Snorkeling is the window into another world! No wonder it is most popular activities all around the Caribbean! How can you not enjoy it – warm water, abundant sea life! Normally it is a highlight of the trip to the Caribbean!
Saint-Martin is a small, 37 sq ml, picturesque island in the northern Caribbean, shared by France and Holland. And if you didn’t know – here it is – there are 35 beaches here! Thus Saint-Martin offers quite remarkable scenes to explore in the underwater!
The truly obsessed snorkel fans can get their fins wet right off the plane. Just “around the corner” from the airport is famous Maho Beach which you just skimmed over in your aircraft! The Sunset Bar is on one side of the rocky formation, lots of coral fish is grassing and hiding there. On the other side of ” the corner” is Mullet Bay, to the right side along the rocks below the remains of the former hotel restaurant – serious fish business there is – Queen Trigger fish, Blue tang, Wrasse and Red Parrotfish, Sergeant majors and Groupers are abundant, if you lucky you may see antennas of a local Spiney lobster.
The distant coves and islets near the main island are all reachable on the 7 MARINE boats: you will be amazed by the clear turquoise water, you’ll see colorful fish swimming around the reefs, and you can find rays or turtles on the sandy parts.
Some nice and very nice surprises you can find in the rocky coves of the south coast. Snorkeling in the Little bay (Dutch side) will amuse you with the wrecks of the helicopter, a small plane and the bicycle! Besides resident Barracudas, Rainbow parrotfish and Trumpetfish, and even squid can be found here.
you will be amazed by the clear turquoise water
In that same bay you can find a spectacular site called “UnderSXM”. This is a 300 artificial reef sculptures provide a breath-taking new eco-attraction in Little Bay, St Maarten. Snorkel the man-made sculptures that celebrate the island’s vibrant history, culture and people, whilst providing a safe habitat for the ocean’s marine life”.
Further along the shoreline, in the corner of the Long Bay, where the virtual border between the French and the Dutch part is, the lovely La Samana resort sits on top of the cliff. Head to the left where limestone caves and lava cliff sheltering vivid underwater life.
Next stop is in the right corner of Nettle bay called Anse de Sables. Sheltered from rough waves most of the time its bottom is covered with sea grass – the feeding and breading ground for many sea species in the Northern Caribbean. Here you will find young Barracudas, baby Stingrays, many Turtles and a star of the Caribbean – the Cushion Sea Starfish!
Continuing further north along the shore, just a stone-throw away from the Orient Bay, across the lagoon from Cul de Sac, is a Pinel island, the not-that-secret jam of Sint Martin. Located in a protected Marine Reserve, the island’s northeast corner offers fantastic snorkeling!
Just follow signs to the right for the Pinel Island Marine Trail to access a designated snorkeling trail, look for Grunts, Wrasse, Blue Tang, colorful Parrotfish and keep an eye out for Spotted Eagle rays, Southern stingrays and sea turtles. Confident swimmers may also take a scenic hike around the islands and find additional reef to explore on the north side of the Pinel island.
Seven Marine Charters
Typically replies within an hourSeven Marine Charters
Thank you for contacting us. Please let us know how we can help you?
Start Chat