Reef Life and Renewal Ambassador and Establishment of Coral Nurseries 28 Jan 2024, 1:39 pm

Anse Chastanet Resort Strengthens Commitment to Regenerative Travel Principles with Appointment of Reef Life and Renewal Ambassador and Establishment of Coral Nurseries

Anse Chastanet, the idyllic Caribbean resort nestled amidst the lush hills of St. Lucia, is excited to announce the appointment of a dedicated Reef Life and Renewal Ambassador and the establishment of two innovative coral nurseries as part of the resort’s ongoing commitment to regenerative travel principles and marine conservation.

With the support of the new ambassador, guests can now gain first-hand insights into the world of coral restoration, take part in educational lectures such as ‘Turtle Talks’ and ‘Fish Behavior,’ and immerse themselves in the fascinating marine environment that surrounds the resort. The initiative also invites guests to explore the newly established coral nurseries, learn about the vital role corals play in maintaining marine biodiversity, and even volunteer to assist in coral restoration efforts.

“We are proud to strengthen our commitment to preserving the vibrant marine life that our guests have come to cherish,” says Nick Troubetzkoy, owner and architect of Anse Chastanet. “We hope to inspire and educate our visitors about the importance of regenerative travel principles, encouraging them to make a positive impact during their stay.”

The coral nurseries will provide a protected space for growing coral fragments before transplanting them back onto the reef, aiding in the natural recovery process and contributing to healthier, more resilient ecosystems. As coral reefs worldwide face increasing threats from climate change, pollution, and other human activities, initiatives such as this are vital to safeguarding these unique underwater habitats.

“By welcoming guests to participate in our coral restoration initiatives and providing educational opportunities, we aim to foster a deeper connection with the marine environment, encouraging both awareness and action,” adds Troubetzkoy.

Anse Chastanet’s dedication to regenerative travel principles is reflected in its various eco-conscious initiatives, from sustainable architecture and local sourcing to conservation efforts such as these. The resort continues to create immersive experiences that allow guests to indulge in the beauty of St. Lucia while contributing positively to the local community and environment.

For more information on Anse Chastanet and its coral restoration initiatives, please visit SCUBASTLUCIA.COM.

DOWNLOAD REEF LIFE & RENEWAL COURSES BROCHURE

About Anse Chastanet

Anse Chastanet is a unique Caribbean resort set amid a lush 600-acre estate overlooking two soft-sand beaches and the iconic Piton mountains. Renowned for its eco-friendly design, breathtaking views, and world-class dining, the resort offers a tranquil and luxurious escape for those seeking to connect with the natural beauty of St. Lucia.

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Underwater Photography 28 Jan 2024, 1:15 pm

Scuba St. Lucia offers a variety of photography/videography services. Which include underwater camera rentals, underwater videos of your dive and various photogrpahy courses and seminars.

Scuba St. Lucia is a SeaLife Partner and we offer various SeaLife cameras for rental. The simple and easy to use Micro 3 or the more advanced DC2000 camera. View rental prices HERE.

Need video of you dive? We offer underwater videos. Our staff can accompnay you on one of your dives and we will capture you and the marine life. We will provide you with a short video (5-10 minutes) of your experience. View PRICING and please contact us to confirm availability.

Want to improve your photo skills or having trouble organizing your photos after your trip? Scuba St. Lucia offers two photo seminars to help you to improve your photogrphy and help you to organize your photos.

Improve your skills session

1/2 day photo classes for camera owners to improve their skills and get better results. The class would include one private dive. Topics would include: camera settings, photographing techniques for UW and critiquing the photos after the dive.

US $195

Organize and finalize your underwater photos

2 hour classe on organizing and finalizing all the photos, using Adobe Lightroom Classic. Students would need to bring their own computer with software installed. US$95

US $95

Already booked a dive package with the us and want to improve or fine tune your photography and/or video skills? We offer a series of seminars and dives in one of the most protected sites in the Caribbean.

Anse Chastanet boasts designated marine reserves protecting miles of colorful coral reefs teeming with tropical fish, vibrant corals and stunning macro life.

