You might get lucky if seeing sharks in real life is your goal. For that reason, it can be hard to pick the best place to go. It is also a marking point for a great scuba expedition. After frequent vacationing at Sandals resort throughout the Carribean- no one in my party has ever gotten sick. We were at Sandals for two weeks and the red flag was out every day but one. It is a large comfortable room and in a quiet location so we were quite happy. First- you take a shuttle bus to the marina in Castries to get to the dive boat (and the snorkel boat for that matter). As the name suggests, this dive site is straight out of an undersea fairytale. On his day off it took two people to replace him. Since 2000, ScubaBoard has been the place to go for internet based discussions related to all things Scuba. Sandals takes that several steps further and offers a host of scuba diving courses and open water excursions -- many of which are included in the cost of their stay. But when the red flag is out- there is no kayaking, no hobie cats, and NO SWIMMING. The following week we went at 6:30 and had no problem. Review of Sandals Regency La Toc. Dive Level: Advanced La Toc is a big resort with lots of beautiful hills and bluffs- wonderful walking for burning off your calories from a day of dining and drinking. Coral Gardens can be accessed via a boat trip, and that part of the excursion alone is fascinating. Beginners will love diving here as it is not as deep as some of the other sites for more advanced scuba divers – the maximum depth is about 40 ft. Sightings include flying gurnard, lobster, and trumpetfish, and there are also trenches and shelves that are interesting to see. Sandals Regency La Toc: Diving, Dining, and Drinking - See 9,253 traveller reviews, 8,674 candid photos, and great deals for Sandals Regency La Toc at Tripadvisor. By looking I would think the butler suites up on the bluffs were a lot better with beautiful views. Common dive sightings in Saint Lucia include snapper, grunts, parrotfish, pufferfish, trumpetfish, lobster, golden-spotted eels, stingrays and manta rays, lionfish, flying gurnard, goatfish, damselfish, chromis, wrasse, spotted drums, frogfish, and the list goes on. It is about 15-20 min drive depending on traffic in Castries. You’ll also be able to swim with trumpetfish, grouper, snapper, filefishes, and even seahorses. Previous comments about this property alluded to this; and I respect that as a genuine perception, however I did not find any evidence of this at all - I am not sure how one could tell absent the butlers bringing their charges a meal or etc - which is what you paid for to begin with. We attended the street party which is totally amazing. As you get deeper into this dive, you might run into things like … Saint Lucia is also a great choice for divers because there are all-inclusive resorts like Sandals which are well known for their dive-oriented vacation packages. Only Bahamas comes close for diving (for Sandals resorts). My only complaint is that people get up before sunrise to save chairs. Turtle Reef is 40 ft at the shallow end. We were fortunate to meet alot of staff and have actual conversations with them - there you find the world really is a small place and people basically the same - you get what you give- respect and a kind word and smile went along way . Guests enjoy complimentary golf, land and water sports including snorkeling and scuba diving plus exchange privileges at two nearby Sandals Resorts. There was enough different places to eat at the resort and most of them were of a good standard. If you love the beach and swimming in the sea- think twice. This strand in Cap Estate to the extreme north of the island is tucked away and rarely crowded. The surface slopes gradually from 40 ft to 200 ft, and on this dive, you are very likely to encounter turtles, which are usually friendly enough! If you’re looking for a dive for more experienced divers, Jambet Point might just be calling your name. The vibrancy of the coral and sponges here are what make this area stand out most, and for this reason it is a very popular location for underwater photography. La Toc is a big resort with lots of beautiful hills and bluffs- wonderful walking for burning off your calories from a day of dining and drinking. Our instructor Simian was absolutely wonderful. After you’re certified, you can dive for free for the rest of your vacation with up to two tanks per day. Sandals Most Spectacular Swim Up Rooms in Jamaica. In fact, some of the world’s most renowned reefs, walls, caves and wrecks are found in these extraordinary waters. If you've done your homework about this resort- you will not be disappointed. Sandals Grande does their own thing and dives from their resort. This will come in handy in the event of medical emergencies or other unexpected happenings. My advise is to do your homework before