marcaumarc
Contributor
From there you would go counterclockwise around the island to get to Grand Case where Octopus is (i.e., up the east side past Orient Bay). If you go that way there isn't any traffic. The places where you hit traffic on the island are Philipsburg, Simpson Bay and Marigot and you wouldn't have to go through any of them.
Generally speaking, the better reefs are on the French side, especially around Tintamarre, which is a small islet to the north. There are more wrecks on the Dutch side, but the reefs are not in such great shape. I'm not sure if it is the amount of development there or dredging for the cruise ships. Octopus goes to sites on both sides, but we mostly do the Dutch side for wrecks. Dutch side ops can dive both sides as well, but I've rarely seen them on the French side and I've never seen any of their boats at Tintamarre. Octopus doesn't do a shark feeding dive. I've never been out with Dive Safaris, but Bobby is a good guy.
Spotted eagle rays and turtles are the only big things we see regularly. Occasionally we'll see nurse sharks or a reef shark. In the last month or so there have been three times when dolphins have come by when we are diving, which is amazing, but I wouldn't count on it. Humpbacks are also here right now, but I've only heard them underwater and seen them from the boat.
Generally speaking, the better reefs are on the French side, especially around Tintamarre, which is a small islet to the north. There are more wrecks on the Dutch side, but the reefs are not in such great shape. I'm not sure if it is the amount of development there or dredging for the cruise ships. Octopus goes to sites on both sides, but we mostly do the Dutch side for wrecks. Dutch side ops can dive both sides as well, but I've rarely seen them on the French side and I've never seen any of their boats at Tintamarre. Octopus doesn't do a shark feeding dive. I've never been out with Dive Safaris, but Bobby is a good guy.
Spotted eagle rays and turtles are the only big things we see regularly. Occasionally we'll see nurse sharks or a reef shark. In the last month or so there have been three times when dolphins have come by when we are diving, which is amazing, but I wouldn't count on it. Humpbacks are also here right now, but I've only heard them underwater and seen them from the boat.