St. Martin Recommendations?

[Joe from MN]

Heading to St. Martin mid-/February to mid-March. Has anyone used Bubble Shop for diving? We’re staying in the Orient Beach area and they are the closest.
Thanks!

 

[jonhall]

Only speculation on my part - because of their location, the op will only go to the few sites that are on the NE side of island. Creole Rock is shown as a dive site there - I've snorkeled around it before as it is a popular snorkel spot - don't think it's very deep.

The majority of dive sites around the island run along the south side of the island. That said, I've only dove along the south side (some decent wrecks, sharks, etc...) The few sites on the NE side may be great. Also the convenience of how close the op is shouldn't be overlooked. Hopefully someone with experience on the north side will chime in.

 

[wordizbon]

I am heading to St. Martin in 2 weeks and am looking for a good diving company to dive with.

 

[Wants2divemore]

I am heading to St. Martin in 2 weeks and am looking for a good diving company to dive with.

I had a great experience with Dive Sint Maarten

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Expereince the amazing underwater world of St. Maarten with the team from Dive Sint Maarten. Discover Scuba diving.

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I was in St. Maarten on Jan 29th on a cruise and dove with Dive Sint Maarten. Bottom line: Good experience, would use again. Meeting location: Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg (15 minute walk, 2 minute taxi ride from cruise pier). Boat: Double Dutch - 12 divers max, covered deck area, no restroom...

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[jonhall]

I am heading to St. Martin in 2 weeks and am looking for a good diving company to dive with.

If you're staying near Simpson Bay on the Dutch (southwest) side, Ocean Explorers is a popular dive op.

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If you're staying in Philipsburg, also on the Dutch (southeast) side, you should be able to find an op (like Dive Sint Martin located in Bobby's Marina) along the strip where cruise ships come in. You may have cruise ship divers diving with an op along this stretch - I only say that because there is always a slight chance you may have to wait on cruise ship divers to get to the dive op from their ship.

Remember, most of the dive sites around the island are on the south (Dutch) side.

 

[sportyluis]

Hi All, may I ask where you stayed in St Martin? Any particular areas of the island better than others? I'm going with my wife, child and 2 grandparents. We like to be near a beach, near good snorkeling and if we're lucky my wife and I will try 2 days of diving

 

[jonhall]

where you stayed in St Martin?

St. Martin would indicate that you are staying on the French side?? Can't comment on that for a place to stay, but if the Dutch (St. Maarten) side is an option, Belair Beach hotel in Little Bay has/had a great beach - hurricane Irma in 2017 did a number on much of the island, but the beach looked pretty good from the cruise ship we were on a few years later. Nice sandy beach with reserved lounge chairs during your stay - all rooms face the water. One can snorkel at a couple different places around the bay and the boat traffic is minimal. A few minute drive to Phillipsburg and the boardwalk along Great Bay, where cruise ships come in and where a few dive shops are located.

Royal Palm Beach Resort is located in Simpson Bay on Dutch side. Nice beach and next door to Ocean Explorers dive shop. Walkable to some nice restaurants. Quite a bit of water activity going on here.

Have snorkeled around Creole Rock and Tintamarre Island on the French side, both from a catamaran tour. Creole Rock was much better as far as snorkeling goes.

 

[sportyluis]

St. Martin would indicate that you are staying on the French side?? Can't comment on that for a place to stay, but if the Dutch (St. Maarten) side is an option, Belair Beach hotel in Little Bay has/had a great beach - hurricane Irma in 2017 did a number on much of the island, but the beach looked pretty good from the cruise ship we were on a few years later. Nice sandy beach with reserved lounge chairs during your stay - all rooms face the water. One can snorkel at a couple different places around the bay and the boat traffic is minimal. A few minute drive to Phillipsburg and the boardwalk along Great Bay, where cruise ships come in and where a few dive shops are located.

Royal Palm Beach Resort is located in Simpson Bay on Dutch side. Nice beach and next door to Ocean Explorers dive shop. Walkable to some nice restaurants. Quite a bit of water activity going on here.

Have snorkeled around Creole Rock and Tintamarre Island on the French side, both from a catamaran tour. Creole Rock was much better as far as snorkeling goes.

Thanks for the info! Looks like we may stay on the dutch side. Was hoping for an airbnb or VRBO as we'd like a kitchen to cook our own food. I can get a time share at Sonesta Maho but the reviews look pretty bad for the resort.

 

[wordizbon]

Well I went and had a great time. I did 4 dives in 2 days. First day was awesome as far as what I saw. Unfortunately, My new backscatter wide angle lens was new to me for my Gopro and it was trial and error. Since I was more focused on my dive and safety I didn't realize I had my setting incorrectly and the video didn't come out too great. Day 2, I lost my filters for day one, but I got decent video. A little white balance adjustment fixed that. I dived with Dive St. Martin and SXM divers both were great experiences but I loved the SXM experience with the smaller boat more since it was new to me and less people to be concerned with.

 

[dflaher]

Since I was more focused on my dive and safety I didn't realize I had my setting incorrectly and the video didn't come out too great.

You had your priorities correct . Too many divers put their camera first.