you travel abroad. Here you can spot scorpionfish, flying gurnard, and sometimes even turtles and rays. Expect to see valleys and trenches, and even a small tunnel which leads to a chimney. I can guarantee myself a certain level of service and a standard in food preparation and quality. St Lucia is renowned worldwide for its amazing diving sites and all levels of diver – novice or experienced – can enjoy scuba-diving at Sandals Regency La Toc. Sandals Regency La Toc: Great holiday and the scuba diving was amazing - See 9,207 traveller reviews, 8,662 candid photos, and great deals for Sandals Regency La Toc at Tripadvisor. With state-of-the-art Newton Dive Boats, a PADI ® Certified staff and unparalleled dive locations, it’s no … At Sandals you not only get this, but in our swim-up suites, you need only…. You are usually back to the resort around 1pm. Such abundant fish populations. You can choose to indulge or not. The golf course was very convenient and the staff at the course were great. The service and friendliness at this resort met my expectations of the Sandals brand. Always friendly and helpful. Scuba diving at Sandals truly offers you the very best in equipment, staff and unbelievable dive sites — all included! The South Reef on the other hand is shallower (max 30 ft). Although being third or fourth in line, we still could not get into eat until 9:00 – tried for our group of 8, tried to split us up 4-and-4 and even as just a couple and still unable to get in. Located in the mesmerizing Caribbean, Jamaica is one of the largest islands in the region and a travelers’ hotspot. We had been wanting to go to St. Lucia for years after hearing friends and family talk about how beautiful it is. In the past 13 years, Kylie loved to work with various newspapers, magazines and blogs in the Caribbean. Special kudos to "road runner" - my favourite dive master! Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Guests staying at the luxurious Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Club can indulge themselves into 5 Star Global Gourmet Dining and other mouth-watering cuisine from around the globe in nine fantastic restaurants. Copyright © Hello Paradise - The Official Sandals Resorts Travel & Lifestyle Blog. La Roche is also known as Barrel ‘O’ Beef, and it is an islet around which you can have a fun filled dive session. Our room was the Emerald Beachfront Honeymoon Suite (212) - second floor with full balcony - spectacular view of the beach and situated near eveything. This was a physically demanding event (not for the faint hearted) that was culminated by a spectacular post card view of the island - my particular day it rained all the way up and down - bring hiking boots with ankle support due to the rocky terrain. Sandals best dive sites in Saint Lucia From regulators, BCD's, masks, snorkels, fins and tanks to state-of-the-art, twin diesel Newton boats and expert guidance from our PADI ® certified dive professionals — we've taken care of everything. The boat ride can last 30-45 min to get to your dive site. Diving in the Caribbean has been likened to experiencing an underwater carnival. Beginners especially will need to pay special attention to all the tips, instructions, and suggestions from their dive team. It appeals to divers because you can almost always spot something interesting or rare. The Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean at this dive site to the north of Saint Lucia. Be prepared to do some walking as it is spread out. The hotel staff in general were friendly but on many occasions they had the can't be bothered attitude and this let the place down a little. Sandals® Resorts and Beaches® Resorts are excited to announce their PADI® Discover Scuba Diving Experience promotion, which runs now until December 7, 2019. You've likely heard of this enchanting Dutch Caribbean island, which…, What is more spectacular than being able to step out of a cool, crisp and lavishly designed suite to meet your own private oasis in the warm tropical air? While you can spot turtles around this area, turtles appearing at this location have little to do with the name of this dive site. These are beach dives, and the northern reef extends downward to 40 ft at which point it intertwines with Virgin Cove Reef. At the base of Petit Piton, Piton Wall is another cool dive site. The weather is exceptional and inviting nearly all year round. First- you take a shuttle bus to the marina in Castries to get to the dive boat (and the snorkel boat for that matter). It’s almost always a good time to fly to Saint Lucia for a holiday (especially if you plan on diving!). Anse La Raye (a fishing village in Saint Lucia) translates to bay of rays, and the Anse La Raye Wall is one of many dive sites worth checking out while in Saint Lucia. Located in Cap Estate, the maximum depth of reef exploration in this area is 60 ft. As with any resort, there were a lot of extracurricular tours and activities to do on-site and to purchase off-site. I'd rather Sandals focus on quality inclusions like Scuba diving and golf. If you like golf be prepared to tip the caddy around 20$. Toppled over on the ocean floor, it now serves its purpose as an artificial reef. