Zee Best Breakfast! Voted best breakfast on the island. Authentic, fresh-baked French pastries, light-as-air crepes and scrumptious lunches. Open daily in two locations; Simpson Bay and Marina Port-de-Plaisance with a lovely view of the marina.
The Sporting Life: Get your adrenaline on in St. Maarten/St. Martin
By Donald Rodrigue
So you think the Caribbean is too laid-back for you, with all the palm trees and hammocks and such? You may find yourself at a loss for words once you experience the incredible wealth of sporting and other emotion-charged activities available on the dual-nation island of St. Maarten/St. Martin. This Caribbean isle is not for the fainthearted.
Here you can take your pick from dozens of land and sea sports, ranging from snorkeling and deep-sea fishing to hiking and mountain bike riding. So grab your sunscreen and your favorite hat and come along as we take a whirlwind tour of St. Maarten/St. Martin sports.
WATER DREAMS
Who hasn't dreamed of snorkeling or diving amidst schools of tropical fish and vibrantly colored corals in an emerald sea? Well, St. Maarten/St. Martin offers some picture-perfect spots where you can just wade into the water and don a snorkel and fins. One of the island's premier snorkeling destinations is Creole Rock on the French side, just off the coast of Le Petite Plage in Grand Case. Plum Bay and Baie Rouge are also good for the sport. Snorkeling enthusiasts in Dutch St. Maarten should head to either Dawn Beach or Little Bay near Philipsburg. For a snorkeling or diving experience you'll never forget, book passage on one of the trips offered by Aqua Mania Adventures (599-544-2640). Those new to scuba diving can take a Discover Scuba Diving course with Aqua Mania, as well as earn their PADI certification.
If you still want a taste of underwater life without actually getting wet, try Seaworld Explorer (888-832-2302). Perfect for all ages, this semi-submersible offers tours around snorkeling hot spots like Grand Case Bay. Passengers enjoy all the perks of snorkeling or scuba diving sitting in a comfortably air-conditioned cabin submerged five feet underwater. The cabin is lined with huge windows, providing passengers with up-close views of ocean life.
For a more heart-thumping experience, Westport Water Sports (599-544-2557) in Kim Sha Beach can have you parasailing before you know it. If you'd rather let the trade winds propel you along, windsurfing is a great option here, with the best places at Le Galion and Orient Beach in French St. Martin. Either Wind Adventures (590-590-29-41-57) or Club Orient Watersports (590-590-87-33-85) can provide you with all of the necessary equipment. For a greater workout, try your hand at kayaking around Simpson Bay Lagoon. TriSport (599-545-4384), boasts a great tour through the mangroves and to Grand Islet, an island with a deserted beach in the middle of the lagoon. Kayaks are also available on the French side through Tropical Wave (590-590-87-37-25) on Le Galion Beach and Wind Adventures (590-590-29-41-57).
THE WIND BENEATH YOUR SAILS What can be more beautiful and relaxing than gliding across the sea propelled by the wind, with only the sound of the waves and the cry of seagulls to break the silence? In St. Maarten/St. Martin, you can choose to captain your own sailboat or be sailed about like royalty as you soak up the sun on the trampoline of a huge catamaran. Several local companies offer both half- and full-day charters out of Simpson Lagoon for those with prior sailing experience, and crews can be provided otherwise. One of the easiest ways to enjoy a sail is aboard a 20-foot sailboat rented at Lagoon Sailboat Rental (599-557-0714) in Simpson Bay. If you're not up for the challenge of captaining your own boat, you can rent a skipper for the day who will take you and your family around the protected waters of Simpson Bay Lagoon. Additionally, both Bluebeard Charters (599-557-5935) and Aqua Mania Adventures offer daily departures from Simpson Bay and Pelican Marina, respectively, on huge catamarans, which provide plenty of room to lay back and be pampered.
