Dive Sites in St. Maarten
30 dive sites

Dive Sites in St. Maarten

Diving in St Maarten means legendary wrecks and pristine coral reefs — from HMS Proselyte to Tugboat Annie. Every dive site in St Maarten with depth, current, certification level and best season, plus the liveaboard itineraries that actually dive them.

Diving in St. Maarten

St. Maarten is one of the world's great liveaboard destinations, with 30 mapped dive sites covering reefs, walls, drifts, channels and wrecks.

Every site below shows depth range, certification level, current, access and the best season, so you can judge at a glance whether it fits your experience. Start with the full site list, then explore dive sites by type, the nearest decompression chambers and the marine life you can expect in St. Maarten.

All 30 dive sites in St. Maarten

All 30 dive sites in St. Maarten

Depth range, certification level, dive type, access and current at a glance.

Open any site for its full profile, best season and the liveaboards that dive it in St. Maarten.

30 dive sites

© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS

Big Mama's Reef

St. Maarten

Big Mama's Reef, nestled southeast off Point Blanche Bay in St. Maarten, stands out as a unique Caribbean dive site, primarily characterized by a vast sand channel bordered by an expansive reef.

Suitable for
Beginner
Current
Mild
Access
Liveaboard or dayboat
Depth
12–50 m
Theme
Reef
© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS

HMS Proselyte

St. Maarten

HMS Proselyte is a historic wreck site located just outside Philipsburg, within the protected Man of War Shoal Marine Park in St. Maarten.

Suitable for
Beginner
Current
Mild
Access
Liveaboard or dayboat
Depth
12–18 m
Theme
Wall
© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS

Carib Cargo

St. Maarten

The Carib Cargo, also known as Carib Ghost or RoRo, is an inter-island trader that now serves as one of St. Maarten's premier wreck dive sites.

Suitable for
Intermediate
Current
Strong
Access
Shore / dayboat
Depth
12–18 m
Theme
Wreck
© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS

Gregory

St. Maarten

The Gregory is a purpose-sunk barge, deployed in 1993, that now rests upside-down off the Dutch side of St. Maarten.

Suitable for
Intermediate
Current
Strong
Access
Liveaboard or dayboat
Depth
10–17 m
Theme
Drift / Wall

Dive sites by type

Wrecks, walls, drifts, caves and pinnacles in this area.
Reef diving22 dive sites
Reef diving
Wreck diving8 dive sites
Wreck diving
Wall diving3 dive sites
Wall diving
Drift diving1 dive sites
Drift diving
Pinnacle diving1 dive sites
Pinnacle diving

Marine life you can see in St. Maarten

The species most often logged on St. Maarten's dive sites.
29 dive sites
Barracuda
23 dive sites
Caribbean Reef Shark
11 dive sites
Bottlenose Dolphin
4 dive sites
Angelfish
4 dive sites
Caribbean Reef Octopus
4 dive sites
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
3 dive sites
Eagle Ray
2 dive sites
Coral
1 dive sites
Blue Shark
1 dive sites
Basket Star
1 dive sites
Honeycomb Trunkfish
1 dive sites
Blacktip Reef Shark

Liveaboards diving in St. Maarten

Liveaboard diving in St. Maarten means more dive sites per trip: these vessels run real, bookable departures with cabins for solo divers, buddy teams and small groups. Compare boat size, cabin layout, dive deck and nitrox, then check the cheapest price per day before you book. Every St. Maarten dive safari below is confirmed with live availability and current operator pricing.

Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard diving in St. Maarten – view trips, cabins and prices

Caribbean Explorer II

St. Maarten

$249
All liveaboards in St. Maarten

Conditions & practicalities

Diving in St. Maarten: seasons, conditions and logistics

30 dive sites in St. Maarten — here is what the season data says about the best months, water temperature, visibility and currents, plus how divers usually get there and which fees to budget for.

Best months
Apr–Jul, Dec
Water temperature
26–29 °C
Visibility
22–32 m
Currents
Mild — Most reefs can be dived without drift skills; water only picks up around channels and exposed corners. Newly certified divers with decent buoyancy are comfortable here.
Getting there
Most divers fly into the nearest international airport and continue by transfer or domestic flight to the departure port; liveaboards usually leave the evening before day one.
Permits & fees
Marine park fees, port taxes and nitrox are rarely included in the trip price — budget a few hundred dollars extra and check the visa rules before booking.

FAQ

Diving in St. Maarten FAQ

When is the best time to dive in St. Maarten?
Diving conditions in St. Maarten change throughout the year. Check our month-by-month best-time-to-dive guides to plan around peak visibility, weather and marine life encounters.
Do I need a liveaboard to dive in St. Maarten?
A liveaboard gives you access to remote dive sites in St. Maarten that day boats cannot reach, plus 3–5 dives per day in maximum comfort. For the best dives in St. Maarten, a liveaboard is the recommended choice.
What certification do I need to dive in St. Maarten?
Most St. Maarten liveaboards require Open Water as a minimum, with Advanced Open Water and 30+ logged dives recommended for currents and deeper sites. Some expert routes require Tech or 100+ dives.
How much does a St. Maarten liveaboard cost?
Liveaboard prices in St. Maarten typically range from €1,500 to €6,000+ per week depending on vessel category, route length and season. Browse the boats below for live pricing.
Do I need a visa for St. Maarten?
Visa requirements vary by your nationality. Always check the latest entry rules with the destination's official government source before booking flights.
Is diving in St. Maarten safe for beginners?
Many St. Maarten sites are beginner-friendly, but some routes feature strong currents or deep walls suited only to experienced divers. Check each vessel's recommended experience level.
Plan your trip

Ready to dive in St. Maarten?

Explore the St. Maarten destination guide or search liveaboards that visit these sites.

St. Maarten destination guideLiveaboards in St. Maarten