Dive Review-Dive Fair Helen-St. Lucia

[cruisegirl]

Scuba Diving review
St. Lucia
Nov. 27, 2007

A little background on our group. We were all part of the Carnival Miracle Scuba Cruise. Most of us had cruised together last year on the Carnival Valor Scuba Cruise. Most of us are certified divers and many Adv. Certified & beyond. One of our members is a dive master & used to teach but now has a medical condition stopping him from using SCUBA. He can still free dive on his own but no SCUBA. Part of our group are free divers and those that like to snorkel.
Dive Shop--Dive Fair Helen
First Dive--Reef Dive
Location--Anse Cochon west
Visibility--50-60 feet
Deepest Dept./Bottom time-- 82ft./41 minutes
Overall rating--***** Not sure what kind of boat they used but it was nice. It had a front bow area to stand while sailing to our dive site. It also had a shaded area towards the engine area and then a back area uncovered. Plenty of room. They did not have rinse tanks for cameras but the 3 of us with cameras, used the mask rinse tanks. They did have a fresh water tank/hose with which you could rinse yourself off after diving. They also fed us on our surface interval on this dive. It was a giant stride entry with ladder to return to the boat. They seemed very knowledgeable and also seemed to check to be sure you were a cert. diver.
They don’t have a regular shop. It’s a hut area off a resort spot. I think the name of the resort area is Marigot Bay. If anyone has different info., feel free to correct me. The equipment seemed to be good/up to date. Nothing looked so old you’d be afraid to dive in it. Personally, I bring my own equipment. I’ve gotten it down to only needing a weight belt from the shop when I dive. Everything else I bring.
The reef is in 100+ ft. of water. It was lovely. Nice marine life, nice coral. Not quite the pretty colors as Belize but quite lovely. There were Yellowtail Snapper, Blue Tangs, Green Moray Eels, Grunts, Trumpetfish, Sergeant Majors, Flamingo Tongue Nudibranchs, Bristle Worms and something I can I.D. yet. It looks like a bubble. It’s shiny and looks like it has O2 in it. Can’t find it anywhere. We also saw Yellow sponges, Red sponges, Barrel sponges, red coral, blue coral. Very enjoyable. My deepest depth on this dive was 82 ft. There was such a variety of stuff to see.
Second Dive--wreck dive
Location--Lesleen M
Visibility--40-60 ft.
Deepest Depth/Bottom time--62ft./43 minutes
Overall rating--*****+
The wreck The Lesleen M, Location: North of the Pitons
Description: Freighter
Length: 55 metres (180 feet)
Depth: 19 metres (62 feet)
LESLEEN MThe Lesleen M was a 165 foot long, steel hulled cargo vessel. Lue Flotte
and Mary Ellen Kenny, New York based photographers, report that she
was intentionally sunk in 1986 by the ministry of fisheries with the intention
of creating an artificial reef. The Lesleen M was prepared for sinking by
the St. Lucian Port Authority. They removed her mast and wheel house as
these items may have caused the ship to protrude too high off the sea floor,
possibly causing a hazard to navigation. The Port Authority also cut holes
in the vessel above her water line in order to help the ship sink quickly
yet not take on any water while being moved. She was towed by the Port
Authority tug to a spot in 90 feet of water, but due to a strong current and
a half hour of sinking, She drifted quite a bit and ended up sitting upright
in 65 feet of water.
I was in heaven. I had been fearful of wreck diving. Mostly of penetration, getting in a spot where I can’t get out. So as our dive master gave a briefing, I finished by insisting I wouldn’t go inside. He just smiled. Even though I insisted. Lol.
We descended to 62 ft. and here was this lovely wreck. You can still make out the wreck, bow and stern. The marine life was amazing. From Grunts, Yellowtail Snappers, blue tangs, surgeonfish, so many to keep track of. Beautiful sponges and corals. You could see into the cargo area following the ladder down visually. And around the bow, you have a side area that you can swim around the ship, not the outside but like an outside walkway. You ask, did I do it…… YES. Lol. I went into the open area of the gut of the wreck and around the walkway area as it was open. I actually drained the battery on my camera taking photos. It was awesome. I could have stayed there forever just checking out all the nooks/crannies. This site is known for Seahorses but I didn’t see any.
I would definitely dive with Dive Fair Helen again. I like them, their dive masters and their boat, the Denise. Plenty of room. They had shade. It was a great time.
Any questions, feel free to ask……

[DivingPrincessE]

Thanks for the review, a cruise I'm going on in March is stopping at St. Lucia (among others) and I'm trying to decide which islands to dive at. Sounds like you really like St. Lucia. Did you dive at any other islands?

[cruisegirl]

I did really enjoy the diving in St. Lucia. I also went diving in St. Kitts and liked that as well. I would love to go back sometime to dive more days. On both Islands. On St. Maarten we just did the beach thing. But I had not been wreck diving before so I was a kid in a candy store..lol.... It was awesome

[Lottie375]

cruisegirl - glad you liked the diving in St Lucia and the Lesleen M wreck. I'm doing that again next week (this'll be the fourth time!!)

Lottie :o)