One island, two jurisdictions and a generous choice of beaches and restaurants: Saint Martin rewards a little planning before the first dive. French Saint-Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten share the island, but airports, immigration rules and boat departures are not interchangeable. The accommodation closest to your preferred beach may not be closest to the morning marina.
Planning information reviewed 9 November 2026.
In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to Saint Martin:
Table of contents
Where to stay?
I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Saint Martin as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.
Philipsburg is convenient for departures from Bobby’s Marina; Simpson Bay offers another busy base for dining and marine activities. Grand Case and other French-side bases suit a different holiday rhythm, with transfer time to Dutch-side boats included in the decision.
Dive St. Maarten publishes US$120 for two dives without equipment or US$140 with equipment. Its tariff is a dated comparison point, not a whole holiday budget: accommodation, transport, meals and applicable park charges remain to be added. Liveaboard fares need a separate full quote including route-specific charges.
Activities and excursions in Saint Martin
Marigot’s market, Grand Case dining and the island’s beaches give non-divers more than a waiting day. A separate snorkelling or coastal outing can fit their interests better than spending several hours aboard a wreck-diving boat. Activities on the French and Dutch sides are best grouped geographically to avoid repeated crossings in traffic.
A multi-island cruise changes the balance: shore visits depend on the itinerary and conditions rather than the freedom of a land-based stay.
Watch the original destination video on YouTube. Earlier footage; access and conditions may have changed.
Best time to visit Saint Martin
Winter and spring are popular travel periods, but winter winds can affect sea conditions. Summer and autumn bring warmer conditions and exposure to the Atlantic hurricane season, June–November. The island is not sheltered from major storm impacts; cancellation terms and weather flexibility deserve a place in the budget.
Health and Safety
Medical and evacuation cover should match the activity and the different jurisdictions visited. A dive operator’s emergency arrangements, equipment requirements and medical screening are practical booking questions, especially for deeper wrecks or a multi-island trip.
A non-diving final day gives room before the flight. DAN’s flying guidance explains the post-dive timing considerations.
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Saint Martin, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Where is Saint Martin located in the world?
The island lies in the northeastern Caribbean, east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Marigot is the French-side capital and Philipsburg the Dutch-side capital. The ease of travelling around the island does not remove the need for the right documents when arriving from abroad or visiting neighbouring islands.
Arrival gateways and bases
Satellite reference views for trip planning. Named-place markers are approximate and are not entries, moorings or underwater navigation positions.
- SXM airport: Dutch-side international gateway.
- SFG airport: French-side regional gateway.
- Bobby’s Marina: Confirmed marina name; meeting point is set by the booked operator.
- Grand Case: French-side accommodation and dining base.
How to get to Saint Martin?
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is the main international gateway on the Dutch side. Grand-Case Espérance (SFG), on the French side, serves regional connections. A ticket to one is not an arrival at the other.
A Caribbean Explorer II booking may begin in Sint Maarten and finish in Saint Kitts, or run in reverse. Flight planning needs the actual dated route, with an arrival buffer before embarkation. Ferry and excursion schedules to other islands should be checked for the travel date rather than assumed from an old daily frequency.
Liveaboard itineraries
Caribbean Explorer II alternates direction: the airport used to leave the trip is on a different island from the arrival airport. Diving focuses on Saba and St Kitts, with optional island tours and weather-dependent sites.
Indicative connections, not navigational tracks. Stops and timings can change with weather.
Southbound: Sint Maarten to St Kitts
- Bobby’s Marina, Philipsburg — Embarkation area, Sint Maarten.
- Saba — Island reference at Fort Bay; actual dive moorings vary.
- Port Zante, St Kitts — Disembarkation area, Basseterre.
Northbound: St Kitts to Sint Maarten
- Port Zante, St Kitts — Embarkation area, Basseterre.
- Saba — Island reference; weather determines the dive sites.
- Bobby’s Marina, Philipsburg — Disembarkation area, Sint Maarten.
Programme checked 9 November 2026. Operator itinerary. Port and island markers are planning references, not dive entries or guaranteed moorings.
Do I need a visa for Saint Martin?
For arrival through Sint Maarten, the official tourism entry page directs travellers to the digital ED form at entry.sx. The form does not replace any required visa or guarantee admission. Passport, nationality, transit and onward-travel details all matter.
French Saint-Martin has its own entry rules, and a Schengen visa should not automatically be assumed to cover an overseas visit. The appropriate French or Dutch authority should be consulted for the exact arrival route. Current official guidance is more useful than a fixed nationality list.
Getting Around
The island’s modest size can disguise traffic delays. Accommodation near the booked marina simplifies early departures, while a rental car can be useful for exploring both sides on other days. Taxi quotes should identify the currency, luggage and pickup point.
Cruise passengers need an outing that fits the ship’s all-aboard time, with a realistic return margin. A short distance on a map is not a guaranteed short journey.
A convenient marina base and a few well-chosen days exploring both sides can make this a very relaxed dive holiday. The small island rewards attention to the details that are easy to overlook: airport, jurisdiction, currency and the precise boat departure.
Questions before you go
Are SXM and SFG the same airport?
No. SXM is Princess Juliana on the Dutch side; SFG is Grand-Case Espérance on the French side. Transfers and entry arrangements depend on the airport used.
Does a liveaboard return to the same island?
Not necessarily. Caribbean Explorer II uses routes between Sint Maarten and Saint Kitts, with Saba along the way. The dated booking determines direction.
Can cruise visitors rely on short distances?
Traffic and boat timing matter more than the island’s size. The excursion must fit the ship’s return deadline with a realistic margin.
Saint Martin Photos
Scuba diving
You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: Saint Martin Diving
Diving Reviews for this region
Saint Martin
A great selection of wrecks and reefs for divers of all skill levels.
Liveaboard Reviews in Saint Martin & Sint Maarten & St Maarten
MV Caribbean Explorer II
Photographs: Explorer Ventures / LiveAboard.com; existing Divezone boat gallery.
If you have been to Saint Martin before, please share your experiences, ideas and feedback (Hotel, Excursions, General Feeling,…) in the comments section below, by doing so you will help fellow travellers to plan their next trip