Best Beach and Water Adventures in Saint Martin
The geographic
position of Saint Martin on the edge of the Caribbean Islands makes many of its
beaches ideal for surfing. The best season for surfing in Saint Martin is
November through April, but the Atlantic coastline offers good conditions
year-round. Some beaches are ideal
for surfers of all abilities, but others are only suitable for experts. Le
Galion, south of Orient Bay, has a reef and coral beach that makes it suitable
for all surfers. Wilderness is another
beach suitable for all surfers. However, it is secluded and offers no services.
It is also a 30-minute hike from the parking bay. When you get there, you’ll
love the pristine pink sand, and Wilderness boasts the finest conditions for
all abilities. Experienced surfers
can head to Cupecoy or Mullet Bay. Mullet Bay offers more services.
Windsurfing
Many beaches in Saint
Martin are suitable for windsurfing. However, most of the locals head to Le
Galion. The Le Galion Lagoon is perfect for beginners, and there are nice wave
breaks for more experienced surfers on Le Galion Reef.For a unique
windsurfing experience, check out Maho Bay. The large jets taking-off from
Juliana Airport generate a 40-knot offshore gust for one minute, providing
windsurfers with a unique kick! Some of the other great windsurfing beaches
include Cove Bay for beginners and Meads Bay and Barnes Bay for more experienced
windsurfers.
Kite Surfing
Nettle Bay Lagoon is a
wonderful stretch of calm water that is perfect for beginners. On the Caribbean
side of Nettle Bay, the trade winds are ideal for more experienced kite
surfers.
Orient Beach is the
other popular kite surfing site on the island. It offers a flat and clear
lagoon, sand bar and waves, and open ocean. There are three kite surfing schools
in Saint Martin, two based in Nettle Bay and one in Orient Beach.
The warm,
crystal-clear waters around Saint Martin are perfect for snorkeling adventures.
Arguably the best snorkeling spot in Saint Martin is around Pinel Island on the
French side. You can reach Pinel Island by a short ferry trip from Cul de Sac. What’s
great about Pinel Island is that it’s at the heart of a protected Marine
Reserve. On the south side of
the island, you’ll find the Pinel Island Marine Trail. This is a snorkeling
trail marked with white buoys that leads you safely along the reef. The waters
here are rich in marine life, including turtles, stingrays, and colorful reef
fish. Other popular
snorkeling destinations on the Dutch side are Cupecoy Beach, Dawn Beach, and
Mullet Bay. And on the French side, there are Baie Rouge and Creole Rock.
Scuba Diving
The coral reefs and
crystal-clear waters make Saint Martin a fantastic location for scuba diving. Several
equipment hire shops around the island can provide you with diving mask, flippers, and tanks, such as The Scuba Shop
in Simpson Bay. However, for me, it’s the seven popular shipwrecks around the
island that make the island perfect for scuba diving. For example, HMS
Proselyte was a 32-gun frigate serving in the British Royal Navy that hit a reef
and sank in 1801. She now lies under 50 feet of water near Philipsburg. Sundry
anchors, barrel hoops, ballast bars, and cannons remain scattered around the
wreck, encrusted with coral. These features make this ancient warship a popular
destination for scuba diving enthusiasts. A less historic but
still interesting shipwreck is the Carib Cargo off Cay Bay. She can be found 65
feet under the waves on a sandy patch of the seabed. What’s interesting about
this 1996 wreck is that stingrays love it. Because of the abundance of marine
life and clear water, the Carib Cargo has become a popular destination for underwater
photographers.
Lots of visitors to
Saint Martin have fun paddling around the bays or lagoons. The calm lagoons are
perfect for beginners, while sea kayaking can provide more of a challenge for
the adventurous. If you’re confident enough to paddle out to sea, you can reach
some of the nearer shipwrecks and look down through the crystal-clear waters to
the coral-encrusted ships below. Kayaking is also an
interesting way to reach the Marine Reserve at Pinel Island. It takes
approximately 25 minutes to paddle from Cul de Sac. The water around the
reserve is shallow, so you can look down and see the abundant marine life
below. If you’re a nature
lover, head over to Galion Beach where the surfers go. At the end of the bay is
a wild mangrove. You’ll be delighted at the diversity of water plants, crabs,
and birds all around you. And the calm lagoon behind the beach is great for
paddling a stand-up paddleboard.
Fine Dining
Visitors who wish to
combine their trip to the beach with gourmet food should head on down to Grand
Case Bay. This quaint fishing village features a long beach with a selection of
gourmet restaurants and small but popular traditional food outlets. The
turquoise waters of the bay are clear and calm, and Grand Case is rated the
TripAdvisor #3 destination in the Caribbean.
Partying
Orient Bay in the
northeastern part of the island is not only one of the most popular beaches
during the day, but it is also a popular hotspot at night. With a naturist
beach to the south of the bay, there is a libertine atmosphere around town. The
beach restaurants and bars here are where you’re most likely to spot visiting
celebrities. It’s commonly called the Saint Tropez of the Caribbean.
Guest Contribution by Jess at Outside Pursuits, Images by Pixabay
Guest Contribution by Jess at Outside Pursuits, Images by Pixabay