Scuba and Snorkelling Experiences and Tours in Philipsburg

Philipsburg is the capital of St Marteen, a Dutch area tucked away in the heart of the Windward Caribbean Antilles. It has a curious history, as it shares territory with the French area of St Martin. Its strategic location allows you to cross two countries in the blink of an eye.

This particular division stems from the treaty between the Netherlands and France in 1648, which turned the island into two micro-countries. Local life is very interesting, as some people live on one side, but work on the other. Both are popular for the diversity of water activities available, including diving and snorkelling.

Scuba diving and snorkelling are two popular activities in Philipsburg. If it's your first time on the island, I suggest you identify the best areas to dive.

St. Marteen offers a variety of dive sites, ideal for wreck diving, learning new water skills or exploring the rock formations of the sea.

Creole Rock

Creole Rock is one of the best places to snorkel or dive. In fact, many excursions from Philipsburg head to this area, and if you're on your own, you can swim in, but you should take precautions. There are animals in the sea and you may encounter speeding boats. The safest and most comfortable way to get there is by ferry from Grand Case.

You can find more information on timetables at the Philipsburg Ferry Terminal.

Level required: Intermediate, previous diving or snorkelling experience is recommended.Recommended if... you want to swim in the open sea, but don't want to go too far from Philipsburg.

Friars Beach

At Friars Beach you can dive and snorkel in challenging but safe waters that invite you to step out of your comfort zone. The nightlife on this beach is also very interesting. You can take advantage of the themed parties that are held almost every day.

The best time to visit is during the summer, i.e. from June to September. Additionally, the island is a twenty-five minute drive from Philipsburg.

Level required: intermediate.Recommended if... you're adventurous and want to explore a little-known gem.

Orient Beach and Maho Beach

Orient Beach is a beach with crystal clear waters, close to Friers Beach. Here you can snorkel or try your hand at scuba diving. It's important to watch out for surfers and boats, as they pass by the area every few minutes.

Nearby is Maho Beach, where there are always floating beds and snorkelling tubes. Planes take off in this area, so be careful with your eyes as they expel intense wind and heat.

Level required: Intermediate.Recommended if... you have a little experience and want to venture into new aquatic challenges.

Simpson Bay

Simpson Bay is located twenty five minutes from Philipsburg. It's a bay with the right conditions for snorkelling and kayaking. You can find guided tours from €50, which will take you out to explore the sea in a relaxed way.

It's an area teeming with fish and coral, and even children can join in the adventure.

Level required: ideal for beginners.Recommended if... you're looking for a plan to relax in Philipsburg, while exploring the underwater life of the Caribbean West Indies.

The Maze or Mike's Maze

If you're looking for fun diving or snorkelling, The Maze is your best bet. It's an area teeming with manta rays, lobsters, colourful fish and sea turtles.

You may also encounter sharks, but it is important to stay calm and follow a safety protocol. From The Maze you can swim to Teigland, for wrecks and eagle rays.

Level required: It takes place in open water, so it is important to have an intermediate level. You can participate if you are a beginner, but must be accompanied by a guide.Recommended if... you want to explore deep water for the first time, but don't have much diving experience.

Prickly Pear Cays

Prickly Pear Cays is a deserted island, although in recent years it has started to move, thanks to the tourist life. If you want to explore the secrets of the sea, you should definitely plan a getaway to this particular marine reserve. This beach offers some of the best things to do on St. Maarten, including diving and snorkelling experiences.

The best way to get there is by light aircraft, the journey time is approximately twenty minutes. Ranging in price from €135 to €420, it's an expensive experience, but well worth it. There are also tours that take you around this Antillean island.

Level required: experts only.Recommended if... you're looking for a private option. It is advisable to go in a group or as a couple, as it is far from Philipsburg.

Cole Bay

The best panoramic views and pictures of the Caribbean Sea can be taken during your water adventure at Cole Bay. It's a bay with clear, calm waters and the best part is that some tours allow you to swim with sharks. You can choose to dive, or stay as an observer and snorkel.

