This dive site explores the wreck of the Augustin Fresnel, a 53-meter long, 9-meter wide cargo ship weighing 660 tons. Built in Canada in the late 1940s, it served the Mediterranean before being stationed in Point à Pitre in 1990 for maintaining maritime markings in the Antilles Guyana area until its retirement in 1994. Divers can navigate around and potentially through parts of the well-preserved superstructure, observing its transformation into an artificial reef.
The wreck teems with marine life, offering a vibrant ecosystem. Divers can encounter barracudas, large pagres, and a variety of angelfish including French, royal, and grey angels. The extensive list of resident species makes for an incredibly rich observation experience, encompassing a diverse array of reef fish and invertebrates that have made the wreck their home.
The best time to visit this dive site is generally during the dry season (December to May) for optimal weather and sea conditions. It offers excellent wide-angle photographic opportunities of the wreck itself and its resident large fish. While suitable for advanced divers due to its maximum depth of 31 meters, intermediate divers can still enjoy the shallower sections. The wreck environment and deeper sections make it less suitable for general freediving.
