The small French island of St Barths is known for its upscale shopping, dining and lounging in luxury. Diving and beaches are also great and you may just find yourself rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous who love this island too.
Diving Saint Barthélemy
St Barths’ Reserves Naturelles offer great diving with lots of colourful fish and corals on walls, rocks and boulders. Great sites are found around the South tip of Anse de Colombier and right in front of Gustavia Harbour, the main town. One of our favourites is La Baleine with huge barrel sponges up to 6 feet high. There are ample dive shops on St Barths, three of which in Gustavia, who will take you out to their great sites. If you like to sail and dive consider chartering a sail yacht from St Maarten/ St Martin and dive the beautiful sites of uninhabited island Ile Fourche (located between St Martin and St Barths), an area rarely visited by the St Barths dive shops since it’s a bit far from Gustavia.
Snorkel Saint Barthélemy
For lots of turtles snorkel at Lorient Beach on the Northside of St Barths, you’ll find them foraging on the sea grass beds. Another hotspot for turtles is Anse de Colombier, also known as Rockefeller beach, the only way to get here is by 20 minute hike from the end of Flamands Road, or join a boat tour from Gustavia. For a free spirited snorkel in the nude, check out the bay of Gouverneur Beach. And probably the best snorkel site of St Barths is the uninhabited island of Ile Fourche, a great half or full day boat trip from St Barths.
Overnight in Saint Barthélemy
If you’d like to spend a night on St Barths it’s very easy to find high end hotels with all the luxury you can think of. If you’re traveling on a smaller budget, consider the Sunset Hotel across the ferry landing in Gustavia, starting at EUR120 per night for a double room, depending on the time of year.
Itinerary for a great two day St Barths break: arrive by ferry, check in Sunset Hotel, afternoon island taxi tour, pre dinner shopping, dinner at Eddy’s in Gustavia, morning dive, walk over to Shell Beach for lunch and a snorkel and then ferry back to St Maarten/ St Martin.
How to get to Saint Barthélemy
St Barths is easily accessible as a day trip by ferry from St Maarten / St Martin with ferries leaving from Philipsburg and Marigot. The ferry trip is between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours depending on your departure point. There are also daily flights from both St Maarten and St Martin with a very exciting landing on the short, downhill runway in St Barths.
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Saba, the highest point of the Netherlands, with it's lush hiking in the cloud forest above and diving deep walls and pinnacles below, is a must visit for a quint, off the beaten track island. Day trip or weekend visit, a bucket list dive destination for advanced divers.
Anguilla is world-renowned for its powder-white beaches and relaxed charm, complemented by its excellent diving. The island is dotted with wrecks, many purposefully sunk to create artificial reefs that now attract vibrant coral growth and marine life. Sites like the Sarah and Kathlee H showcase Anguilla’s wreck diving heritage, while reefs around Sandy Island and Dog Island add variety for advanced divers. Snorkelers flock to Shoal Bay East Beach for its 40-minute reef trail or to the secluded Little Bay, where baby turtles and stingrays are common. A must-visit is Prickly Pear Cays, where pristine reefs meet the charm of small beachside restaurants.
St Barths, meanwhile, adds a touch of luxury to the underwater adventure. The island’s Reserves Naturelles protect diverse marine habitats, with standout dive sites such as La Baleine featuring giant barrel sponges. Snorkelers will find turtles grazing at Lorient Beach or Anse de Colombier, while Ile Fourche, an uninhabited island nearby, offers some of the most stunning and rarely visited underwater landscapes. Travel to these islands is simple—Anguilla is just a 20-minute ferry ride, and St Barths can be reached in under 90 minutes by ferry or just minutes by plane. Together, they provide a perfect mix of relaxation, adventure, and rich underwater life.
Statia, The Golden Rock, nicknamed after its golden trade era during the 17th and 18th century. This island has lots of its history preserved and offers great diving and hiking too. Best done as an overnight excursion.
Whether you dream of diving Saba’s pinnacles, searching for trading beads in Statia, exploring Anguilla’s wrecks, or snorkeling alongside turtles in St Barths, The Scuba Shop connects you to unforgettable island adventures just a short ride from St. Maarten. Each island offers something unique: dramatic volcanic landscapes, historic ruins, celebrity hideaways, or pristine white sand beaches. With quick and convenient ferry or flight connections, these destinations can be enjoyed as easy day trips or short overnight escapes. By partnering with local dive shops and guides, The Scuba Shop ensures that both divers and snorkelers can experience the best these islands have to offer, from deep technical dives to calm reef explorations. For reservations, equipment, and travel advice, The Scuba Shop is your trusted resource for creating island-hopping experiences that combine breathtaking underwater encounters with the charm of the Caribbean’s most beautiful islands.
