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Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Anse Chastanet location page.
Overview
A 50 metre cargo freighter sunk by the Saint Lucia Department of Fisheries in October 1986 as the country's first purpose laid artificial reef, just off Anse Cochon on the leeward coast. The Lesleen M sits fully upright on a flat sand floor, wheelhouse rising to roughly 12 m and keel at 20 m, with the holds, engine room, and bridge open and easily swum through for divers with basic wreck training. Four decades of growth have wrapped the hull in encrusting sponges, fire coral, and small gorgonians; resident green moray eels coil in the engine room, schools of horse eye jacks circle the bridge, and frogfish occasionally settle on the rails. Shallow enough for two long, calm dives back to back.
Briefing note
Sits inside the Canaries Marine Management Area; permit fees are collected by operators. The interior is well lit through hatch openings, with no overhead silt traps in the main holds, so most dive shops run a guided swim through on a standard open water certification — basic wreck training is recommended but not always required. A torch is still useful for the engine room and crew quarters. Mooring buoys mark the bow and stern; do not anchor. The Vicky B, a smaller tug sunk in 2003, lies 200 m to the south and is often added as a second tank by operators staying on site.
What you'll see
7 species curated- year-roundGreen moray eel
- year-roundHorse-eye jack
- year-roundSpotted moray
- year-roundFrench angelfish
- year-roundCaribbean reef squid
- rareLonglure frogfish
- seasonalHawksbill turtlePeak: Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26–27 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Feb | 26–27 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Mar | 26–27 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Apr | 27–28 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| May | 28–29 °C | 20–30 m | none |
| Jun | 28–29 °C | 15–25 m | none |
| Jul | 28–29 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Aug | 29–30 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Sep | 29–30 °C | 10–20 m | moderate |
| Oct | 28–29 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Nov | 27–28 °C | 18–28 m | mild |
| Dec | 26–27 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Next step
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