Sports Galore in St. Maarten/St. Martin

By Donald Rodrigue

Exciting and entertaining activities are a requirement when most people begin planning a Caribbean vacation, but few may realize the myriad of choices available on the Dutch-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin. Although many Caribbean islands have beaches and snorkeling excursions, few can lay claim to the huge variety of water- and land-based fun awaiting visitors to St. Maarten/St. Martin.

Adrenaline addicts will find a little bit of everything: parasailing high above gin-clear waters; snorkeling and diving through the mysterious depths of the sea; hiking and mountain biking through windswept hills; wave-hopping on a Jet Ski or WaveRunner; hoisting the mainsail or spinnaker during a sailing regatta; playing an invigorating round of golf or tennis; or angling for the big one on a deep-sea fishing adventure. Regardless of your sporting pleasure, St. Maarten/St. Martin has something to fill the bill.

Don Your Mask and Flippers

Everyone knows you’ve been lured to the Caribbean by the azure seas, so the first most logical course of action is to head to the beach. While a beach chair or a hammock may satisfy you for a while, most people can’t wait to dive into the water. There’s no finer way to explore the aquatic surroundings than by snorkeling, one of the island’s most popular watersports, and one that’s easily learned with a few simple instructions. Dawn Beach or Little Bay in Dutch St. Maarten and Baie Rouge and Plum Bay in French St. Martin are just a few spots offering good snorkeling within wading distance of the beach. For a more in-depth snorkeling experience, Aqua Mania Adventures offers half-day snorkeling trips to Creole Rock off French St. Martin near Grand Case. Real snorkeling fanatics will want to book passage to Anguilla on the company’s 63-foot sailing catamaran, Lambada, which departs on Wednesday and Friday from the Pelican Marina on Simpson Bay. This lovely British isle lies just a short sail away and offers various snorkeling hot spots. At lunchtime, the boat ferries its hungry passengers over to Road Bay for the delicious buffet.

Blackbeard Charters also offers snorkeling excursions on its 60-foot catamaran to both Anguilla and Prickly Pear Cay, a small, uninhabited island located in the midst of a regional marine park. An open bar helps quench thirst while en route, and tour guests are treated to a West Indian beach-barbecue lunch.

Those desiring a deeper experience can opt for the discover-scuba course offered by Aqua Mania Adventures. After a bit of classroom instruction, participants are taken to a coral reef for a 30-foot dive. Those who get hooked can spend one more day with instructors to receive their PADI open-water certification, after which they can improve their skills further with the PADI enriched-air certification (nitrox diving).

If you don’t need to burn adrenaline and prefer not to get your feet wet, you can still view the island’s fantastic marine life aboard the Seaworld Explorer (888-832-2302). Departing from Grand Case on the French side, this semi-submarine doesn’t actually submerge, but rather carries passengers seated before large panoramic windows a few steps beneath the surface. A diver attracts schools of colorful tropical fish, and passengers occasionally catch glimpses of green and moray eels, sea turtles and even a shark from the comfort of the air-conditioned cabin. If you’d rather do your own driving above the surface, the company offers its Rhino Riders, 10-foot-long inflatable speed boats for one or two passengers.

WaveRunners are always a popular choice for zipping around Great Bay in Philipsburg or Simpson Lagoon, and for a bird’s-eye view, you can’t beat the exhilarating experience of parasailing high above the water. Aqua Mania Adventures can easily set you up for either adventure  (599-542-2640).

Setting Sail

Pointing the bow of your chartered sailboat into the trade winds and hoisting the sails will launch you into a new chapter of your St. Maarten/St. Martin sporting experience.

The Caribbean won’t get any better than this, as you skim across the water with the wind at your back and the sails billowing in the breeze. Only the sound of the water lapping the hull will break the incredible silence, and it’s a moment you can enjoy whether you’re a novice going out for the first time or a sailor with years of experience. Beginners will live the life of the well-heeled, accompanied by a crew on either a half- or full-day charter. Once those with experience have proven their capabilities, they’ll soon be sailing off into the sunset. Most sailboats are chartered out of Simpson Lagoon or Cole Bay in Dutch St. Maarten. Simpson Bay is also a great spot for experiencing an afternoon of sailing aboard one of the 20-foot crafts available at Lagoon Sailboat Rental (599-557-0714).

