St Lucia is well known in the scuba diving industry for its natural coral reefs, and sponge covered reef walls. But the Lesleen M Wreck St. Lucia artificial reef is a wonderful dive site that will leave you wanting more of the scuba experiences St. Lucia has to offer.
St Lucia’s coral reef formations are inhabited by some of the most beautiful aquatic creatures you’ll ever see. There you will also find large schools of tropical fish like the red snapper.
When you scuba dive in St. Lucia, you will experience an endless kaleidoscope of colors that are displayed by various types of coral formations that litter its seabed.
St. Lucia has some unique dive sites that will leave you in awe. Some of the well-known dive sites include those around the Pitons.
You will find more than 12 excellent dive sites around the Pitons on the west coast of St. Lucia, where most of its dive sites are located. These dive sites are scattered all along the entire west coast of the island.
One of the preferred dive sites along the west coast of St. Lucia is the Lesleen M Wreck artificial reef.
The Lesleen M Wreck
The Lesleen M Wreck is an old cargo ship that was sunk in the Anse Cochon bay in 1986. The resulting artificial reef is home to numerous species of coral and aquatic life. This dive site is considered an easy dive ideal for novice divers.
In its current location, the Lesleen M Wreck lies evenly on its keel. The wreck is approximately 165 feet long and rests at a depth of at a depth of 60 feet. This artificial reef is both a fascinating and adventurous dive as it has a wide open and accessible cargo hold that you can explore.
From inside the engine room of the Lesleen M Wreck, there is a ladder that takes you into the cabins of the main deck. The Cabins of this old cargo ship are located just below its pilot house. Coral and marine life has taken over this entire old cargo ship. The resulting artificial reef is home to Turtles, Lobsters, Eels, Spider crabs, Shrimp and beautiful schools of exotic tropical fish.
The visibility at the Lesleen M Wreck is generally good with conditions ranging from about but 30 to 100 feet. To maintain visibility during your dive, you should not touch or tamper with the surrounding environment as it can cause polyps to disperse in the water. These polyps can also irritate your skin causing a burning itch.
The dive site can experience some heavy curtains, so it is essential for divers to consider using the available mooring lines to ascend and descend and as safety stops during the dive.
The Lesleen M Wreck is a picturesque dive site which also makes it excellent for dive photography. Approaching the Lesleen M Wreck from a distance is a beautiful Spectacle. You will see the wreck upright on its Keel with its 13-meter pilothouse and its open cargo area accessible for you to explore. You can dive along the deck for a closer look at all the beautiful coral that has formed on this artificial Reef. You will see large groups of angelfish and many schools of different kinds of snapper. You may also see lots of barracuda and some small schools of tuna. The Lesleen M Wreck is a Haven for Aquatica life.
Here’s a video to give you a better idea of what to expect on a dive at the Lesleen M Wreck.
Lesleen M Wreck Dive Site Summary
Location: Anse Cochon Bay
Description: Artificial Reef established with a sunken Cargo Ship
Created: 1986
Ship Wreck Length:165 feet
Visibility: 30 meters (98 feet)
The Dive experience at the Lesleen M Wreck
The Lesleen M Wreck was stripped down before it was sunk to form an artificial reef. So, depending on your dive experience, you can get to see every inch of inside the old cargo ship.
The area where the artificial reef was established is not that deep. The bottom time at this dive site is about 40 to 50 minutes. Many Moray Eels can be found all along the Passenger ways. All along the perimeter of the artificial reef on the ocean floor are lots of exotic fish species that may pick your interest.
The Lesleen M Wreck has a very open penetration and minimal hazardous areas. However, you would still need to be cautious not to dive too close to the artificial reef skeleton and the Coral that has formed on it, to avoid any cuts and grazes if you have a short wetsuit.
Since the Lesleen M Wreck sits only at 60 feet deep it is perfect for anyone to dive, particularly novice divers. On most days the visibility at the Lesleen M Wreck is excellent allowing you to view the colorful and vibrant coral. Also, diving is particularly enjoyable on days when the currents are minimal at the dive site.
