Wreck Dives and an Abundance of Scuba Spots Make Diving in St. Martin Hard to Beat

The brilliant blue Caribbean waters around Saint Martin teem with life.

Vibrantly colored fish, rays, turtles and other organisms are all sustained by a wide range of underwater habitat that includes seaweed beds, coral reefs, and marine plants.

Saint Martin’s amazing variety of reefs and dive sites, combined with underwater visibility exceeding of 300 feet or more makes our island a favorite destination for snorkelers and scuba divers.

Not all of St. Martin’s underwater habitat is comprised of actual coral reefs. Many dive sites are rock formations that are home to sponges, hydroids and coral.

There are also a number of artificial reefs to explore, as well as the remains of a frigate dating back to the start of the Napoleonic Wars.

To help you explore our underwater paradise, we have created a brief guide to snorkeling and diving for our guests.

French and Dutch St. Martin: Two Countries, Tons of Snorkeling and Diving

The island of St. Martin is divided between Dutch Sint Maarten and our own French St. Martin. Both the French side and the Dutch side of the island are home to large marine conservation areas.

A high-level snorkel and dive map of St. Martin can be found here.

Here at Grand Case Beach Club on the French side of the island we’re lucky to be quite close to one of the best snorkeling spots on St. Martin: Creole Rock.

Just off the southern, windward coast of St. Martin (the Dutch side of the island) there are a number of wrecks and artificial reefs

In fact, there are over 45 diving sites on St. Martin. Our island’s diving schools and dive tour operators offer both first-timers and experienced divers a chance to come and experience our beautiful underwater heritage.

Snorkeling Spots for Beginners on St. Martin

Many of the best snorkeling spots around St. Martin are suited for experienced swimmers or guided tours.

However, there are still great snorkeling opportunities suitable for beginners right off the many beaches that ring our beautiful island.

Learn more about St. Martin’s beaches here.

Mullet Bay

Mullet Bay is located on the southwest (Dutch) end of the island, just around the point from world-famous Maho Beach. Mullet Bay has an interesting reef that is accessible from the beach.

This blogger suggests snorkeling along the rocks on the right side of the beach at Mullet Bay until you reach Cupecoy Beach.

When snorkeling at Mullet Bay be aware of the currents and stay close to shore.

Cupecoy Beach

Like Mullet Bay, Cupecoy Beach also has a reef right near the shore. It can be difficult to locate the path down to Cupecoy Beach from the road and may be easier to find by snorkeling along the coastline from Mullet Bay.

The reef at Cupecoy Beach is home to multicolored fish and snorkeling here is a pleasant way to pass an afternoon.

Cupecoy is a clothing-optional beach. If you’re new to snorkeling, be sure to ask our concierge for advice before setting out on this snorkeling trip.

Bay Rouge and David’s Hole

Bay Rouge is located on the French side of St. Martin, about 20 minutes by car from Grand Case Beach Club. This semi-private beach gets its name from the reddish tint to the sand.

At the eastern of the cove a beach bar rents snorkeling gear and beach umbrellas, and serves light meals.

The main snorkeling attraction at Bay Rouge is David’s Hole, on the right as you make your way down to the beach.

David’s Hole was a large sinkhole on the headland above Bay Rouge. David’s Hole collapsed following heavy rains several years ago, but the reef on the shoreline at the site of the former landmark still teems with fish.

Ask our concierge at Grand Case Beach Club for more information.

Advanced Snorkeling Spots on St. Martin

Creole Rock

Grand Case Beach Club is located close to one of the best snorkeling spots on St. Martin: Creole Rock.

Creole Rock is popular because it’s possible to swim there from the beach. However, because of the distance and frequent motorboat traffic, most snorkelers make the trip out by boat from Grand Case Beach Club.

Creole Island itself is a bird rookery, so access above the tideline is strictly prohibited.

Also, beginning snorkelers have to take care not to touch fire coral. You can’t miss it – fire coral is a distinctive dull-yellow coral covered in stinging cells. There are also long-spined sea urchins, which themselves have poisonous spikes.

Beginners or people not familiar with the underwater fauna of St. Martin should go with a guide.

Be sure to contact our watersports desk to learn more about guided tours of Creole Rock.

Pinel Island

Pinel Island is located in the Nature Reserve on the French side of Saint Martin.

The reserve also includes Flat Island, Green Key and Petite Clef. Snorkelling around those islands is absolutely fantastic.

To get to Pinel Island, drive or take a taxi to Cul de Sac and then take the 5 minute ferry trip across the lagoon. For the other islets and islands you will have to book a snorkeling tour.

Pinel Island Marine Trail

A marine trail has created around the lagoon between Orient Bay and the south side of Pinel Island. The designated snorkeling trail can be reached by footpath by heading to the right when arriving at the dock.

The north side of Pinel Island also features some excellent snorkeling. A sandy beach and lagoon is protected by a barrier reef here. For strong swimmers there is a passage through the barrier reef to unprotected waters.

Be sure to bring a mask, snorkel and fins with you (there are no rentals on Pinel Island) and explore the shallow reefs that encircle the island.

White buoys mark where one can safely venture into the sea to discover marine flora and fauna of the Caribbean.

A ferry from Orient Bay provides transport to Pinel Island.