Whether you are a new photographer with a point and shoot camera, or the owner of a complete DSLR system, the seminar will provide you with hands on training in areas such as ambient light use, model photography, macro photography, animal portraits and general compositions.

Seminars will be conducted by our experienced dive staff and supervised by our resident photographer, Bernd Rac. Bernd started with underwater photography and videography at UNEXSO in Freeport Bahamas in 1993 and has been taking photos and videos ever since.

He began working in 1996 at Scuba St. Lucia, which is owned and operated by the Anse Chastanet Resort, as underwater photo/video professional. Bernd won the Rodales Resort pro Photographer competition in 1998 and then expanded his knowledge in photography and videography including post production, wedding photography, food photography, product photography and many more areas. On your dives, you will be closely supervised underwater by Bernd and other underwater photo pros on the Scuba St. Lucia staff.

Our underwater photography seminars will be taught using your own camera set up, or your choice of either one of the current SeaLife Camera set ups.

We have designed various seminar options for everyones needs.

Beginners Seminar

If you are a beginner or just want to learn the basics of taking underwater images and video clips, we can teach you that with either the Sport Diver phone housing (FIND OUT IF YOUR PHONE IS COMPATIBLE) or the SeaLife Remaster 4k Camera. Each option is simple to use, and you will learn tips and tricks to deliver results you can be proud of. Price for this course is US$250

Day 1: Classroom orientation and talking about camera equipment and preparation followed by a buoyancy dive on the Anse Chastanet Reef.

Day 2: Two morning dives on our beautiful reef in the Soufriere Marine Reserve. This is followed by an afternoon theory session.

US $300

Intermediate Seminar

For those looking for more of a challenge or looking to become a more advanced underwater photographer/videographer, we would teach with the SeaLife Micro 3 camera or the Sport Diver phone housing. With both set ups, we have the ability to fine tune our photos or videos through the cameras ability to override automatic settings. Price for this course is US$350.

Day 1: Classroom orientation and talking about camera equipment and preparation followed by a buoyancy dive on the Anse Chastanet Reef.

Day 2: Two morning dives on our beautiful reef in the Soufriere Marine Reserve. This is followed by an afternoon theory session off.

Day 3: Two morning dives on our beautiful reef in the Soufriere Marine Reserve. This is followed by an afternoon theory session off.

US $400

Advanced Seminar

For the more advanced photographer, the one who likes a challenge and wants more in depth insight into all the aspects of photography and videography, we would be teach the week with the SeaLife DC2000. With this camera set up we can dive into the F-Stops, shutter speeds and other manual settings to make changes as we see fit in search of getting that awe inspiring image. Price for this course is US$600.

Day 1: Classroom orientation and talking about camera equipment and preparation followed by a buoyancy dive on the Anse Chastanet Reef.

Day 2 – Day 5: Two morning dives on our beautiful reef in the Soufriere Marine Reserve. This will be followed by an afternoon theory session, critiquing photos and talking about next day’s challenge. We will be doing one night dive on Day 2 or Day 4.

US $700

For a more details contact us at SCUBA@ANSECHASTANET.COM. The rental fee for the unit is included in your Underwater Photography seminar package.

To book, email us via ANSECHASTANET@ANSECHASTANET.COM or call +1-800-223-1108.

A marine park fee of US 15 is to be paid locally. The package is available to certified divers. Please bring your certification cards with you.

As you are aware certain medical conditions prevent you from diving. If you have any concerns, please address them prior to travel with your diving physician or contact our scuba shop at scuba@ansechastanet.com – we recumbent that you study our pre -arrival scuba information which can be found at DIVING WITH SCUBA ST LUCIA – PDF

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Establishing two coral nurseries on Anse Chastanet Reef and Turtle Reef 27 Jan 2024, 1:39 pm

Scuba St Lucia has partnered up with REEF Rescue Network and Perry Institute for Marine Science to launch two coral nurseries situated right in front of Anse Chastanet Resort that can be easily accessible from shore to snorkelers and divers that wish to visit the nurseries on daily basis. Divers will have the opportunity to participate in coral planting, maintenance and even out-planting the corals on the reef. They can also choose to take the course and learn more about Corals and what how to better protect by taking the PADI Reef Rescue Specialty Course.