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Included in the all-inclusive package at Sandals is the Discover Scuba course for those new to diving, and one open water dive a day to previously certified divers. Even advanced scuba divers should stick to the basics in terms of communicating underwater effectively and following other recommended safety procedures. Available from: Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Sandals Regency La Toc, Sandals Halcyon. The average daytime temperature on the island is 27°C/80°F when it’s winter elsewhere and 30°C/88°F in summertime. That is the beautiful island of Curaçao—pronounced “cure-a-sow”—in a nutshell. Keyhole is one of the most spectacular dive sites in Saint Lucia and not just for the volcanic peaks that protrude almost straight up to the surface. We never had a problem getting a chair by the pool whenever we wanted one. more. No matter which island you go to for your scuba experience, you’ll be in good hands as the resort will assist you with things like getting PADI certified if you aren’t already. Further, there was more entertainment in the evening at the Grande than La Toc. Its award-winning PADI ® Certified Scuba Diving Centre offers one of the most comprehensive scuba diving programmes anywhere – and it’s all included. Activities at Regency La Toc Resort in Saint Lucia | Sandals If you’re one of those people who might just be accompanying a dive enthusiast and want to know what else you can do in Saint Lucia check out our picks of the best things to do in Saint Lucia. Anse Cochon is to the south of Marigot Bay and this dive site has a maximum depth of 65 ft. As the ship remains in good form, divers can really get in there and see how much it has transformed over the years. The wreck dive was also a close second. Scuba diving at Sandals truly offers you the very best in equipment, staff and unbelievable dive sites – all included! Here you can spot scorpionfish, flying gurnard, and sometimes even turtles and rays. The Lesleen M is a 165-foot cargo vessel which was purposely sunk in 1986 by the Fisheries Department of Saint Lucia. Born on the tropical island that is Saint Lucia affords a never-ending source of inspiration. Many larger than 6' tall. There are at least 2 dives per day except Sunday- a deep dive at 8am followed by a shallow dive. Sharks aren’t the most common sighting in Saint Lucia for divers, but that doesn’t mean there are no chances of spotting one. What Is Club Mobay & Is It Worth The Extra Cost? This dive starts at 60 ft on the shallow end, and goes as deep as 110 ft. On top of that, guests can enjoy unlimited gourmet food at 27 restaurants, unlimited (alcoholic) drinks, water sports, golf at two golf courses and more! Anse Cochon North & South Reef should be at the top of your dive list during your scuba vacation in Saint Lucia. ), so I can't be bothered complaining about this. La Roche is near Rodney Bay – about a quarter mile out. We spent the little extra to get a concierge level room and finally had to reach out to the concierge. Watch videos from Sandals Regency La Toc Resort in St. Lucia to get a glimpse of paradise. Review collected in partnership with this hotel. For a nominal fee (only $100 USD), you will be able to dive, in most cases, the same day as your programme, and be able to dive throughout your stay at our Sandals Resorts. Our time and experience here has been nothing short of fabulous. You are usually back to the resort around 1pm. You’ll love the opportunity to float around this majestic underwater community scoping the wall for interesting sightings and interacting with critters of the undersea. Read more about what guests love at each resorts: Both listened carefully to my concerns about various aspects of my vacation and made changes. I would like to focus on the Scuba diving as I found this information difficult to find prior to departure. We went one evening to the Sandals Grande to eat at Barefoot by the Sea. We chose La Toc as several in our group are golfers. Communicate privately with other divers from around the world. It is about 15-20 min drive depending on traffic in Castries. Sandals Regency La Toc Review Sandals Regency La Toc: Scuba Diving and Other Info - See 9,140 traveler reviews, 8,583 candid photos, and great deals for Sandals Regency La Toc at Tripadvisor. Finally, look over your equipment before you use it to make sure it’s in good condition and suitable for safe use. The Pigeon Island reef dive at the base of Pigeon Island starts over a sandy area leading to a reef and an