SCUBA DIVING ST MAARTEN - Best Dive Sites in the Caribbean...

Diving Experiences for both the Novice and Experienced Diver...

Scuba diving is one of the most popular activities undertaken on the island of St Maarten.

Unlike snorkeling scuba diving is unrestricted in that it allows you to swim underwater as far as you wish to go.

There are several places where beginners can purchase a diving course from around the island and likewise water sports shops where the more experienced certified scuba divers can rent tanks and equipment.

Scuba Diving St Maarten - For the Novice...

When undertaking a course in scuba diving the participants will learn many important skills which will ensure your safety when diving through the crystal clear waters that surround St Maarten. You will learn how to control you buoyancy underwater. Your buoyancy will determine whether you ascend or descend whilst diving. You will also be taught how to remain at a constant level if you wish to stay in one spot and observe the unique marine life underwater. Finally, the instructors will show you techniques on how to adjust to significant changes in pressure. There are two main techniques, the Vasalva maneuver and the Frenzel maneuver... which both serve to help the diver adjust and avoid pressure injuries.

Once you’ve learnt the basic diving techniques you’re free to enjoy the coral and marine life which lay in the waters surrounding the island.

Some of the more popular dive sites on the West side of the island include Creole Rock, Frenchman’s reef.

The Gregory, The Bridge and Fu Sheng. Creole Rock and Frenchman’s reef are great spots for beginner divers offering dives from 25-30 feet.

These two sites offer a lot of reef fish and the occasional moray eel. The Gregory and The Bridge provide excellent spots for the more advanced diver, with divers going down to about 55 feet.

At the Gregory divers will have the change to swim around an overturned freighter sitting on a reef, offering a large range of different tropical fish. The Bridge on the other hand was created out of the remains of the Simpson Bridge and two old yachts. Some of the diving operators offer night dives at this spot.

Finally, there’s Fu Sheng which is reserved for advanced divers only. Fu Sheng is St Maarten's premier deep sea dive and includes a sunken offshore fishing vessel.

Scuba Diving St Maarten - For the Experienced...

On the east side of the island some of the most popular dive sites include the Maze, Moonhole, Hen and chick and Proselyte.

The sites of the Maze, Moonhole and Hen and Chick are excellent sites for the intermediate diver all at a depth of 50-60 feet. The Maze offers mountain ranges of different coral structures making it a most spectacular and beautiful dive.

Moonhole (as the name suggests) provides large craters with open caves to dive down into. This dive is only available when the weather permits. Hen and chick is a flatter reef dive with lots of different fish and eels, however just like Moonhole the dive is only permitted when weather conditions are calm.

Finally, there is Proselyte which is probably the island’s most famous dive site.

Just over two centuries ago a British frigate coming from St. Kitts ran directly into the reef. All men on board survived and now two centuries later it makes for one of the most intriguing diving experiences you’ll experience not only in St Maarten but throughout the entire Caribbean.

This dive goes down to approximately 50 feet.

Scuba diving St Maarten is a great activity to take up in groups or by yourself if you have adequate experience and/ or are a certified scuba diver.

Whilst in St Maarten, enjoy some of the best reef dives of the Caribbean, and the world.

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