ST LUCIA

[Bill Bird]

Going to St Lucia in September. Curious about St Lucian Diving laws/rules & Regs. Have been told that by law all dives in St Lucia have to be led by an "Instructor/PADI dive Master". Not certain whether this is the truth or somebody is telling porkies. Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks.


Bill

[stu wall]

Going to St Lucia in September. Curious about St Lucian Diving laws/rules & Regs. Have been told that by law all dives in St Lucia have to be led by an "Instructor/PADI dive Master". Not certain whether this is the truth or somebody is telling porkies. Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks.


Bill

Hi Bill,
Just returned from St Lucia and all the diving appears to be located on the West coast at the Anase Chastenet Marine Reserve which is in fact monitored by their park rangers.
Every dive was let by an Instructor/ Dive Guide and catered for the American tourist. The diving was however certainly not regimental follow the leader stuff but was conducted as a group but never in my experience more than 8 within the total. Depths were however limited to 20 mtrs Max but if you had your own dive computer you were allowed to monitor your own profiles so long as you kept the guide within sight. With visability exceeding 30 mtrs and my own dive coputer, depth was never an issue. Regardless of colour, creed or qualification a check out dive is incorporated in your first dive taken from the shore, you undertale the customary mask removal & regulator clearing in the shallows before heading on into the national park only mtrs from the beach. I have never had a issue or problem with such requests to undrtake these basic skills as they only take a few minutes, and at the end of the day its all in the interests of safety.
I am currently putting together a report for the travel club so maybe watch this space.
Hope you have a great time, any queries just drop me a line.
Safe Diving
Stuart

[Graham Payne]

Hi Bill

Where you are staying is right on the edge of the marine park so most of the diving is in the park.

The rules in the park are very strict and require an approved dive guide. In fact, you cannot evenm get a bottle pumped without doing it through the park rangers. However they are very amenable and helpful so in practice there is not much of a problem

Graham