area with large boulders and other prominent features. Insider tip: Want to know more about what things you can explore on land at Pigeon Island? Lush with beautiful gardens. Our most memorable new friends from Dining Services were Tonia, Sharipha, Killian, LiLi, Garth and chef Jefferson from Kimonos. Sandals Grande does their own thing and dives from their resort. Sandals Grande does their own thing and dives from their resort. You can do as much as you want to do - even PADI ® Certified Scuba Diving in spectacular waters - or absolutely nothing at all because it’s all included, all unlimited, all the time. Other days were spent by the pool or Spa. While being somewhat new to the tripadvisor experience, we travel the West Indies and / or Mexico twice a year and have been guest at a variety of resort hotel style properties. If you want a bit of scuba but don’t want to go all the way in, try things like SNUBA, or go for a snorkeling trip. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. As you dive off the coasts of this alluring island, you’ll be reminded that scuba diving really does press the reset button on life, helping one to learn to appreciate the simple and beautiful things, in and out of the water! Best time for a dive vacation in Saint Lucia The colours of fish and coral are breathtaking!...If you've done your homework about this resort- you will not be disappointed. I would especially like to mention Wayne at the Pavilion. St Lucia isn't the biggest island but it took 1:30 hours to get to the hotel and you see most of the island life on the way. This means it’ll not be hard to find a dive operator who will take you under their wing to ensure you get the best experience. Those that did not take reservations open at 6:30. I did not detect any sense of preferential treatment for guests with butlers and those without, etc. Tip: When heading out on a dive vacation consider getting dive insurance! Guests of Sandals also don’t need to worry about scuba equipment as all of this is included. We had the most amazing time getting open water dive certified in St. Lucia. Ask Knaggs f about Sandals Regency La Toc, Ask 78KarenR621 about Sandals Regency La Toc, Ask buddy040 about Sandals Regency La Toc, St. Lucia is nice....review what you are looking for in a resort, Ask Likeallinclusives about Sandals Regency La Toc, Ask Steven W about Sandals Regency La Toc, Ask Stephan P about Sandals Regency La Toc, Hotels near Rum Therapy Bar and Treatment Center, Hotels near (SLU) George F. L. Charles Airport, We compared the lowest prices from 16 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 14 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 13 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 11 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 9 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 7 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 2 websites. Scuba diving is included at all Sandals all-inclusive resorts. Chances of seeing sharks may be higher on a night dive. There are few places with better dive sites than the Caribbean. It is about 15-20 min drive depending on traffic in Castries. Pool and Beach Services were Mr. George, Eric and Amanda . First- you take a shuttle bus to the marina in Castries to get to the dive boat (and the snorkel boat for that matter). This business uses tools provided by Tripadvisor (or one of its official Review Collection Partners) to encourage and collect guest reviews, including this one. We booked the oceanfront room right off the main lobby and it was perfect- convenient and clean. Yes the rooms all need some work- especially the bathrooms. Sandals Regency La Toc: Very Good - Only Major Complaint Was the Scuba Diving - See 9,193 traveler reviews, 8,656 candid photos, and great deals for Sandals Regency La Toc at Tripadvisor. On a dive here you might see things like lobster, moray eels, frogfish, and other reef fish. At Sandals, alongside these amazing services, amenities and accommodations, exciting water sports and fun-filled diving experiences are available too…even to new divers! Depending on where you dive and the time of your session, you may also spot turtles, seahorses, or even barracuda and nurse sharks. Insider tip: Want to get a head start? We found the level of service to be exceptional. Frustrating. two tanks a day) during their entire stay! The grounds are beautiful and immaculate. We took a sunset cruise to the Pitons and I hiked the Gross Piton Mountain on Wednesday with guides Shem and Cameron from the local village nestled at the foot of mountain. You are usually back to the resort around 1pm. The boat ride can last 30-45 min to get to your dive site. But I probably spent 1 hour in my room getting ready for dinner (and sleeping! I can’t say that we would return, and, if so, stay at La Toc. 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