A Guide to Scuba Diving From Your Yacht in St. Maarten and the Surrounding Islands

DIVE SITE #1 - St. Martin (French Side) ILE PINEL
Depth: 20ft - 36ft/6m - 11m
Yacht Anchorage: Ile Pinel in Orient Bay is an outstanding anchorage in settled weather. Beautiful beaches, beach restaurants, very good snorkeling, numerous water sports activities.
Dive Site: South-east of Pinel anchorage. Dinghy past the floating platform and line of small white buoys which demarcate the snorkeling area, and anchor over sand in about 30ft (9m). Dive along the pretty coral reef abundant with small reef fish. Ideal for your first tune-up dive when the weather is good.
Sea Conditions: Not suitable in strong trade winds or in big swells. 

DIVE SITE #2 - St. Martin (French Side) GREEN CAY
Depth: 16ft - 26ft/5m - 8m (This reef was damaged by hurricane Luis in September 1995)
Yacht Anchorage: Green Cay in Orient Bay is a good anchorage in settled weather with no swell. It is situated behind an uninhabited island with a beautiful beach and excellent snorkeling. Close to the Orient Bay nudist beach and numerous water sports activities.
Dive Site: On the west side of Green Cay, about 50 yards (50m) north of the beach. There is a pretty coral reef with many small reef fish. Dive towards the north tip of Green Cay. Go by dinghy or swim from you yacht. Ideal for your first tune-up dive in good weather.
Sea Conditions: Not suitable in very strong trade winds or big swells, when anchorage becomes rolly.

DIVE SITE #3 - St. Martin (French Side) TINTAMARRE Small Tugboat Wreck
Depth: Tugboat wheel house roof at 37ft (11m). Vessel lying on sand at 50ft (15m).
Yacht Anchorage: Off a beautiful beach on the west coast of Tintamarre. It is a good anchorage in fair to moderate weather but rolly in big swells, especially when from the north. Good snorkeling and beach restaurant.
Dive Site: Go by dinghy around the rocky point north of the beach and head NNE for about 200 yards (200m) to a buoy which marks the site. If the Buoy is missing (which sometimes happens), look for a large oval patch of light turquoise water over sand with a dark patch in the middle. This is the wreck in 50ft (15m) of water. Looking back you can still see yachts anchored off the beach. The tugboat was sunk during 1989 to form an artificial reef. It is sitting upright and is teeming with reef fish and small barracuda (southern sennet). Take a close look at the great variety of corals that encrust the wreck, with small sea fans (gorgania) on the windward side and snow like soft corals around the wheel house. Be sure to only enter the wreck in very calm conditions and only if you have wreck diving experience. Please do not damage the corals and make sure that your dinghy anchor line doesn't touch the wreck.
Sea Conditions: This site is not suitable in very strong trade winds or big swells, especially when from the north.