Coral nurseries serve as a vital component towards marine conservation, hosting several species that would ultimately be added back to the reef to help regenerate areas that are stressed and damaged. In that respect, we will establish two coral nurseries that can provide several healthy corals that can be out planted to the nearby reefs. The two coral nurseries will contain 12 coral trees with approx. 30 pieces per tree, 5 genotypes of Acropora cervicornis (Staghorn Corals) and 2 genotypes of Acropora palmata (Elkhorn Coral).

Our aim is to plant over 1000 pieces of corals in the first 3 years and further expand the coral nursery to the nearby reefs.

It’s important that we strategically choose sites that once restored, will contribute to reef regeneration by eventually spawning on their own.

Here’s some things you can do to help protect corals:

• Corals are already a gift; don’t give them as presents.
• Conserve water. This reduces runoff and wastewater to the ocean.
• Volunteer at local beach or reef clean-ups, or get involved in protecting your watershed.
• When you visit coral reefs or coastal areas, consult local guides, clean up your trash, never touch or step on corals, and use only reef friendly sunscreens.
• Be an informed consumer! Your choices about recycling, food, energy consumption, and travel impact reefs.

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Kids Sea Camp – July 22 – August 05, 2023 28 Jul 2023, 1:41 pm

Kids Sea Camp and Family Dive Adventures are honored that Anse Chastanet, this world-famous honeymoon resort allows us to turn it into a family week. Families enjoy coming back to enjoy what they once shared as a couple, but now with their family.

We have included these dive training courses for all ages at the St. Lucia week. These courses are PADI Seal Team and PADI Open Water course for kids or adults. Additional courses that can be booked: PADI Rescue Diver, PADI Night Diver, PADI Dive Master(14-day course).

Our St. Lucia family week activities also include jungle biking, paddle boarding, sunrise and sunset yoga, chocolate tasting, and a world-class spa treatment for the non-divers (chocolate hand and foot massage).

VIEW FULL DETAILS

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Bioluminescent Sexual Courtship displays by Ostracod Crustaceans on the Anse Chastanet Reef 28 Mar 2023, 1:48 pm

“Thousands of these remarkable crustaceans, called ostracods, tumble out of the reefs just as twilight fades to darkness and the males produce a galactic symphony of blue lights that burst out in precise patterns. Imagine that you are a sesame seed sized guy cruising around in the sea at night trying to not only locate, but also attract, a hot female. How do you do it? Well, one way is to somehow advertise your location with pulses of light! You do this by squirting out molecules that emit light when mixed in seawater. You make a squirt of light, then another, and another …and as more pulses are produced in a row, the earlier pulses slowly fade away yielding what looks like a moving string of tiny glowing pearls in the water. These displays are unique to each species of ostracod, and up to a dozen species can be seen to display in one reef system. This results in a “Dazzling Blue Symphony of Lights!””

Fluorescent polyp detail shone up by Sea Life’s Sea Dragon Fluoro Light

Last month we hosted James G Morin here at Anse Chastanet and together with us here at Scuba St Lucia, researched the presence of Bioluminesent Ostracod crustaceans here on our local reefs.

On his first night snorkel here with us on the Anse Chastanet Reef, he witness 5 different kinds of displays by these intriguing creatures. These 5 different types of displays, each representing different species of ostracod! Some of these displays were even witnessed right underneath our entrance ladder, making this an activity that all levels of snorkeler could witness. These bioluminescent displays cannot be witnessed with normal light, you must be in darkness, so it is intense for some. Of course we have all snorkelers and divers wear glow sticks so we can be seen and also have a light available to them if in need.