Our friends at Caribbean Paddling are based at Orient Bay and offer paddle tours to Pinel Island.

Diving St. Martin’s Nature Reserves

Both the French side and the Dutch side of St. Martin are home to extensive marine reserves.

A Nature Reserve administered by the French government protects Pinel Island and the waters to the east of St. Martin.

This protected area is a paradise for scuba divers and includes pristine Tintamarre Island.

Tintamarre Island

Tintamarre’s relatively isolated location several kilometers to the northeast of St. Martin means there are wonderful opportunities to see a wide variety of undersea life in an almost private setting.

Many dive tour operators on St. Martin offer trips to Tintamarre. Contact the St. Martin Tourist Office for more information.

Man of War Shoal Marine Park

Thanks to the opportunity to enjoy diving everything from coral reefs and seagrass beds to shipwrecks and artificial reefs, Man of War Shoal National Marine Park is a magnet for scuba divers. The protected nature preserve is home to many of the best wreck dives in the Caribbean.

The marine park just off the Dutch town of Phillipsburg covers 3,100 hectares of ocean floor.

The park also features a range of protected habitats biodiversity in the park area, particularly the coral reefs. These reefs are home to ecologically rich coral reef pinnacles, patch reefs and fringing reefs.

Marine Life of Man of War Shoal

The shoal shelters many types of reef fish, sea turtles, numerous species of shark, lobsters and the rare Queen Conch (Lobatus gigas).

According to the trust that administers the marine reserve, the number of butterfly fish, grunts, snappers and parrotfish has dramatically increased since the park’s creation in 2010.

The marine park just south of Phillipsburg in Sint Maarten is also a migratory stopover point for many marine mammals, including whales and dolphins.

Man of War Shoal: Proselyte Reef

The park’s Proselyte Reef is the site of a frigate that sank in 1801. The sea floor offers divers the chance to discover artifacts from the wreck such as large anchors, cannons, barrel hoops, cannon balls and pottery.

In fact, this popular St. Maarten dive site is considered a marine archaeological treasure. Visitors must take care to leave everything undisturbed.

It’s common to encounter turtles, barracuda, angelfish and eagle rays on this dive. Reef sharks are a frequent site as well.

St. Martin’s Caribbean Dive College has more information on diving Proselyte Reef.

Before You Go to Man of War Shoal

Visitors to Man of War Shoal must purchase a marine park entrance tag at the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Fisherman’s Wharf Complex in Cole Bay on the Dutch side of the island.

Tour operators such as Octopus Diving will also facilitate the purchase of these entrance tags.

More Wreck Dives On St. Martin

As this map of St. Martin dive wrecks demonstrates, the wreck at Proselyte Reef is just one of the many diving adventures that can be planned on a trip to St. Martin.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Le Renee

La Renee is known as “the Titanic” of St. Martin. Sunk as an artificial reef about ten years ago, the wreck lies in about 150 feet of water between St. Martin and Tintamarre.

Good visibility here makes this a prime location to observe barracuda, schools of jacks, rays, turtles and other undersea life.

Porpoise Wreck Dive (“the Tugboat”)

The wreck of the Porpoise tug is one of the more spectacular dives near St. Martin. The wreck lies in water 55-90 feet deep and was deliberately sunk as an artificial reef. For those with proper certification, the Porpoise provides an opportunity for a swim-through.

The Bridge Wreck Dive

Lying close to the entrance of Simpson Bay on the Dutch side of the island, the Bridge is another artificial reef.

The reef was created when the owner of a mega-yacht paid to have a bridge spanning Simpson Bay dismantled so he could get his boat into the anchorage.

Several other old boats have been turned into reefs as well, making for a perfect diving trip.

Wall Dives on Saba Island

For some visitors to St. Martin, scuba diving on Saba is a must-do trip. Saba is a small volcanic island to the southeast of St. Martin, and is famous for its teeming marine life.

The reefs are home to schools of fish and healthy corals. The walls plunging straight down from the shoreline attract pelagic creatures including sharks that are not normally seen by divers.

Several tour operators offer trips to Saba Island.

Contact our concierge for more information if you are thinking of a trip to Saba.

Planning a St. Martin Dive Trip

If you want to plan a dive trip while visiting our beautiful island, there are many resources to help you out.

Our friends Sally and Chris at Octopus Diving have written a guest blog post for Grand Case Beach Club about wreck dives on St. Martin.

Besides the Tugboat, Sally and Chris recommend diving Basse Espagnole and Turtle Reef.

For more information about diving, Complete Diving Guides has published a handbook on St Martin wreck dives that is a good place to start.

PADI Certification on St. Martin

If you want to pursue PADI certification during your stay on St. Martin, there are a variety of scuba schools and qualified dive operators that can help you achieve your goal.

Tourism St. Martin has a complete list of dive schools St. Martin.

Contact Our Watersports Desk to Start Planning Your Trip

The watersports desk at Grand Case Beach Club is happy to organize snorkeling excursions and dive trips according to your level of experience.

Excursions for certified divers typically depart during the morning. Trips for beginners start during the afternoon.

Have a Favorite Snorkel or Dive Location?

If you have a favorite dive or snorkel location on St. Martin, please let us know by leaving a comment below.

We would love to hear from you!