The artificial reef is intact with no sections falling apart, and lots of coral has grown all over it. Many moray eels can be found among the coral and inside the cargo hold which is accessible so you can explore.
Although the Lesleen M Wreck is a very spectacular dive site, there are days where you can get very crowded with multiple dive groups diving at the same time. On crowded days it may not make for the best dive experience.
If you’d like to explore the Lesleen M Wreck in intricate detail, make sure you bring along your flashlight so you can see everything inside the cargo hold and engine room. You may get to see many huge schools of red snapper swimming around the inside of the artificial reef. The coral and fish make for a very colorful spectacle along with the surrounding coral. You may also be surprised to see that the rudder and propeller on this old wreck are still very much intact.
On low visibility days, it is better to go with a much smaller group. If you’re an experienced diver, you may most likely want to explore the entire inside of the artificial reef. If you’re a novice diver, and you’re not up to the task, there is still much to see around the wreck.
The Lesleen M Wreck is not the biggest artificial coral reef out there. However, it’s a fascinating dive experience given the abundance of exotic fish and colorful coral which has formed on the structure.
Where is the Lesleen M Wreck Located?
St. Lucia Dive Operators that can take you to the Lesleen M Wreck
Scuba Steve’s Diving
Scuba Steve’s diving is a British owned and operated 5-star PADI dive center. Scuba Steve’s diving was established in the Year 2006 and aims to deliver high levels of customer service and provide clients with an unmatched dive experience. Scuba Steve’s diving is located in Rodney Bay which is close to many of the large hotels in St Lucia. If you book a dive with scuba Steve’s diving, you will get a free pick up and drop off at your accommodation in an air-conditioned minibus, or a diver boat if your hotel is accessible by sea. Scuba Steve’s diving offers both daily dives for divers who are already certified and PADI certification courses for clients who want to be certified divers. They operate two custom dive boats that will take you to the various dive sites around St Lucia.
Action Adventure Divers
Action adventure divers is a dive operator established since 2002. This dive shop was founded by two brothers, Chester and Cuthbert Nathaniel. The brothers open this dive shop due to their love for scuba diving and to provide visitors with the best-personalized dive experience that St Lucia can offer.
The founders have a passion for what they do. They also aim to properly educate novice divers about scuba diving and the importance of preserving the natural habitat of coral reefs. The founders are always happy to share their experiences of scuba diving with everyone who wants to know more about the sport. Action adventure divers also have a mission that seeks to educate people – visitors and locals alike about marine species in St Lucia.
Dive Fair Helen
Dive Fair Helen is operated by a St Lucian national who is also an environmentalist and has lots of experience in marine research in St Lucia.
Dive Fair Helen has been in operation for over 15 years and is one of the oldest dive operators in St. Lucia.
The founder of Dive Fair Helen is the person responsible for spearheading the establishment of the Lesleen M Wreck artificial reef. The founder was also actively involved for in the regulation of the sports diving sector in St Lucia, the establishment of marine reserves along St Lucia ’s coastline.
Dive Fair Helen runs two customs dive boats which they use for daily dive and snorkeling excursions. Their dive boats have facilities onboard including washroom and showering facilities to rinse off after your dive. Both dive boats are excellently built to provide an accessible, safe and comfortable experience.
Dive Saint Lucia
Dive St Lucia is one of St Lucia’s premier scuba diving centers with some of the most up-to-date facilities on the island. Their facilities include a dive shop retailing dive Gear, a state-of-the-art pool, and classroom for training.
Dive St. Lucia also has two spacious dive boats capable of accommodating up to 30 divers. Their dive boats are equipped with first aid and safety equipment. Both boats also have fully stocked refrigerators to hold refreshments for clients to consume after dives.
Dive St Lucia offers PADI dive training courses from beginner to instructor level. They also provide guided dives to all the beautiful dive sites in St. Lucia. All their divers are fully trained via the Professional Association of dive instructors (PADI). And, they also pride themselves with very high standards that are shown through their exceptional customer service.
Damian is a co-founder, editor, and author at Islanderkeys. He is also a dedicated father and husband. Damian is an IT Manager / Web developer by profession, but he loves to Blog and share his knowledge about St. Lucia in travel forums.