Fluorescent detail shone up by Sea Life’s Sea Dragon Fluoro Light of a stationary SandDiver

At the time of the scientists visit there was also another impressive sight, a “plankton bloom” with numerous 8-10cm long “spot-winged comb jellies” (Ocyropsis maculata) in the water column, which when disturbed emitted a bright blue flash of light (these are ctenophores and are NOT jellyfish!). Also, high up on the cliffs along the forest above were numerous fireflies displaying with their delicate dimmer yellow lights, and rapidly flying super-bright yellow-white streaks of paired lights from fire beetles. And finally above all this biological light there was the starry sky. Magical.

Fluorescent detail of a wideband tube dwelling ane shone up by Sea Life’s Sea Dragon Fluoro Light

Other sites were dived at night during this week in order to find these displays, but the best were found on our house reef (Anse Chastanet Reef) accessible from shore. Why are these so impressive to see right from a resort beach? These displays cannot be seen with the impact of light pollution. Anse Chastanet is proud to have a natural beach with only the beach restaurant illuminated at night. This makes activity like this possible in the water- also it does disturb other natural processes like turtle nesting that occurs frequently on our beaches.

Fluorescent detail of a resident brain coral shone up by Sea Life’s Sea Dragon Fluoro Light

We hope to take this new insight into this interesting sight into our weekly night dives and snorkels. Predictable luminescent organisms include: the ostracods, syllid polychaete (segmented) worms, brittle stars, fireflies, fire beetles, and, if the plankton blooms coincide – comb jellies, dinoflagellates, larvaceans, and certain jelly fish! We have had a great donation from SeaLife Cameras, who have given us a prototype of their Fluoro Dual Light and mask set up so we can capture these amazing finds. Check out these pictures by in house photographer Bernd Rac when tested out this light!

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The Resorts Protecting and Regenerating The Reef Around Them 28 Mar 2023, 1:46 pm

Source: Forbes

As well as encompassing 600 acres of its own land, Anse Chastanet overlooks two bays that are a part of a designated marine reserve protecting miles of coral reef teeming with tropical fish. To play a part in the protection of this marine environment, the estate is helping preserve the reef’s coral spawning phenomenon in which the coral releases cells that appear as underwater pink and white clouds drifting to the surface for fertilisation. For this process to happen, the conditions need to be just right, so Anse Chastanet ensures the reef’s protection, preventing damage from human interaction and controlling the numbers of lionfish, which are known to damage the coral and disrupt the local ecosystem, through a new diving and dining package.READ FULL ARTICLE

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Eat Them To Beat Them: St. Lucian ‘Conservation Cuisine’ Battles Lionfish 28 Jan 2023, 1:19 pm

Lionfish, one of the most destructive invasive fish species ever to reach the Caribbean, are wreaking irreparable damage on coral reefs by eating practically everything they come across. And they eat a lot: A lionfish’s stomach can expand up to 30 times its normal size.

It has become of particular concern to environmentalists who lament the fact that lionfish, with no natural predators in the Caribbean, continue to grow at an alarming rate, with scientists fearing the invasive species may never be entirely eradicated from the region’s seas.

But, a high-end resort company in St. Lucia is doing its bit by including the fish as part of its famed cuisine.

Karolin Troubetzkoy, executive director of the storied Jade Mountain and its sister resort Anse Chastanet, together with her culinary team, have launched a “conservation cuisine” initiative preparing the lionfish as a delicacy.

“It is not much of a stretch,” declared Troubetzkoy. “Lionfish is a white flaky, but firm, fish with a flavor between grouper and mahi mahi.”

To ensure diners get to try as many takes on the fish as possible, Troubetzkoy said, “we are serving a multi-course dégustation menu with paired New World wines, in which we showcase the quality and taste of this very unique fish.”

A perfect dinner setting to savor a lionfish meal at two of St. Lucia’s leading resorts.

Diners, seated at a romantic beachside candlelit restaurant, are served lionfish as pure sashimi, citrus ceviche wrapped in a crispy tortilla, and either grilled or stewed with the flavors of St. Lucia. “It is always delicious and a very special dinner experience prepared by our best passionate chefs and sommeliers,” she said.

And for the diving enthusiasts, the resorts’ scuba operation Scuba St. Lucia has introduced PADI’s “Invasive Lionfish Tracker Specialty Course”, which takes guests on two dives to learn about controlling the invasive lionfish population and discover practical methods for humanely capturing and euthanizing these fish.