Level required: beginner to intermediate.Recommended if... you want to see Philipsburg's marine life.

Tiki Hut at Divi Little Bay

Many dive and snorkel guides schedule their adventures at Tiki Hut, located in Divi Little Bay. It's a completely safe and fun area for beginners and experts alike. You can arrange an itinerary to suit your level and expectations for a couple of hours of swimming and exploring.

It is one of the closest bays to Philipsburg, being only nine minutes away.

Level required: Suitable for all levels.Recommended if... you want to snorkel or dive in a safe environment.

Pinel Island

Pinel Island is a small island in Sint Maarten located twenty minutes from Philipsburg. You must visit it, as it is one of the best kept secrets in the West Indies. Its peaceful waters allow you to swim with sea turtles as well as discover the coral reefs.

Level required: beginner.Recommended if... you are looking for an easily accessible island where you can snorkel or dive on your own.

Green Cay

Green Cay is an island close to Pinel Island, ideal for snorkelling. It can be reached in approximately twenty minutes and is located in the St. Maarten section. The seabed of this area offers beautiful corals as well as a variety of sea life.

Level required: beginner.Recommended if... you want to take advantage of the crystal clear waters, to discover the secrets of the sea.

Mullet Bay

Mulley Bay is an ideal shore for divers, as it offers the necessary conditions for a dive. People who have little experience exploring the sea can snorkel.

Level required: intermediate.Recommended if... you want to enjoy an easy dive. Afterwards you can take advantage of the shower facilities in the area, or just have a local beer on the beach.

Happy Bay

It is a bay belonging to the French area of St. Martin. It's easy to get to, either by ferry or by walking along a convenient footpath. It is a privileged site for snorkelling, as there is little tourist traffic and a long stretch of coral to explore.

Level required: beginner.Recommended if... you are looking for an option off the beaten track.

Scuba diving and snorkelling share many similarities as both allow you to explore the sea and its ecosystems. In Philipsburg, you can find spaces for both water sports. Without a doubt, some of the best tours and excursions in St. Maarten include scuba diving and snorkelling experiences

To choose the best option, you should evaluate your experience and preferences. Snorkelling is an observational water activity, which takes place at a depth of a few metres. Scuba diving, on the other hand, immerses you in the depths of the sea, challenging your body and mind.

If you have little experience, I suggest you start with snorkelling. You will be able to see wonderful reef species and corals without straying too far from your comfort zone. To get you into diving, you can take lessons or book a guided tour.

The good news is that there are areas for all levels, ranging from beginners to experts. Note that, in Philipsburg, there are even areas where children can dive.

The price of these activities can vary, depending on the type of package you purchase. In general, diving and snorkelling are luxury attractions. You can find options from €50, but the most complete packages range from €100 to €200.

It usually includes guiding, basic training, escort and wetsuit. The price can also vary depending on the duration. Some are designed for a couple of hours, while you can book scuba diving and snorkelling for several days.

In addition to city tours, water sports are some of the best things to do in Sint Maarten during your stay.

The best time to venture out to sea is from November to July. The islands are undoubtedly privileged to enjoy good weather for eight consecutive months. You'll find many people diving and snorkelling at this time due to the beauty of the sea.

Of course, I don't recommend scheduling your trip during hurricane season. Specifically from August to October, rain and storms intensify, making the sea dangerous.

You can also schedule your trip around Christmas to take advantage of St. Martin's activities in December.

I recommend bringing sunscreen and touching it up every two hours to avoid sunstroke. Additionally, the Caribbean Antilles offer an extremely hot tropical climate, but the sea breeze helps to cool down.

For this experience I recommend getting up early in the morning so that you can take advantage of the whole day underwater. During the night, however, the sea has strong waves with high peaks. The best time of the day is from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

There are dangerous nocturnal animals in the Caribbean, another reason not to take this adventure at night. For example, you may encounter the lionfish. This is an invasive species from the Indo-Pacific. It has 18 venomous spines and camouflages itself when there is not enough light.

