Diving in St. Martin

john berner wrote:
> How is St. Martin for a dive destination? I heard Saba was very good and
> nearby for a day trip or an overnite trip.
> Anyone dove here and have suggestions on where to stay or where to go?
>
>

I dove there - while on a cruise. Booked thru the ship since I have
never been there before.

Diving was good - but as usual when booking thru the cruise ship you
usually get stuck with a cattle boat. Quick dives - and usually pretty
shallow - my experience with the cruise diving is you get a very broad
range of divers and experience.

The diving was typical caribbean - warm water - decent viz it was
somewhere in the 80-100' range. The reefs were healthy and the sea life
was decent

john berner wrote:
> How is St. Martin for a dive destination? I heard Saba was very good and
> nearby for a day trip or an overnite trip.
> Anyone dove here and have suggestions on where to stay or where to go?
>
>

I dove there - while on a cruise. Booked thru the ship since I have
never been there before.

Diving was good - but as usual when booking thru the cruise ship you
usually get stuck with a cattle boat. Quick dives - and usually pretty
shallow - my experience with the cruise diving is you get a very broad
range of divers and experience.

The diving was typical caribbean - warm water - decent viz it was
somewhere in the 80-100' range. The reefs were healthy and the sea life
was decent

john berner wrote:
> How is St. Martin for a dive destination? I heard Saba was very good and
> nearby for a day trip or an overnite trip.
> Anyone dove here and have suggestions on where to stay or where to go?
>
>

I dove there - while on a cruise. Booked thru the ship since I have
never been there before.

Diving was good - but as usual when booking thru the cruise ship you
usually get stuck with a cattle boat. Quick dives - and usually pretty
shallow - my experience with the cruise diving is you get a very broad
range of divers and experience.

The diving was typical caribbean - warm water - decent viz it was
somewhere in the 80-100' range. The reefs were healthy and the sea life
was decent

john berner wrote:
> How is St. Martin for a dive destination? I heard Saba was very good and
> nearby for a day trip or an overnite trip.
> Anyone dove here and have suggestions on where to stay or where to go?
>
>

I dove there - while on a cruise. Booked thru the ship since I have
never been there before.

Diving was good - but as usual when booking thru the cruise ship you
usually get stuck with a cattle boat. Quick dives - and usually pretty
shallow - my experience with the cruise diving is you get a very broad
range of divers and experience.

The diving was typical caribbean - warm water - decent viz it was
somewhere in the 80-100' range. The reefs were healthy and the sea life
was decent

I just got back from a trip to both Saba (for diving) and St. Maarten
(for business). This was my third trip to Saba, and it is a unique,
wonderful diving destination.

You are diving on volcanic pinnacles, and you never know what you
might see - turtles, sharks, rays. And the sheer number of "ordinary"
fish is staggering. No fresh water run-off, no beaches, little
development plus a protected marine park make for a very healthy dive
environment.

Easy to do in a day trip from St. Maarten - take the early Winair
flight over, Sea Saba meets you for three dives, take the late flight
back. No worries re altitude - the plane flies very low.

Topside, mellow and friendly. I stayed at Julianas - not rustic, by
any means, but not over the top, either. Pool, hot tub, cable. Nobdy
locks doors on the island, and by the second day the owner/bartender
at the local hangout knew my name, my beer and my cigar.

If it sounds like I enjoyed, I did.

Re St. Maarten diving - I dove little bay, 10 minute boat ride from
Philipsburg - nothing to write home about, so I won't. If you have a
free day in St. Maarten, go to Saba.


Ken

I just got back from a trip to both Saba (for diving) and St. Maarten
(for business). This was my third trip to Saba, and it is a unique,
wonderful diving destination.

You are diving on volcanic pinnacles, and you never know what you
might see - turtles, sharks, rays. And the sheer number of "ordinary"
fish is staggering. No fresh water run-off, no beaches, little
development plus a protected marine park make for a very healthy dive
environment.

Easy to do in a day trip from St. Maarten - take the early Winair
flight over, Sea Saba meets you for three dives, take the late flight
back. No worries re altitude - the plane flies very low.

Topside, mellow and friendly. I stayed at Julianas - not rustic, by
any means, but not over the top, either. Pool, hot tub, cable. Nobdy
locks doors on the island, and by the second day the owner/bartender
at the local hangout knew my name, my beer and my cigar.

If it sounds like I enjoyed, I did.

Re St. Maarten diving - I dove little bay, 10 minute boat ride from
Philipsburg - nothing to write home about, so I won't. If you have a
free day in St. Maarten, go to Saba.


Ken

I just got back from a trip to both Saba (for diving) and St. Maarten
(for business). This was my third trip to Saba, and it is a unique,
wonderful diving destination.

You are diving on volcanic pinnacles, and you never know what you
might see - turtles, sharks, rays. And the sheer number of "ordinary"
fish is staggering. No fresh water run-off, no beaches, little
development plus a protected marine park make for a very healthy dive
environment.

Easy to do in a day trip from St. Maarten - take the early Winair
flight over, Sea Saba meets you for three dives, take the late flight
back. No worries re altitude - the plane flies very low.

Topside, mellow and friendly. I stayed at Julianas - not rustic, by
any means, but not over the top, either. Pool, hot tub, cable. Nobdy
locks doors on the island, and by the second day the owner/bartender
at the local hangout knew my name, my beer and my cigar.

If it sounds like I enjoyed, I did.

Re St. Maarten diving - I dove little bay, 10 minute boat ride from
Philipsburg - nothing to write home about, so I won't. If you have a
free day in St. Maarten, go to Saba.


Ken

I just got back from a trip to both Saba (for diving) and St. Maarten
(for business). This was my third trip to Saba, and it is a unique,
wonderful diving destination.

You are diving on volcanic pinnacles, and you never know what you
might see - turtles, sharks, rays. And the sheer number of "ordinary"
fish is staggering. No fresh water run-off, no beaches, little
development plus a protected marine park make for a very healthy dive
environment.

Easy to do in a day trip from St. Maarten - take the early Winair
flight over, Sea Saba meets you for three dives, take the late flight
back. No worries re altitude - the plane flies very low.

Topside, mellow and friendly. I stayed at Julianas - not rustic, by
any means, but not over the top, either. Pool, hot tub, cable. Nobdy
locks doors on the island, and by the second day the owner/bartender
at the local hangout knew my name, my beer and my cigar.

If it sounds like I enjoyed, I did.

Re St. Maarten diving - I dove little bay, 10 minute boat ride from
Philipsburg - nothing to write home about, so I won't. If you have a
free day in St. Maarten, go to Saba.


Ken

john berner wrote:
> How is St. Martin for a dive destination?

Forget it. St. Martin and Sint Maarten are the French/Dutch
parts of one island, neither known for good diving, unless you
consider watching topless bathing "diving".

> I heard Saba was very good and
> nearby for a day trip or an overnite trip.
> Anyone dove here and have suggestions on where to stay or where to go?

If you're diving Saba, stay and dive there would be my suggestion.

-- Reef Fish Bob.

john berner wrote:
> How is St. Martin for a dive destination?

Forget it. St. Martin and Sint Maarten are the French/Dutch
parts of one island, neither known for good diving, unless you
consider watching topless bathing "diving".

> I heard Saba was very good and
> nearby for a day trip or an overnite trip.
> Anyone dove here and have suggestions on where to stay or where to go?

If you're diving Saba, stay and dive there would be my suggestion.

-- Reef Fish Bob.