THE BIG ONE WON'T GET AWAY So you can't resist the temptation of a one-on-one contest between you and an aquatic creature twice your weight? Well, feeding and congregating just offshore are some of the world's most popular game fish, such as marlin, tuna, dolphin, barracuda, wahoo and kingfish. Lee's Deep Sea Fishing (599-544-4233) can help you fulfill your desires, with either a half-, three-quarter or full-day charter off the coast of St. Maarten/St. Martin or one of 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.
Have Some Serious Fun!
Grab your Heinie and help hoist the mainsail, mate — it's time for the Heineken Regatta! Now in its 28th year, this annual tribute to the competitive sport of sailing in St. Maarten/St. Martin never takes itself more seriously than the after-race parties — and they're pretty serious! And even though the partying here grabs top billing at times, it does nothing to chill the competitive spirit: The 2007 race included some 200 boats in 20 divisions, including bareboats, multihull craft, spinnaker and non-spinnaker racing classes and beach cats. There was even an open class with handicaps, depending on the skill level of the sailors. The first day of racing culminates with a legendary after-race party along the Philipsburg Boardwalk gracing the sweeping arch of Great Bay Beach. The music of several live bands entertains the crowd of thousands of racers, tourists, islanders and visiting VIPs. After the second day of racing, the party moves to Marigot in French St. Martin for a virtual repeat of the prior evening's events on the Dutch side — including live music, the enticing aroma of grilled meats and fine French cuisine, and more of that famous European beer. The festivities finally end up on Simpson Bay's Kim Sha Beach for a fantastic awards ceremony and entertainment by world-famous bands from the Caribbean and beyond. For more information, call 599-544-2079 or visit www.heinekenregatta.com.
America's Cup St. Maarten 12
Metre Challenge
Bobby's Marina
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Tel: 599-542-0046
Fax: 599-542-6419 info@12metre.com www.12metre.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!
Race aboard Dennis Conner's famous Stars & Stripes, Canada II or True North. Special programs can be designed for regattas and incentive groups. No sailing experience necessary - just bring the urge to have fun!
Over 40 dive sites!
Scuba divers will find a wealth of dive sites to explore around the island with unique underwater landscapes including rocky mazes that shelter spadefish, octopi,
parrotfish, barracuda and turtles. There are also several shipwrecks that provide interesting reefs where all manner of sea life congregate. Certified divers can take advanced courses with dive masters from Dive Adventures/Aqua Mania, while novice divers can get certified with a few hours of instruction.
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Zee Best Breakfast! Voted best breakfast on the island. Authentic, fresh-baked French pastries, light-as-air crepes and scrumptious lunches. Open daily in two locations; Simpson Bay and Marina Port-de-Plaisance with a lovely view of the marina. 
So you think the Caribbean is too laid-back for you, with all the palm trees and hammocks and such? You may find yourself at a loss for words once you experience the incredible wealth of sporting and other emotion-charged activities available on the dual-nation island of St. Maarten/St. Martin. This Caribbean isle is not for the fainthearted. 
Who hasn't dreamed of snorkeling or diving amidst schools of tropical fish and vibrantly colored corals in an emerald sea? Well, St. Maarten/St. Martin offers some picture-perfect spots where you can just wade into the water and don a snorkel and fins. One of the island's premier snorkeling destinations is Creole Rock on the French side, just off the coast of Le Petite Plage in Grand Case. Plum Bay and Baie Rouge are also good for the sport. Snorkeling enthusiasts in Dutch St. Maarten should head to either Dawn Beach or Little Bay near Philipsburg. For a snorkeling or diving experience you'll never forget, book passage on one of the trips offered by Aqua Mania Adventures (599-544-2640). Those new to scuba diving can take a Discover Scuba Diving course with Aqua Mania, as well as earn their PADI certification. 
