or the cold. It is the ideal way to enjoy the Cousteau Reserve stress-free, whatever your age (from 4 years old).
Get your eyes ready before you dive!
It’s impossible to describe everything here. To discover the phenomenal potential for unforgettable encounters that await you, we’ve created the perfect tool.
Download our free “West Indies Reef Guide” app
What you'll see underwater:
A wild open-air aquarium.
The Reef: a global biodiversity hotspot
The great uniqueness of the Îlets Pigeon (the heart of the Cousteau Reserve) is that they form a true underwater mountain exposed to offshore currents.
This geographic feature creates exceptional richness in both the quantity and diversity of species. Protected by the Guadeloupe National Park, this area hosts a density of life you won’t find anywhere else on the island. It’s an explosion of life: brain corals, swaying gorgonians, colorful sponges, schools of surgeonfish, crustaceans…
Turtles: A respectful encounter in the seagrass meadow
After exploring the reef, we head offshore from Malendure Beach. This is where green sea turtles come to feed in the seagrass meadows.
More than simple observation, it is a learning moment: you will learn how to identify them, understand their way of life, and above all how to let them approach without disturbing them. It is a chance to marvel at the grace of their swimming in their natural habitat.
Explore the Cousteau Marine Park with our passionate guides
.Discover the treasures of the Cousteau Reserve’s underwater world around the Pigeon Islands, the heart of the National Park, with your professional and experienced guide who will accompany you in the water. Wetsuit, mask, fins, and snorkel—all snorkeling equipment—is provided.
The Caribbean Sea is warm, calm, and clear all year round and offers great richness in shallow waters: you will be amazed by the quantity and diversity of fish visible from the surface.
Learn how to approach green turtles without disturbing or endangering them, as the guides from Anbadlola, a member of the GUADELOUPE MARINE TURTLE PROTECTION NETWORK, explain why getting too close can have harmful consequences.
Anbadlola is a long-standing experience of the marine environment of Guadeloupe, created by enthusiasts committed to the protection of the marine environment and the safety of activities at sea.
Anbadlola was created by Antoine Maestracci, a trainer in underwater biology and former captain of the French freediving team. Withthe Esprit Parclabel, Anbadlola guarantees safe and enjoyable outings.
Le plus beau cadeau est sous l'eau
Birthday, Christmas, or just for fun? Give a guided snorkeling tour in the Cousteau Reserve. Voucher valid for 1 year, delivered immediately by email.
Our guided snorkeling sites
Cousteau Marine Park - Ilets Pigeon
Guided snorkeling sites are chosen according to the weather and possible swell or currents, because the sea is not a zoo. Your guide selects the most interesting and safest site at that time. On every trip, we also take you to see sea turtles, always respecting their environment and peace.
Ilets Pigeons
The Pigeon Islands are located in the heart of Guadeloupe National Park.
The richness of the seabed, even at shallow depths, made the site famous in the 1950s and 60s. Recognized by Jacques Cousteau, he recommended its creation as a protected area to ensure its preservation. Several snorkeling sites are available around the Pigeon Islands, offering a wide variety of landscapes and marine life.
Sea Turtles
Hawksbill turtles feed on sponges, while green turtles feed on shallow seagrass beds. Anbadlola takes you to observe them without disturbing or endangering them.
Japanese garden
This site is located along the cliffs of the protected area known as “Le Petit Malendure”. In its shallow waters and rocky reef landscape, it boasts a vibrant array of marine life, which you can discover with our guides.
A guide at your side in the water
The guide who accompanies you is a specialist in Caribbean fauna and, depending on the wind and currents, will find the perfect spot for a beautiful encounter.
He’ll always be with you in the water, commenting on the tour and answering all your questions as you make your way through the heart of the National Park (Réserve Cousteau).
We limit the number of participants per Guide to ensure that the walk remains friendly and that everyone hears each other’s comments.
The guided palm hike allows non-divers to share the pleasure of enjoying these wonders together with their diving spouses/friends/relatives. For experienced divers, take advantage of the absence of regulators to ask the guide questions and expand your knowledge 😉 .
PRACTICAL INFO
Cousteau Reserve excursion program
- Departures from our base at Anse Caraïbes Beach in Pointe-Noire:
8:30 a.m. with return at 12:00 p.m.
or
1:00 p.m. with return at 4:30 p.m. - Equipment includes a 3mm wetsuit to protect you from the sun on the surface and help you float, plus high-quality fins, mask and snorkel. (If you prefer your own equipment, you can of course take it with you)
- Departure by boat (10 min. sailing time) to the heart of the National Marine Park (COUSTEAU RESERVE).
- The guide then jumps into the water with you to comment on the tour. He holds inflatable boards on which non-swimmers and less experienced swimmers can stand.
- Back on the boat with juice and cookies.
- The beach area is equipped with cubicles for your dry goods, changing rooms and showers for your comfort.
- Price 60 euros adults / 50 euros minors, all inclusive. Group rates from 55 to 50 euros