best beach for snorkeling?

[2serendip]

Hi -- We're going to be in St. Maarten in January, and we're planning to rent a car. We love to snorkel, and we're hoping to find a couple of beaches where the snorkeling (from the beach) will be good instead of taking an excursion or going from a small boat. Can you give us some advice? Thanks!

[ghia007]

Catch the ferry over to Anguilla. Excellent snorkeling

[North Carolina Cruiser]

Can you take a rental car? how often do the ferries run? how much is the ferry? where do I go once I get to Anguilla?:confused: Thanks for any help?????????

[whatnot]

You need to take a passenger ferry from Marigot to Anguilla. They leave frequently. The trip is maybe 30 minutes or so. You also need to have your passport since you are going from a French country to a British country. It isn't a cheap trip . There is a fairly high tax for entering the country in addition to the ferry fare. Hire a cab once you get there to take you to the beach, etc. You really may want to hire the cab for your whole day! Do some research to decide what you want to do once you get there. There are some great beaches as well as some great hotels where you could have lunch or just eat on one of the beaches.

 

We are hoping to do this same type of thing on our trip in January.

[ghia007]

Shoal Bay on Anguilla has nice walk in snorkeling. There are plenty places to eat (home to Uncle Ernie's) and to rent chairs, umbrellas etc. There will be taxis lined up at the ferry terminal that will take you there & pick you up at an agreed upon time & return you to the terminal. DO NOT forget your passport and give yourself plenty of time to get back.

[AlbertaCruisers]

If you want to stay at St. Martin, Oyster Bay had nice snorkeling (it is right on the boarder of the two halfs). We took a cab there for 15 dollars each way.

 

If you got to www dot oysterbaybeachresort dot com we were on the beach to the left of the hotel you can see. The Oyster Bay Beach resort had bathrooms that the public were allowed to use.

 

There was a pretty large reef right off the beach with lots of fish and things to see. The day we were there it was a bit rough, but once you got used to it it was not a big deal. And they said it was not always like that. They have kayaks etc. that people normally take out but that day was a bit rough.

 

I have been to Little Divi and there was really nothing to see there and from what I have heard there is no other beaches with anything good. Pinel island is suppose to be good, but you have to go there and then take a ferry across.

[ghia007]

I had some fair snorkeling at Friars Beach, in the rocks over to the right. Nice family/local beach w/ rentals and places to eat.

[tsk]

Hi -- We're going to be in St. Maarten in January, and we're planning to rent a car. We love to snorkel, and we're hoping to find a couple of beaches where the snorkeling (from the beach) will be good instead of taking an excursion or going from a small boat. Can you give us some advice? Thanks!

What cruise are you on? We also love to snorkel. Maybe we could help pay for the car in return for a hitch to wherever you are going. We are on the Explorer leaving Jan 11, 2009