Lionfish reach adult size at about two years old, and it’s safe to say they won’t get anywhere near the endangered species list because a female lionfish can release between 10,000 and 30,000 unfertilized eggs every four days, or about two million eggs per year.

“So, bon appétit and save our seas!” Troubetzkoy quipped.

For further information visit HERE

About Anse Chastanet
Anse Chastanet is set amid a lush 600-acre estate with two soft-sand beaches and breathtaking views of St. Lucia’s iconic twin Pitons mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amidst St. Lucia’s lush tropical beauty, activities range from jungle biking, hiking and bird watching to snorkeling on the reef within swimming distance of the beach. The environmentally friendly, award-winning resort has 49 individually designed rooms, 37 of which are scattered about a lush hillside, and 12 that are nestled within a tropical garden at beach level. Innovative menus – one entirely vegetarian – are offered in four different locations and feature fresh produce served up from the resort’s organic farm. Guests can join interactive chocolate-making classes in the resort’s chocolate laboratory, or in a range of watersports.

For further information about Anse Chastanet, email ANSECHASTANET@ANSECHASTANET.COM, call 1 800 223-1108 or visit ANSECHASTANET.COM

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Instructor Development Course at Scuba St Lucia 28 Jan 2022, 8:11 am

27th of August to 10th of September 2022

We are very proud to announce another exciting event on the agenda for 2022 – PADI IDC with PADI Course Director, Philip Rexinger. Join Philip Rexinger, PADI Silver Course Director and the Scuba St. Lucia Team August 27th to September 7 th 2022 for your Instructor Development Course and then join the IE on the 8th and 9th of September 2022.

You will need to complete your EFR Instructor Course prior starting the IDC, and that can be arranged through SCUBA St. Lucia. Please let us know so we can order the materials for you.

Also, if you are already an Instructor and would like to pursue towards your MSDT or even IDC Staff Instructor, this will be a great opportunity for you to further your training. All the online materials should be ordered ahead of time, allowing plenty of time for completing all the online training.

Please see more information on schedule and rates below.

• August 25-26 – IDC Staff Course
• August 27 – IDC Candidates arrive
• August 28 – September 5 – IDC Course
• August 28-29 – EFR Instructor Course (in the afternoons, if not already certified)
• September 6 – 7 – MSDT Prep
• September 8-9 – Instructor Exam (IE)*

*A minimum of 5 candidates is required for IE to take place 

COURSE RATES

• Full IDC (includes AI & OWSI & MSDT): $ 1,700
• EFR Instructor Course: $ 250
• AI (Assistant Instructor): $ 800
• OWSI (Open Water Scuba Instructor): $ 800
• MSDT: 5 PADI Instructor Specialties: $ 500 (or $130 per specialty)
• IDC Staff Instructor: $ 700
• Auditing the IDC for credits towards Master Instructor: $ 500

Rates are in US$ and subject to 10% VAT & 10% Service Charge. Rates do not include materials or PADI fees.

PADI IDC Materials: 513.85 USD (includes Crew-Pak – IDC Cand. Slate Pack w/Backpack and Digital materials)

Fees to be paid directly to PADI: 

• Instructor Development Course 209.00 USD
• Instructor Examination 749.00 USD
• Instructor Examination Make-up (per segment) 314.00 USD

The course is available exclusively in conjunction with accommodation at Anse Chastanet.

Rates for accommodation at Anse Chastanet Resort in conjunction with the IDC Instructor Development Course at Scuba St Lucia:

IDC 2 week Accommodation Package: US 4095 per person in double occupancy and US 6,305 in single occupancy 

The special package is available exclusively with the IDC Instructor Development Course at Scuba St Lucia

Includes: 14 nts run of house accommodation, airport transfers, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, all tax/service, welcome drink and culinary amenity on arrival, comp non motorized watersports- unused feature non-refundable.

