Category: Paradis bleus

Very beautiful destination for surfing, the Islands of Guadeloupe are bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Result: beautiful waves for all levels. Jimmy Normand grew up in the suburbs of Paris, he moved to Guadeloupe at the age of 12 and never left as he was seduced by the islands. Today he gives us precious advice.

LES PLAGES :

BEGINNER ” The Helleux spot in Sainte-Anne is easy
access, the waves are accessible without much
Rowing and gently sloping. I’m taking
also my first time clients in Port Louis, the
Souffleur beach, the waves are still there.
smooth and long, the pleasant conditions…
not to mention the turquoise blue water. »

MEDIUM ” I also recommend the Helleux beach.
When the waves are bigger, this spot
ravishes the means and sometimes the experts. All
depends on the conditions. I like the beach.
from Petit-Havre to Gosier or from Anse to La
Gourde, Pointe des Châteaux in Saint-François,
there are lefts and rights. »

CONFIRMED ” Without hesitation I would say Le Moule, the spot of
Damencourt, by far the most popular on the Atlantic side.
And the spot of Anse-Bertrand, beach of
At the Chapel, the waves are often more
hollow, faster, with less water on the
rocks and welcome more swell with a
access a little harder. »

THE BOARDS:

FISH
Short and wide board with tail
is the ideal partner for surfing the waves.
small waves. Usually surfed in
Twin Fin: two lateral daggerboards, it allows
an easy glide and can be surfed in all types of
conditions. Both handy and bulky,
it combines all the advantages of a big board:
easy start on the wave and buoyancy on the
soft parts and without speed, and a large
manoeuvrability for the execution of the manoeuvres.

SHORTBOARD
The most famous, the one that Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning…
and all the pros use it in competition.
It’s short, narrow and allows you to achieve the
the most radical maneuvers. Most often
surfing in Thruser (3 daggerboards) or Quattro
(4 daggerboards), this board is reserved for the surfers.
with a minimum of technique. To be excluded
for beginners

EVOLUTIVE
Board more tolerant than shortboard
that allows certain maneuvers. More malleable
to the oar, it is a board adapted
to intermediate-level surfers. It’s a
a good mix between the radicality of a
shortboard and the comfort of a mini-malibu.

GUN
Only “fat surfing”. This type of
boards is reserved for expert surfers,
who want to challenge the XXL waves.

MINI-MALIBU
Beginner’s paradise. Here the emphasis is on
on stability. Probably the most
easy to surf. Of course, it has its limits in terms of
maneuvers, but if you’re an occasional surfer
and just want to take advantage of the
soft summer waves, it’s perfect.

LONGBOARD
Large board, often aesthetic, it reminds
the history of surfing because it was the first time
to have been built in the ’60s. Called
also Malibu, it allows you to slide in and out of the
sweetness. What’s the catch? These boards are heavy,
difficult to manoeuvre and complicated to
Row. On the other hand, they allow you to
take the waves before anyone else, make
small steps on the nose and enjoy long
moments on the same wave.

Five species of sea turtles have been found in the waters  of the guadeloupe islands, including two that can be observed near our  shores all year round. Quick revision before we take to the water…

Sea turtles have to surface for air. After just a few breaths they can stay under water for around 20 minutes, or even a few hours when they are resting. They swim at speeds of up to 35 km/h.

Turtles are oviparous: the female digs her nest on the beach and lays 70 to 200 eggs which she covers with sand before returning to the sea. We call their offspring “hatchlings”. Just one egg in every thousand will result in an adult turtle capable of reproducing. The females will lay their eggs only at the beach where they hatched

Sea turtles are capable of diving very deep. The luth turtle, one of the largest species of sea turtle, has been known to dive to a record depth exceeding 1,000 meters.

Luth turtles can measure up to 2 meters in length and reach a weight of 450 kg. This is the only species which has no hard shell, just skin with a leathery appearance. Its clawless flippers are shaped like paddles, making it an excellent swimmer. It leaves the water only for the laying season and prefers the quiet shores of nighttime, although some individuals have been spotted in the spring in broad daylight, at Trois-Rivières or on La Perle beach at Deshaies

Focus on the turtle hospital

At the Guadeloupe Aquarium, there is a turtle hospital for the victims of ocean pollution. The new children’s center has an educational corner whose purpose is to make them aware of the necessity to preserve the marine world in general, and turtles in particular. Plastic bags, fishing hooks, ink cartridges, etc. are just a few of the many dangers that threaten turtles and pollute the water. Workshops are organized to help us understand the impact of our actions in terms of the preservation of species.

Faustine François