Jardin Japonais

Best time to dive

January to December; December to June

What you might see

• BarracudaPossible
• Moray eelPossible
• NudibranchLikely
• Sea turtlePossible

Sightings are seasonal probabilities, not promises - even in peak season nature does its own thing.

Certification & difficulty

Advanced Open Water - advanced conditions (currents/depth); dive within your training.

Snorkelling

Snorkel-friendly - Yes - shallow reef sections are snorkeled directly from boats and are part of the Cousteau Reserve's popular snorkel-trail alongside Ilets Pigeon

Safety notes

Boat traffic within the busy reserve (shared with snorkel tours and glass-bottom boats), fragile coral - no-touch/no-standing rules strictly enforced by reserve wardens

Permits & fees

Site lies inside the protected Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve/Guadeloupe National Park marine area; independent anchoring is prohibited (mooring buoys only) and diving is done through licensed local operators; a reserve access contribution is typically bundled into operator trip pricing (exact fee amount unverified)

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Location

Nearest hub: Bouillante