If you prefer lolling about on the huge trampoline of a swift catamaran, then check out Bluebeard Charters (599-557-5935). You’ll enjoy the company of other swash-buckling adventurers and the fully stocked bar aboard the 60-foot Bluebeard, which departs daily from Simpson Bay. The vessel also offers trips to Anguilla and the uninhabited little isle Prickly Pear.

Aqua Mania Adventures offers various sailing adventures aboard its 63-foot catamarans, Lambada and Tango, which depart from the Pelican Key Marina. Guests can choose from exciting day-trips to Anguilla or Prickly Pear, or a romantic sunset or Caribbean dinner cruise. Both vessels feature two large trampolines for sailing in true Caribbean style.

One of the island’s most unique sailing adventures is the St. Maarten 12 Metre Challenge (599-542-0045 or www.12metre.com). This incredible experience allows both novice and seasoned sailors the chance to compete in a true America’s Cup race course aboard the legendary vessels Canada II and True North I. Sailors are treated to a rum and punch party after the three-hour competition.

The Big One Won’t Get Away

If the sound of a spinning fishing reel and the fight to land a game fish really get your heart racing, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, you can test your angling skills against marlin, tuna, dolphin, barracuda, wahoo or kingfish. The experienced crews of Lee’s Deep Sea Fishing (599-544-4233) know all the best spots to provide you with a host of tall fishing tales. Guests can choose from half-, three-quarter- or full-day fishing charters in the waters surrounding St. Maarten/St. Martin and the nearby islands.

Captain For A Day

By Donald Rodrigue

The glorious morning sun is just beginning to peak over the horizon of the Caribbean as you head down the dock and jump into the cockpit of your sailboat. With your gear and provisions safely stored aboard and your crewmates at the ready, you slowly sail away from the dock just far enough to sense the breeze blowing directly over the bow. Barking orders to your crew, you quickly yank on the halyard to hoist the mainsail as they work furiously to haul in the jib halyard. When the sails are fully raised and luffing in the wind, you grab the tiller and gently bring the boat to starboard. The vessel immediately heels to the right and begins to rapidly pick up speed, as you and your crew trim the sails and sit back to enjoy your cruise around Simpson Bay Lagoon and the glorious isle of St. Maarten/St. Martin. Sound like the lifestyle of the rich and famous? Think again. Here in St. Maarten/St. Martin, it's easy to be a captain for a day when you charter your own sailing vessel. Lagoon Sailboat Rentals (599-557-0714) boasts a variety of sailboats for both half-and full-day cruises. They offer lessons for novices to brush up on their skills and will provide a crew if you feel you're not up to the task. If you'd rather let someone else do all the work, then book passage on the Lambada, which cruises around the coast and lagoon. For exciting jaunts on a catamaran, both Celine (599-545-3961) and The Explorer (599-543-0068) offer group sailing trips around the lagoon.

America's Cup St. Maarten
12-Metre Challenge
Bobby's Marina
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Tel: 599-542-0045
Fax: 599-542-6419
info@12metre.com
www.12metre.com

Aqua Mania Adventures
Pelican Marina
Simpson Bay, St. Maarten
Tel: 599-544-2640
aquamania@sintmaarten.net
www.stmaarten-activities.com

Bluebeard Charters
13 La Palapa Center
Airport Road
Simpson Bay
Tel: 599-557-5935
bluebeard_charters@yahoo.com
www.sailbluebeard.com

Golden Rock Dive Center
Oranjestad, St. Eustatius, DWI
Tel: 599-318-2964

Lagoon Sailboat Rentals
Simpson Bay Lagoon
Tel: 599-557-0714
caryrobbie@caribserve.net
www.lagoonsailboatrental.com

Lambada
Pelican Marina
Simpson Bay, St. Maarten
Tel: 599-544-2640
aquamania@sintmaarten.net

Lee's Deep Sea Fishing
84 Welfare Road
Simpson Bay, St. Maarten
Tel: 599-544-4233
leesfish@caribserve.net
www.leesfish.com

Seaworld Explorer
Departs from dock in Grand Case
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Tel: 599-542-4078
shorexsxm@megatropic.com
www.atlantissubmarines.com

Our Activity Guide will get you acquainted with all the tours, attractions, sports and activities in St. Maarten/St. Martin -- for you and your kids. Contact our activities providers and get full details before you go!

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