A marine park fee of US 15 is to be paid locally. The package is available to certified divers. Please bring your c cards with you. As you are aware certain medical conditions prevent you from diving. If you have any concerns, please address them prior to travel with your diving physician or contact our scuba shop at SCUBA@ANSECHASTANET.COM – we recommend that you study our pre-arrival scuba information which can be found on DIVING WITH SCUBA ST LUCIA (PDF).

For more information please contact SCUBA@ANSECHASTANET.COM

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St. Lucia’s Anse Chastanet Nets Six Awards From Scuba Diver Enthusiasts 14 Nov 2019, 2:57 pm

ST. LUCIA (November 14, 2019) – Anse Chastanet is one of the world’s best dive resorts, according to the readers of Scuba Diving Magazine.

In the magazine’s 27th annual 2020 Readers Choice Awards, the Soufrière-based property received first place for quality of resort, quality of room and quality of restaurant in the Caribbean and Atlantic regions.

Nearly 5,000 readers rated their top picks for scuba diving destinations, operators, resorts, and live-aboards from around the world.

Readers also named Anse Chastanet one of the best overall and for value, and gave Anse Chastanet the runner-up placement for quality of staff. The island of St. Lucia was recognized as one of the best destinations for a healthy marine life and beginner divers.

Karolin Troubetzkoy, Executive Director of Anse Chastanet, said the accolades speak to the importance of not resting on one’s laurels. “We would like to thank the readers of Scuba Diving Magazine for recognizing Anse Chastanet and our resort and scuba teams as one of the best dive resorts and experiences in the world, but more importantly, we want to thank our staff for consistently showcasing world-class hospitality each day they show up to excel in their respective careers,” she said.

Global travelers visit Anse Chastanet and Scuba St. Lucia for an ecologically rich experience.

Anse Chastanet’s in-house PADI 5 Star dive operation, Scuba St. Lucia, holds the coveted PADI Green Star Dive Center Award and offers divers a scenic and ecologically rich diving location right off the resort’s shores in the heart of the Soufrière Marine Management Area marine park.

Scuba St. Lucia is one of the longest established diving operations in the Eastern Caribbean and offers a daily scuba diving schedule for experienced and beginner divers alike. Beach and boat diving are offered daily and night diving on the Anse Chastanet reef can be experienced twice weekly.

The annual World’s Best Diving & Resorts issue of the magazine will be on newsstands through February 10, 2020.

For further information, visit www.ansechastanet.com or www.scubastlucia.com.

About Anse Chastanet
Anse Chastanet is set amid a lush 600-acre estate with two soft-sand beaches and breathtaking views of St. Lucia’s twin Pitons mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amidst St. Lucia’s lush tropical beauty, activities range from jungle biking, hiking and bird watching on 12 miles of private resort trails, to snorkeling on the reef within swimming distance of the beach. The environmentally friendly, award-winning resort comprises 49 individually designed rooms, 37 of which are scattered about a lush hillside, and 12 that are nestled within a tropical garden at beach level. Innovative menus – one of which is entirely vegan – are offered in four different locations and feature fresh produce served up from the resort’s organic farm. Guests can partake in interactive chocolate-making classes in the resort’s chocolate laboratory and a variety of water sports are also on offer. The Travelife Gold-certified Anse Chastanet holds TripAdvisor GreenLeaders gold status and is a partner in the United Nations Environment Programme’s “Transforming Tourism Value Chains Program”.

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Introducing Our New Dive Boat Miss Babsie 28 Jan 2019, 3:01 pm

Miss Babsie was custom-built in the Dominican Republic by AventuraBoats and designed by the French architect, Luc Guessard. It is a 42-foot Arawak double-deck catamaran with 2 x 350HP Mercury engines and a capacity for 30 divers and 60 scuba tanks. There are three diving ladders for easy entry and exit. Two ladders are mounted on the swimming platform at the rear and the third is located on the starboard side of the boat.

The top deck has an open space where the captain’s console is located. There are two heads with electric toilets and a sink with a modern water pressure system.

All of our dive boats are named after team members who contributed to the success of our resort and dive operation. Miss Babsie came out of retirement to christen our new dive boat.

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