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Saint Martin

Divesites
16
Centers
1
Wildlife
26
© iStock-Nancy Pauwels

Explore Saint Martin

For those that dream of picturesque beaches, pristine blue waters with beautiful shallow reefs and wrecks overflowing with marine life, St Martin ticks all the right boxes. With outstanding diving and warm temperatures all year round, it’s no wonder it is among the best places to dive in the world.

Boasting over 30 dive sites, including dramatic topography such as arches, swim-throughs, encrusted shipwrecks and vibrant reefs, this Caribbean paradise is perfect for divers of all levels of experience.

Current is usually minimal, and visibility is great, which is typically around 30 meters/98 feet to virtually infinite, Most sites are only 20 meters/66 feet deep or less, meaning diving is easy and even those that drink through air can enjoy longer dives.

Another reason why it’s so great to dive here is the fact that tourism in St Martin is still quite modest, which means dive sites usually aren’t overcrowded even in the high season.

There are a few dive centers and dive resorts on the island, so there’s plenty of availability. There are also a liveaboard cruises available, although there aren’t many that depart from the island. Many liveaboards also stop by St Martin as part of their journey.

As for dive courses, St Martin is a great place to take an open water certification. Additionally, it’s perfect to undertake a wreck specialty course, as there are numerous wrecks encircling the island.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in Saint Martin

Divers can enjoy gazing at diverse coral species and sponges all on seemingly endless multi-colored reefs, walls and encrusted shipwrecks. Black coral trees, elkhorn coral, enormous barrel sponges, sea fans and huge gorgonians are all present wherever you dive. There’s even staghound coral peppered around some sites, which is exceptionally rare in the Caribbean.

Macro life is also thriving at many dive sites, including frogfish and seahorses to name only a common few.

Colorful tropical fish, such as angelfish and juvenile reef fish, thrive in the thousands. Plus, lobster, eels, barracuda and turtles are common sightings. Furthermore, divers can meet reef sharks, nurse sharks, manta rays and even dolphins, particularly at the well known Fish Pot dive site and the Tugboat wreck.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

193 Sightings
J
18
F
20
M
17
A
14
M
11
J
20
J
46
A
18
S
8
O
9
N
9
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

51 Sightings
J
10
F
4
M
4
A
4
M
8
J
4
J
2
A
5
S
3
O
1
N
4
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Eagle Ray

39 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
5
A
8
M
7
J
4
J
1
A
3
S
2
O
0
N
4
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

26 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
1
A
1
M
4
J
3
J
5
A
2
S
3
O
3
N
1
D
2

Hawksbill Turtle

21 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
3
A
4
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
2
S
1
O
2
N
4
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

131 Sightings
J
10
F
10
M
11
A
14
M
13
J
10
J
21
A
13
S
10
O
7
N
4
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 2

Nurse Shark

91 Sightings
J
13
F
7
M
8
A
8
M
8
J
9
J
10
A
4
S
9
O
7
N
6
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

80 Sightings
J
8
F
7
M
8
A
2
M
9
J
5
J
17
A
8
S
3
O
2
N
9
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

79 Sightings
J
7
F
11
M
3
A
4
M
6
J
6
J
15
A
10
S
6
O
0
N
8
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

46 Sightings
J
3
F
4
M
1
A
2
M
5
J
5
J
12
A
3
S
4
O
2
N
2
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

43 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
1
A
3
M
7
J
1
J
15
A
1
S
5
O
0
N
4
D
1

Grey Reef Shark

40 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
2
A
1
M
2
J
3
J
4
A
3
S
5
O
0
N
7
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

37 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
1
A
0
M
1
J
3
J
19
A
1
S
4
O
0
N
1
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

34 Sightings
J
0
F
9
M
2
A
1
M
7
J
2
J
3
A
1
S
2
O
0
N
6
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 55

Lobster

30 Sightings
J
6
F
6
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
5
A
6
S
2
O
1
N
1
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

30 Sightings
J
1
F
6
M
0
A
0
M
6
J
1
J
9
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
6
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Spiny Lobster

25 Sightings
J
1
F
3
M
4
A
6
M
2
J
0
J
4
A
1
S
3
O
0
N
1
D
0

Blacktip Reef Shark

24 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
2
A
5
M
2
J
5
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

21 Sightings
J
4
F
4
M
1
A
2
M
0
J
4
J
3
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

21 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
11
A
1
S
1
O
1
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

16 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
5
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
2
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

15 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
1
A
1
M
0
J
2
J
1
A
1
S
3
O
1
N
1
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

15 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
1
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

Crab

11 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
2
J
1
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

10 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
2
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0