This dive site, COUCOUNE TOMBANT DE BARRERE, is located less than 10 minutes from the local UCPA center, making it easily accessible by boat. It serves as a reliable fallback site in the event of strong currents to the south. The site features a sandy plateau with scattered rocky areas, which transitions into an impressive vertical drop-off. This wall dive begins at a depth of 12 meters and plunges dramatically to depths exceeding 50 meters, offering a diverse topography for exploration.
The Barrère drop-off is home to a rich variety of marine life. Divers can expect to encounter fascinating garden eels and tropical live eels swaying in the currents. Schools of yellow-tailed sardines, gorettes, and squirrel fish are common sights, adding vibrant color to the reef. Lobsters hide in crevices, and fortunate divers may also spot green and/or hawksbill turtles gracefully swimming along the wall or over the plateau.
The best time to visit this dive site is generally when conditions are calm, though it's noted as a fallback for currents. Its varied depths, from the shallower plateau to the deep drop-off, make it excellent for intermediate scuba divers and also highly suitable for freedivers looking to explore a significant depth range. Divers should be prepared for potentially variable currents, which can add to the excitement of a drift dive along the wall.
