Scuba diving in

Anguilla, St Maarten and St Barts

Anguilla, St Maarten and St Barts are situated in the northern stretch of the Leeward Islands, over 100-kilometres east of the Virgin Islands. Though they lie within relative proximity to one another, and are part of one vast underwater plateau, each of these three destinations embraces its own culture and character. This is, in no small part, due to the fact that Anguilla, St Maarten, and St Barts are part of Britain, the Netherlands, and France respectively - a veritable melting pot of colonial influences.

Like many islands of the Lesser Antilles, these three destinations have become household names due to their idyllic tropical scenery and envious Caribbean atmosphere, attracting throngs of luxury-loving tourists year after year. And, while they each offer their own unique appeal, no matter which island you visit, you can expect powder-white beaches, inviting turquoise bays, and access to almost every pastime imaginable.  

Direct flights to St Maarten fly from the Netherlands, France, and various cities on the east coast of the USA, including Miami, New York, and Boston. Anguilla also receives direct flights from Miami. Visitors from the UK may choose a direct flight to the island of Antigua, followed by a connecting flight to their chosen destination. St Barts has a small airport with a short runway, and therefore can only be accessed from elsewhere in the Caribbean, such as Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, Antigua, and Guadeloupe.

The Blowing Point Ferry Terminal on Anguilla is located on the south side of the island and mainly connects to the Marigot Port on St Martin – the French side of the same island as St Maarten. This trip takes around half an hour and boats depart roughly every 45-minutes. Ferries operating between Marigot Port and St Barts take about an hour and are scheduled a little less frequently. Once on the islands, getting around is easy thanks to their small size, with both taxis and car rentals available for longer journeys.

Home to some spectacularly beautiful beaches – including Meads Bay, Rendezvous Bay, Maundays Bay, Barnes Bay, Long Bay, and Cove Bay – Anguilla’s West End is the established heart of the island’s tourism. That said, the East End is a fast developing alternative, with new resorts, bars and restaurants emerging all the time. For a more traditional experience, the charming fishing village of Island Harbour offers picturesque scenes of colourful boats and children playing around the pier.

Simpson Bay, on the west coast of St Maarten, is home to a bustling marina close to the island’s airport. It is one of the most popular areas for tourists and offers some of the best nightlife and restaurants. On the east coast, Dawn Beach is a great spot for beach-lovers, with plenty of opportunities for snorkelling and a wide range of restaurants. Philipsburg is a popular stop for cruise ships, meaning it is lively year-round, and the streets are filled with duty-free shopping and casinos.

St Barts is a well-known holiday haunt of the rich and famous, with plenty of designer boutiques and luxury yachts. But, there’s still lots of affordable accommodation to be found. St Jean Bay and Grand Cul-de-Sac Bay are two hotspots for tourists, along with the marina area of Gustavia, which is where some of the best dining, shopping, and partying can be found.

The tropical Caribbean climate means that Anguilla, St Maarten and St Barts offer great scuba diving all year round. But, there are some seasonal variations in the weather that are worth bearing in mind.

As with many tropical destinations, the two main seasons are dictated by the amount of rain. In Anguilla, St Maarten and St Barts, the dry season runs from November to March, bringing average air and water temperatures of around 26°C. The wet season runs from June to November, bringing a higher chance of downpours, but the diving is rarely affected. Temperatures also peak during the wet season, averaging around 30°C on land and in the water.

Keep in mind that hurricanes are possible between June and November, with the possibility peaking towards the end of the season. Hurricanes rarely interfere with the diving in this region, though strong winds can occasionally cause choppy conditions and reduced visibility.

The islands of Anguilla, St Maarten and Saint Barts are part of a geological plateau that is used as a breeding ground for humpback whales between December and April. 

These three destinations are each protected by a network of marine and terrestrial parks aimed to boost biodiversity and protect vulnerable wildlife. Anguilla’s six protected areas cover coral reefs, seagrass meadows, craggy shorelines, and sandy bays, providing shelter for a wide range of seabirds, two endemic lizards, and several species of sea turtle – including green, hawksbill, and leatherback – which arrive on the beaches to nest.

St Maarten’s Man of War Shoal Marine Park is said to shelter around 700 species of reef fish, along with turtles, rays, lobster, conch, and crabs. As one of the first Dutch Caribbean islands to protect sharks, local and migratory populations of reef, tiger, and nurse sharks also thrive here. And, due to its proximity to deep open water, the Man of War Shoal Marine Park also acts as an important stopover point for many marine mammals, including whales and dolphins.

The Nature Reserve of Saint Barthélemy protects almost 3,000-acres, spread across five separate sectors – Gros Îlets and Pain de Sucre, Île Fourchue, Île Frégate, Île Toc Vers, and Colombier Bay. Like the other destinations, these protected areas play an important role for a variety of seabirds and sea turtles.