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Scuba Dive Shop

Reunioncruiser

By Reunioncruiser,
in St. Martin/St. Maarten

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JuliaMS

JuliaMS

Posted
Posted

I recently contacted the St Maarten Nature Foundation to ask about the condition of diving, and received this message back:

 

The diving is still amazing with loads of sharks turtles fish and other marine life. Aquamania/dive adventures, ocean explorers and dive safaris are all open to go divig with!! Hope you enjoy st maarten diving!

My husband contacted The Scuba Shop in Simpson Bay and got the message below. Octopus Diving is having internet issues but did answer a facebook message. Our cruise is at the end of the month and I will report back then. We have not gone with any of these outfits before.

Thank you for your email.

 

YES you can go diving in St Maarten - many of the dive sites are open!

 

Having said that, at the moment, and possibly into January, there is still some sand shifting which does affect vis on some of the sights; however our European customers are saying that it is still so much better than they are used to diving in and are coming ashore very satisfied after their dive.

 

There has been some soft and large coral damage, more on some sites than others, and some algae bloom, but in general our dive sites are still in a healthy, albeit slightly battered, state.

 

AND we still have plenty of life.... sharks, turtles, sting rays, octopus, and plenty of fish.

 

With the ships schedule, it is normally necessary to dive with a dive shop based in Philipsburg within walking distance of the pier. At the moment it is only Octopus Diving located at Bobby's Marina who have said they will be open from December.

 

The alternative is to taxi through to Simpson Bay, about 25 minutes, where we are located, but the dive shop would have to make a special schedule for you. As there are 4 of you diving, and not many hotel guests, this should be possible.

 

You have 3 choices:

 

Dive Safaris who operate out of our shop in Simpson Bay, are up and running. Contact Helmie at
and ask if she would be able to do a later start for you that day, allowing enough time to taxi from the ship. You would then also be able to browse all the nice goodies in our shop.

 

If Helmie is not able to accommodate, contact Dive Adventures at
and see if they would be able to set a later schedule.

 

And finally, Ocean Explorers is a 3rd Simpson Bay option. You can contact Luciana at
.

 

A taxi does add to your expense for the day, BUT it does allow you to see a bit of the island. Depending on the time of your ships departure, after ending your dive from any of the Simpson Bay dive shops, you could go to Karakter on Simpson Bay beach for lunch (better food), or down to Sunset Beach Bar at the beginning of the runway (BBQ, fried food and planes landing). On the way back to the ship, if time permits and so desired, ask the taxi to stop at Carousel ice cream shop before exiting Simpson Bay for some yumm!

 

If you have any questions, or need any other information, please do not hesitate to ask.

 

Best regards,

Kim

 

Kim Frye

THE SCUBA SHOP

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