sailing & diving: Abacos or St Martin

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Brien Alkire - 30 Jun 2005 05:54 GMT

My wife and I are trying to plan a combination sailing & diving trip. We
had a fantastic trip to BVI last year, and we plan to do Tahiti in a few
years. We've narrowed our choice this year to either Abacos in the Bahamas,
or St Martin.

St Martin looks like the more interesting sailing location to me. The
cruising grounds are much larger than what's available in Abacos. We can
sail St Martin, St Nevis, St Barts, Antigua and Guadelope.

The diving looks more promising in Bahamas. However, the charter companies
severely limit the cruising grounds to just a small radius.

How is the diving in St Martin and the surrounding areas as compared to
Bahamas?

Any thoughts on these choices as they relate to quality of diving and
quality of sailing?

I've learned that there really are a limited number of places where you can
combine great diving with great sailing. I'm beginning to really appreciate
my home waters, though they are chilly (So Cal Channel Islands).

Thanks,

Brien

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Diver Rick - 30 Jun 2005 06:55 GMT

> My wife and I are trying to plan a combination sailing & diving trip. We

Hi Brien,

I've done quite a lot of diving in the Abacos, all from Marsh Harbour. I
don't sail, so I cannot comment on the quality of the sailing in the area,
but I can say that the dive shop I deal with there, is *always* supplying
fills and equipment to the many sail boats stopping in there! There were
also a couple of sail charter operators at the same marina as the Dive Shop.

The diving there is superb, and I can only presume that the sailing must
have something going for it! The shop owner there, "Dive Abaco", was always
meeting sailboats somewhere at anchor to drop off or pick up
tanks/divers/rental gear, so I know he is quite accommodating to sailors
particular needs.

Contact Keith Rogers @ http://www.diveabaco.com/

Regards,

<> Rick <>

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Ecnerwal - 30 Jun 2005 14:14 GMT

> How is the diving in St Martin and the surrounding areas as compared to
> Bahamas?

Saba is a short sail from St. Maarten, and has some pretty interesting
diving - marine park, lots of moorings, no anchoring, pinnacles, walls,
bubbling volcanic sand, etc...

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Al Wells - 30 Jun 2005 19:35 GMT

> Saba is a short sail from St. Maarten, and has some pretty interesting
> diving - marine park, lots of moorings, no anchoring, pinnacles, walls,
> bubbling volcanic sand, etc...

I was told that you need to hire a Saba shop/boat monkey if you want to
dive in the marine park, but I don't know for sure that it's true.

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LC - 30 Jun 2005 19:59 GMT

> My wife and I are trying to plan a combination sailing & diving trip. We
> had a fantastic trip to BVI last year, and we plan to do Tahiti in a few
> years. We've narrowed our choice this year to either Abacos in the
> Bahamas, or St Martin.

> St Martin looks like the more interesting sailing location to me. The
> cruising grounds are much larger than what's available in Abacos. We can
> sail St Martin, St Nevis, St Barts, Antigua and Guadelope.

Did a similar trip a couple of years ago on a 50' Beneteau .
Spent 11 days split between the first three islands you list, plus St.
Kitts, St. Eustatius and the uninhabited isle Il Fourche.
Great cruising grounds.

Did a fair amount of snorkeling, but no diving on that trip.
I've heard great things about the diving in Saba, which would lie within
easy day sail distance. We plan on flying in for some diving and R&R in the
near future.

The caveat would be that, from a sailing standpoint, the anchorages are said
to be very roll-ey.

Have fun.

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