We explored the best snorkeling and diving spots of SXM. We found a Helicopter, Shipwrecks, Sculpture park and many different kinds of fish and ocean life.

Our top 7 snorkeling spots on St. Maarten | St. Martin:

1. Tiki Hut at Divi Little Bay where you find a Helicopter, Submarine, and Airplane in the water. Now you furthermore find the BRAND-NEW Under waterpark “Under SXM” where they dropped 300 sculptures in the water. You can explore this area with the Sea Trek Helmet diving adventure or go snorkeling from the Divi Little Bay. This area had LOTS of fish around and possible some sea turtles.
2. Creole Rock is a far swim from Petit Plage in Grand Case but best accessible with a boat charter as most of them stop here to snorkel, see watersports section. Bigger fish and when lucky a Spotted Eagle Ray or Turtle.
3. Simpson Bay Shipwreck, directly after the Simpson Bay Bridge where the beach starts there’s a stranded shipwreck. Easy access to see lots of small fishes, sea urchins, and colorful coral on the wreck.
4. Pinel Island, this secluded island is a nature reserve and so marine and wildlife is very well protected. Within the Buoys, you are not allowed to snorkel but you are allowed to snorkel around the buoys of the reserve to admire the great underwater world. With many fish, possible turtles, rays, and colorful coral.
5. Green Cay is a decent swim across from Orient Bay, the water is rougher because the waves come in which makes it dustier. You can either rent a Kayak or swim over but be very cautious for Kite-surfers, Jet Ski, and boats as Orient is famous for its watersports. Best to swim from the nude side of the beach or in a group. You find lots of fish, possibly octopus, and within the sea-grass where the waves break you find turtles, rays, and maybe even a shark.
6. Anse Marcel, this beach can be a little rough when there’s swells so we advise to go on a calm day. If you swim out from this beach you are almost guaranteed to find some sea turtles in-between the sea grass.
7. Tintamarre Island, our ultimate favorite snorkeling stop to spot Green Sea turtles. At Tintamarre you almost guaranteed find sea turtles, and usually multiple within on one day. Because of the sun reflecting on the white sandy beach the water is beautifully blue creating the best views on these magic animals. Downside of Tintamarre is that you can only get there by boat and so need to book a boat charter to snorkel here.

The best way to visit many of these amazing snorkeling spots is with a boat trip or by chartering a private powerboat. They can stop at almost every spot mentioned above and always have snorkeling gear included on board, see all boating options here.
And if you don’t get enough of this beautiful underwater world, we (We Are SXM) can recommend a diving trip in which you will visit the best dive sights, wrecks, and coral reefs we have in St. Maarten & St. Martin (all not accessible snorkeling).

Diving or Deep-sea diving | Visit the best Dive Sites in St. Maarten & St. Martin

And if you dare, go deep, deep into the sea, and say hello to the underwater world and its magnificent inhabitants. You will find starfish, turtles, tuna, angelfish, rays, and when lucky even passing whales or dolphins. We recommend all divers to join a trusted company for your diving experience, they know the best diving sites and make sure you are safe and secure.
We work with 2 of the best diving companies, one in Philipsburg and one in Cole Bay, both companies value service and quality over quantity so you’re in the best of hands. Below some pictures and a video of Sint Maarten | Saint Martin underwater to convince you for a diving trip.

Take a dive in St. Martin – Pictures & Video by Daniel Norwood (SXM Divers)

These pictures and the video by Daniel Norwood show the quality imagery they are creating or can teach you to create. Contact SXM Divers for their underwater photography courses.