TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Should we pack the snorkeling gear?

We are packing today and getting ready to depart to SXM on Wednesday morning. We have been to the Island several times over the last number of years but don't recall if there is good snorkeling from shore at any of the beaches. We are staying at Secrets at Anse Marcel and are wondering about that area specifically and any other beaches on the Island. I think we have been to almost all of them previously. Should we pack our snorkel gear or leave it at home?

Anyone else staying at Secrets in the next couple of weeks?

We pack it each time. We stay at the Simpson Bay resort and there are a couple of reefs right off the Simpson bay beach. I paddle out there each day when we stay. Very nice, little bit of everything and occasional turtle.

If you check out the your tube live feed of the beach ( https://www.youtube.com/live/rEg487yY9ko?si=GT-qZnrE5sFnvJ1L ) , look at the point off the beach bar. You can see the waves breaking just off the point and too the left. There are other reefs on the opposite point (Hilton Flamingo) but they are further out and quite a swim.

We have also snorkeled at snorkeled Happy bay beach. Its an overland hike through a pasture but very secluded and nice.

We just returned after two weeks with snorkeling every day. Creole Rock (Grand Case) has an abundance of reef fish, but you will need a kayak, Rhino tour, or another boat. We booked an enjoyable tour through Captain Alan's (Oyster Pond Marina) that went to Tintamarre, Creole Rock, and Pinel. We also went to Anguilla through Boomerang tours one day.

The best snorkeling we had this trip was at the far end of Orient Beach where Club O used to be. The reef is coming back and everyday we saw turtles, a ray or two, eels, a couple of barracudas, puffers, and tons of the usual reef fish. My husband took 3200 pics, which we are wading through. The reef is on the other side of the swim buoys, about half way down from where the yellow umbrellas start and out from the floating platform (where a barracuda likes to hang out). Just be careful of the kite surfers. We wear brightly colored swim shirts to be more visible.

Definitely glad we took our gear!

we bring mask/snorkel and leave fins at home

There are a few fish by the rocks on the left side ( facing the water ) at Mullet, and also at the south end of Grand Case - though that area is tricky to enter and leave because of the rocks. As KC2SXM says, Creole Rock has a large number of fish, and you can book tours on a smalll ( 6 people ) boat operating out of Grand Case Beach Club. If you are used to snorkeling with lots of colorful fish, like St. Johns or St. Thomas, you may be a bit dissapointed. We do bring masks and one set of travel swim fins.

I always bring mask and snorkel.....no fins. I prefer to snorkel without them anyway.