The Pigeon Islets
Mr. Pigeon, a landowner, was one of the landowners who initiated the establishment and development of the sugar industry in the 17th century. He gave his name to this district of Bouillante, once an economic and administrative center, the original location of the village of Bouillante, founded in 1636 by the first settlers of the Compagnie des Îles d'Amérique.
Located 1,100 meters from the coast, the Pigeon Islet consists of two islets with a total area of approximately 8 hectares (7 hectares for the large islet and 1 hectare for the small islet). They are part of the commune of Bouillante.
A sandy channel about 30 meters wide separates them; everywhere else the seabed drops abruptly into the sea. The islets are covered with dry coastal vegetation dominated by manchineel, pear, and frangipani. On the rocks, the most remarkable species is the spiny stingray. There are also endemic species of the Antilles: wickwood, greater purslane, as well as protected species. There is no longer any trace of tropical fruits, notably guava, which, according to history, is the origin of the first name of the islets: “l'Islet à Goyave” and the commune of Bouillante.
The Pigeon Islet and its environment represent a unique area that combines original and diverse marine and terrestrial communities. They fall within the “ZNIEFF type I” zones: Natural Zone of Ecological, Floristic and Faunistic Interest, both for the terrestrial and marine parts.
The islets are composed of volcanic rocks that favor the establishment of coral communities. These inhabit mineral bases and are called “non-bio-constructed” compared to the most widespread form erected by building corals, therefore “bio-constructed”. The corals and their associated communities that cover the rocky bottoms offer some of the highest biodiversity in the French Antilles.
In 1974, Commander Jacques-Yves Cousteau, in a letter addressed to the Director of INRA, gave a very favorable opinion for the classification of the site as a reserve because of its exceptional richness. Since then, the name “Cousteau Reserve” has been commonly used by various diving clubs. During a dive, you can see the bust of the famous commander, submerged in his honor at a depth of 12 meters. To preserve the seabed, the Guadeloupe National Park has set up fixed moorings. Some are reserved primarily for professional structures, others are intended for pleasure boats. It is forbidden to park in the core zone outside of these ecological moorings maintained by the National Park.
Dive sites and anchorages
Three wrecks were sunk in sandy areas where they provide excellent refuges for aquatic wildlife:
The Gustavia and the Franjack were 50m long sand-cutting vessels. Rendered unseaworthy after being hit by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, they were decontaminated and sunk as artificial reefs. Their wrecks, located in the heart of the Park, are rich in sponges and multi-colored fish.
The Augustin Fresnel, a former cargo ship of the "Phares et Balises" (Lighthouses and Beacons), 53 m long and 9 m wide, lies 30 m deep on a sandy bottom. It was sunk in 2003, further south, between the village of Bouillante and Anse à la Barque. Its 15 cabins and exterior passageways offer an exceptional dive.
