Playa Lagun (Lagun Beach)

Playa Lagun is a small fishing cove tucked between two high cliff walls that funnel down to a narrow strip of pale sand. Colourful wooden fishing boats are usually pulled up at one side, and the calm, protected water makes it one of the most reliable easy-entry snorkel and dive spots on the island. Green sea turtles cruise the bay, and lucky snorkelers spot squid hovering near the rocks at dusk.

The sheltering cliffs keep the cove calm even when there is wind elsewhere, so it suits beginners and families as well as divers. Snorkel along either rock wall and you will find reef fish, the occasional turtle and good visibility close to shore. A dive operator and a casual restaurant sit nearby, so it is slightly more set up than the most remote coves without losing its quiet character.

Tips for Lagun

• Stay to the sides of the bay to snorkel the reef and leave the centre clear for fishing boats.
• Late afternoon is a good time to look for squid along the rocks.
• The beach is small, so it fills quickly on weekends; come early.
• No lifeguards, but the cove is well sheltered and calm.

Lagun lies in rural Bandabou, a short drive from the undeveloped Playa Jeremi and within reach of the Kenepa beaches. It makes an easy first or last stop on a west-end day built around snorkeling.