For tourists who want to experience water sports, the Dutch and French twin island of Sint Maarten/St Maarten stands out in the Caribbean for its diverse range of water sports. There’s a wide range of activities here, both on and off the water, thanks in part to the island’s unique coastal formations, including sheltered bays and lagoons, not to mention its world-class marina. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the calm Caribbean Sea to the west, the coastline is also ideal for a variety of activities, from leisurely sailing and catamaran excursions to high-intensity competitive sailing, and is available further from the coast or inland. Recently, there are more opportunities for kayaking, windsurfing and other extreme sports.
Inshore water adventure
With its variety of lagoon access and coastal conditions, it’s no wonder that enterprising operators across the island now offer carefully tailored menus of water day adventures to suit any interest. Tri-Sport in Simpson Bay is one of the attractive options for those arriving on the Dutch side of the island. They have long-standing local expertise in a variety of activities in the lagoon and offshore areas. Outings at Tri-Sport can include kayaking/snorkeling lessons for beginners, starting with paddling from Simpson Bay to the open ocean and then onto the next bay. The pace is leisurely and there are great views of the neighboring islands. Once at your destination, everyone dons snorkeling gear and explores nearby caves and fish-filled corals with a guide. Less than an hour later, kayak back to Golden Sands Beach for a refreshing drink. The entire tour lasts less than half a day. For a dedicated kayaking outing, visitors can try the company’s Simpson Bay Lagoon Tour, which takes you around this beautifully preserved lagoon while learning about its ecosystem and some of the unusual animals that live here. There is also the option of kayaking alone in the lagoon for those who feel confident in themselves – Tri-Sport will provide maps, bottled water and some advice on key points to reach within this large saltwater enclosure.
Aqua Mania Adventures is also located on the Dutch side of the island and offers a variety of water activities starting on the beachfront at Simpson Bay Resort and Divi Little Bay Resort. The operator is a long-standing specialist in providing fully equipped multihull and catamaran tours for day trippers. Their Catamaran Day Tour Around St. Maarten is a day-long outing from Simpson Bay to coastal locations like Creole Rocks and Tintamale Island, where you can enjoy ideal snorkeling Get active and admire the sea turtles in the area. Other specialty tours include the many options available at Divi Little Bay, where participants can check out snorkeling gear, scuba diving, bodyboarding, jet skis, paddleboards and, of course, kayaks at beachfront booths.
On the French side of the island, there are other water sports available to take advantage of, mainly in the area of Marigot, the capital. You can experience daily marine activities at Wind Adventures along Orient Bay. They are proficient in a variety of specialized water sports such as Hobie Cats, Sea Kayaking, Kite Surfing, Wing Wings, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Surfing, Snorkeling and more. Oriental Bay itself is a stunning beach, known for its gentle breezes and crystal clear waters, ideal conditions for any water outing.
How would this happen on a normal day? For example, with the Hobie Cat Experience you might choose to sail to Pinel Island on your own for the day, or a Wind Adventures instructor will take you across Pinel Island in 20 minutes (no prior experience required), or you can take a Take your hobbit cat on a 3-hour trip to Tintamare Island. Then, take a sea kayak again to offshore locations such as Green Cay Island or Pinel Island. Green Cay can be reached in 15 minutes and Pinel Island can be reached in 30 minutes. For those who prefer more extreme sports on the coast of Orient Beach, there are also kitesurfing or wing-wing lessons with friendly professional instructors. For those who have time for a half-day or full-day excursion to the small offshore islands, board a large lagoon catamaran or Axopar motorboat and spend plenty of time around Tintamare Island or Creole Rock , where you might encounter whales …
Hal Pitt
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