Where can I see sea turtles in St Maarten?

If you want to try to see one of these creatures in their natural habitat, the best way is to join a diving or snorkeling tour around St. Maarten/St-Martin. One of the best places for turtle watching is Tintamarre Island, located just 2 miles off the North coast.



St. Maarten (and the French side, Saint Martin) offers several incredible spots for turtle encounters in 2026, with the most reliable being Tintamarre Island. Located within the French Nature Reserve, this uninhabited island is a haven for green sea turtles that graze on the abundant seagrass beds just off the beach; you can reach it via a short boat excursion from Cul-de-Sac. Another top-tier location is Pinel Island, where the shallow, calm waters make it easy for snorkelers of all levels to spot turtles. On the Dutch side, Divi Little Bay is a frequent haunt for hawksbill and green turtles, often found swimming near the rocky outcroppings. If you are lucky, you might even see them at Mullet Bay or while snorkeling around the Underwater Sculpture Park. For the best 2026 experience, hire a local catamaran charter that specializes in "eco-snorkeling," as they know the exact coves where these gentle creatures are most active.

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10 Best Beaches to See Sea Turtles in The World
  • 1.Refugio De Vida Silvestre La Flor, Nicaragua.
  • 2.Kuredu Resort, Maldives.
  • Xcacel Beach, Mexico.
  • 4.Laniakea Beach, Hawaii.
  • 5.Turtle Islands, Philippines.
  • 6.Gili Islands, Indonesia.
  • 7.Atolls Tikehau, French Polynesia.
  • 8.Zakynthos, Greece.


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Sea turtles can be seen year round throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, though summer is the best time for all marine life as the water is even more deliciously warm. A good spot to view them on Providenciales is near the Coral Gardens Reef just off of Grace Bay.

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Where do sea turtles live? Sea turtles can be found all around the world, from the cold waters off California to the warm beaches of the Coral Triangle. Males never leave the ocean, while females will come ashore to lay their eggs on sandy beaches during the nesting season.

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Martin's biggest beaches, Orient Beach. Measuring one and a half miles, this long stretch of white sand is a popular choice for a beach day. Home to many excellent restaurants, plenty of watersports, powdery soft sand and its famous nude beach area, there is so much to love about Orient Bay.

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Plum Bay or Baie aux Prunes beach is secluded and not so frequent a destination for tourists. Golden sands and clear turquoise water are enhanced by the peace and quiet that this beach offers. The calmer seas around this wild beach are the perfect locations for snorkeling and sometimes for surfing.

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Along with Hawaii, Florida beaches throughout the state are the most active for sea turtle egg laying.

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Green turtles nest at more than 700 sites in the WCR, with Tortuguero, in Costa Rica, hosting the largest aggregation in the region, with more than 100,000 nests per year.

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The Galápagos Islands are a chain of volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador, in South America, most famous for being the home to many giant tortoises and sea turtle populations. The giant tortoises of the Galápagos are among the most famous of the unique fauna of the islands.

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Honu'ea (hawksbill sea turtles) nest primarily on the islands of Hawai?i, Maui, and Moloka'i.

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July to October is the peak nesting and hatching period for green sea turtles in locations such as Tortuguero National Park, whereas it's March to October for the hawksbill turtle, which prefers the Caribbean coast and can nest up to four times each season.

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Below, you'll find a list of 13 amazing places in the world to dive and swim with sea turtles in their natural habitats.
  1. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. ...
  2. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia. ...
  3. Ari Atoll, Maldives. ...
  4. Maui Island, Hawaii. ...
  5. Marsa Alam, Egypt. ...
  6. Sipadan, Malaysia. ...
  7. Cook Island Marine Reserve, Australia.


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Simpson Bay – Once famous for the families who made their living from fishing, Simpson Bay is a long sandy beach just south of the airport on the west end. The sand is soft and the waves are generally calm. This beach is never crowded and offers a wonderful spot to watch the sunsets.

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The traveler hoping to relax and recharge away from the hustle and bustle of an active tourist strip would be best served picking this side of the island for their Saint Martin stay. While Sint Maarten has the upper hand in nightlife, the French side of the island is known for having the more pristine beaches.

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