marcele
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Interested in hearing about diving experiences at the Island of St. Maarten/ St. Martin
Diving in St. Maarten - Netherland Antilles
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marcaumarc
Contributor
My buddy and I love St. Martin and have been going there for years, starting before we were divers. We have guides to some of the dive sites on our web site:
St. Martin | Les Fruits De Mer
I think St. Martin is underrated as a dive location. It has a bit of everything - wrecks, reefs, etc. and I find it has a really great variety of sea life. Overall, I think French Side has the best reefs and the Dutch Side has the most wrecks. We dive with Octopus Diving as well. They're in Grand Case on the French Side and they dive sites on both sides of the island:
Octopus Diving - Scuba Dive and Snorkel in Saint Martin / Sint Maarten
Topside, it's the "Culinary Capital of the Caribbean" and there are loads of great French restaurants. I definitely prefer the French side, which is mostly really cute. The Dutch side is effectively the American side and it is more developed.
If you have any specific questions, let me know. My girlfriend and I recently got our long stay visas and are moving there for a year in a couple weeks. Yay!
St. Martin | Les Fruits De Mer
I think St. Martin is underrated as a dive location. It has a bit of everything - wrecks, reefs, etc. and I find it has a really great variety of sea life. Overall, I think French Side has the best reefs and the Dutch Side has the most wrecks. We dive with Octopus Diving as well. They're in Grand Case on the French Side and they dive sites on both sides of the island:
Octopus Diving - Scuba Dive and Snorkel in Saint Martin / Sint Maarten
Topside, it's the "Culinary Capital of the Caribbean" and there are loads of great French restaurants. I definitely prefer the French side, which is mostly really cute. The Dutch side is effectively the American side and it is more developed.
If you have any specific questions, let me know. My girlfriend and I recently got our long stay visas and are moving there for a year in a couple weeks. Yay!
Docc
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+1 for Chris and Sally at Octopus Diving.
ekrichbaum
Registered
How is the diving since the hurrricane of 2009?
marcaumarc
Contributor
Most of the sites seem pretty much the same to me. I have been to probably a dozen sites both pre-and post. I think the biggest change is The Porpoise (wreck) is not standing upright anymore, but even other wrecks are pretty much unchanged.
I think there is more dredging on the Dutch side because there is some new super big cruise ship that can only land in three ports in the Caribbean or something. I think this is bad for the viz, at least intermittently at some sites.
I think there is more dredging on the Dutch side because there is some new super big cruise ship that can only land in three ports in the Caribbean or something. I think this is bad for the viz, at least intermittently at some sites.
ekrichbaum
Registered
Thanks for the feedback. I chose to go to Grand Cayman next year.
Eric
Eric
So Interval has matched us with Diamond resort Royal Palm Beach in St Maarten for August this year. Does anyone know which, if any, dive shop does sassy/snuba/bubblemaker/seal team for the kids on the island? Dear Daughter has done all except seal team in the last 2 years. She is only 8 and still to young for junior open water, much as she is 'ready for it'. Appreciate any help!
Jersey
Contributor
Frost -
From Royal Palm the closest shop is located right next door on Kimsha - Ocean Explorers. I don't think they do anything for kids. Over at Pelican Resort - right across the bay - is AquaMania Water Sports, sorry, again not sure if they offer anything for the younger set. I have no kids and never really noticed. I dive with both operators, great experiences all around. Both can be found on the web for more info on services. August should be low and slow season on island - fewer crowds, but some places - restaurants especially - may be closed. There are a couple other shops over in Simpsons Bay, forget name. All of the above are closer to you then the stuff on the french side. Good luck!
From Royal Palm the closest shop is located right next door on Kimsha - Ocean Explorers. I don't think they do anything for kids. Over at Pelican Resort - right across the bay - is AquaMania Water Sports, sorry, again not sure if they offer anything for the younger set. I have no kids and never really noticed. I dive with both operators, great experiences all around. Both can be found on the web for more info on services. August should be low and slow season on island - fewer crowds, but some places - restaurants especially - may be closed. There are a couple other shops over in Simpsons Bay, forget name. All of the above are closer to you then the stuff on the french side. Good luck!
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