On Philipsburg's beaches you can find safety equipment for hire, so you can snorkel on your own. However, it can be dangerous. The advantage of booking a guided tour is that you'll be accompanied by professionals.

Most local guides don't recommend you stray from safe areas and don't recommend you snorkel unaccompanied. If you wish to dive or snorkel on your own, you should bring extra equipment, take precautions and be aware of the risks.

Additional equipment for unaccompanied water sports

If you decide to dive or snorkel on your own in Philipsburg, it is important that you carry a complete safety kit.

• Pressure gauge, so you know how deep you are.
• Scuba mask, this will allow you to see underwater.
• Scuba fins, this will prevent you from losing energy underwater.
• Scuba tank, this will provide you with the oxygen you need to breathe underwater.
• Wetsuit or snorkel jacket, to keep your body warm.
• Compass, to help you find your way around easily.
• Torch, if you decide to dive at night or explore deep areas, this is a must-have item.
• Diving knife, a must in case you get tangled in a fishing net.

Unaccompanied watersports precautions

The main precaution when diving or snorkelling is not to do it alone. If you decide to venture out on your own, you should bear in mind:

• Do not stray too far from safe areas.
• Never dive or snorkel if you have a cold.
• Plan your dive.
• Check the operation of your equipment.
• Remember that the maximum dive limit with safety equipment is 20 metres. If you don't have equipment, I recommend you not to go deeper than 6 metres.

Remember that when diving or snorkelling in a group or couple, everyone can help each other.

Risks of unaccompanied water sports

• If you perform the dive and ascent poorly, you may suffer from lung problems, such as lung overexpansion.
• If you breathe badly underwater, you can hyperventilate and lose consciousness.
• If you get a cramp, you can quickly sink to the seabed.
• If you run out of air or become entangled with an object, you will need help. This is why it is essential to have a buddy.

There are many species to explore in the Caribbean Sea. If you plan to dive or snorkel in Philipsburg, you can take the opportunity to get to know the marine ecosystem of the region.

Parrotfish

The parrotfish is an endangered species, so you shouldn't touch it. It is responsible for guarding the coral reefs of the Caribbean.

Tang

The tang fish, or surgeonfish, is a very famous type of fish, as it is depicted as Dorys in Finding Nemo. It is native to the Indian-Pacific Sea, but some communities can be found in the Caribbean Sea. There is also a yellow variation, whose blue eyes will captivate you.

Manta rays and eagle rays

This is a very eye-catching marine animal, but it is important to be careful. They are friendly and hang around people while diving, but can get upset if you touch or step on them. The eagle ray is a spotted species, native to the Caribbean Sea. They tend to move in shallow water, so you're likely to encounter some in bays.

Some species can be venomous, so it's important to dive with a guide.

French angelfish and trumpetfish

The French angelfish is a peaceful species, found in the western Atlantic Ocean. However, you may encounter a few herds off the coast of Philipsburg.

The trumpetfish is also often found around the Caribbean Antilles. It is so named because of its elongated shape, which allows it to camouflage itself in marine ecosystems.

Corals

The coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea are remarkable for their bright colours. In Philipsburg you can find many different species, especially if you take a snorkelling adventure. Generally, there are more corals in areas where the water is clear and shallow.

You can also explore coral polyp formations as well as stony corals. In addition, some of the species you can find are Deer Horn, Elkhorn and Brain Coral.

If you go to Philipsburg you can't miss this natural spectacle. In addition, the island also has mangroves, phanerogam meadows and saltwater lakes.

• Prepare yourself mentally and physically before diving. It is very important that your mind and body are relaxed to avoid using up oxygen too soon.
• Philipsburg has around fifty dive sites, so choose the options that suit your level of experience.
• Never dive before taking a plane. It is recommended to wait at least twenty-four hours to eliminate nitrogen from your body.
• If you encounter an animal, stay calm and move away slowly. Sudden movements can trigger an attack.
• Do not touch corals or marine animals, some may be poisonous.