For a more heart-thumping experience, Westport Water Sports (599-544-2557) in Kim Sha Beach can have you parasailing before you know it. If you'd rather let the trade winds propel you along, windsurfing is a great option here, with the best places at Le Galion and Orient Beach in French St. Martin. Either Wind Adventures (590-590-29-41-57) or Club Orient Watersports (590-590-87-33-85) can provide you with all of the necessary equipment. For a greater workout, try your hand at kayaking around Simpson Bay Lagoon. TriSport (599-545-4384), boasts a great tour through the mangroves and to Grand Islet, an island with a deserted beach in the middle of the lagoon. Kayaks are also available on the French side through Tropical Wave (590-590-87-37-25) on Le Galion Beach and Wind Adventures (590-590-29-41-57). 
What can be more beautiful and relaxing than gliding across the sea propelled by the wind, with only the sound of the waves and the cry of seagulls to break the silence? In St. Maarten/St. Martin, you can choose to captain your own sailboat or be sailed about like royalty as you soak up the sun on the trampoline of a huge catamaran. Several local companies offer both half- and full-day charters out of Simpson Lagoon for those with prior sailing experience, and crews can be provided otherwise. One of the easiest ways to enjoy a sail is aboard a 20-foot sailboat rented at Lagoon Sailboat Rental (599-557-0714) in Simpson Bay. If you're not up for the challenge of captaining your own boat, you can rent a skipper for the day who will take you and your family around the protected waters of Simpson Bay Lagoon. Additionally, both Bluebeard Charters (599-557-5935) and Aqua Mania Adventures offer daily departures from Simpson Bay and Pelican Marina, respectively, on huge catamarans, which provide plenty of room to lay back and be pampered. 
So you can't resist the temptation of a one-on-one contest between you and an aquatic creature twice your weight? Well, feeding and congregating just offshore are some of the world's most popular game fish, such as marlin, tuna, dolphin, barracuda, wahoo and kingfish. Lee's Deep Sea Fishing (599-544-4233) can help you fulfill your desires, with either a half-, three-quarter or full-day charter off the coast of St. Maarten/St. Martin or one of the nearby islands. 
Grab your Heinie and help hoist the mainsail, mate — it's time for the Heineken Regatta! Now in its 28th year, this annual tribute to the competitive sport of sailing in St. Maarten/St. Martin never takes itself more seriously than the after-race parties — and they're pretty serious! And even though the partying here grabs top billing at times, it does nothing to chill the competitive spirit: The 2007 race included some 200 boats in 20 divisions, including bareboats, multihull craft, spinnaker and non-spinnaker racing classes and beach cats. There was even an open class with handicaps, depending on the skill level of the sailors. The first day of racing culminates with a legendary after-race party along the Philipsburg Boardwalk gracing the sweeping arch of Great Bay Beach. The music of several live bands entertains the crowd of thousands of racers, tourists, islanders and visiting VIPs. After the second day of racing, the party moves to Marigot in French St. Martin for a virtual repeat of the prior evening's events on the Dutch side — including live music, the enticing aroma of grilled meats and fine French cuisine, and more of that famous European beer. The festivities finally end up on Simpson Bay's Kim Sha Beach for a fantastic awards ceremony and entertainment by world-famous bands from the Caribbean and beyond. For more information, call 599-544-2079 or visit 
Aqua Mania Adventures
Golden Rock Dive Center
Lee's Deep Sea Fishing 
Tango
Race aboard Dennis Conner's famous Stars & Stripes, Canada II or True North. Special programs can be designed for regattas and incentive groups. No sailing experience necessary - just bring the urge to have fun! 
Scuba divers will find a wealth of dive sites to explore around the island with unique underwater landscapes including rocky mazes that shelter spadefish, octopi,
parrotfish, barracuda and turtles. There are also several shipwrecks that provide interesting reefs where all manner of sea life congregate. Certified divers can take advanced courses with dive masters from Dive Adventures/Aqua Mania, while novice divers can get certified with a few hours of instruction. 
