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The oldest dive shop in St. Maarten, Ocean Explorers, is owned and operated by longtime residents Dominique and LeRoy French. Together, they have over 40 years experience in the diving field and have put all their efforts into maintaining a high standard of operation at their shop. All dive trips and lessons are personally supervised and safety is the number one thought in mind. The shop is located on a quiet beach at Simpson Bay, with easy parking, and is stocked with first class quality equipment, for rent or sale at reasonable prices. Dive sites are selected the day of the dive and are tailored to the experience of the divers participating. The 26' Robalo dive boat 'Ocean Explorer' is powered by twin 150hp engines and affords a smooth ride to the sites. A maximum of 10 divers per trip are taken, so the groups are small. The shop has been appointed a "MAUI DREAM RESORT" and a PADI Dive Centre. The licensing of divers is an ongoing activity. A diver must have a Certification Card to participate on dives. If not, then a 2 hour resort course must be taken. Refresher courses are available for those who need practice prior to going out. An extensive line of scuba equipment is available for rental by the day, week or month. You must show your Certification Card and be prepared to leave a credit card imprint as a deposit. Dinghies can conveniently pull up on the beach, by the shop, to load and unload equipment. |
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DIVE
LOCATIONS
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FRENCH REEF - Depth 12' - 25' Excellent
reef close to shore for both beginners and advanced divers. All varieties
of fish in large numbers. Perfect spot for photographers interested
in close up photos.
CAY BAY REEF - Depth 15' - 30' Low lying reef with some small outcroppings of coral. For beginners and certified divers on days when surface conditions elsewhere are difficult. EXPLORERS REEF - Depth 30' - 45' This coral formation begins at the top in 30' and goes off the sides to 45'. Many fine soft coral, creanoids and anemones. Sightings of Barracudas, rays, groupers and larger fishes are quite common. THE MAZE - Depth 25' - 45' Elkhorn Coral stands at the top of the reef. Down along the sides the reef offers some mini cave diving. A good place for photo enthusiast. Turtles, rays, nurse sharks and large French Angelfish are common. Occasionally there can be a strong current running over the top of this reef. PROSELYTE REEF - Depth 15' - 45' Here is where the British Frigate, HMS Proselyte, went down in 1801. Several cannons and anchors with various types of debris laying around. This ship has since been completely covered with coral. All varieties of marine life and fish have been seen here. Excellent for sightseeing and photography. THE ALLEYS & CABLE REEF - 25' - 65' "The Alleys" is a series of rock forma- tions with some very interesting cave exploration at the base of these rocks. A short swim further south brings you to "Cable Reef". There are some caves here with lots of fish life. Schools of Barracuda and other pelagic fish are quite common. Photographers will have a good time. HENS & CHICKS - Depth 20' - 70' Only on exceptionally calm days can diving be accomplished. Series of rocks jutting out of the water with beautiful elkhorn coral forests at the top of the reef from 20' of water. This is a mini wall dive. The reef tumbles down from 20' to 70' to a sandy bottom. Any type of fish life can be encountered. Underwater visibility is usually very good here. MOLLY B' DAY - Depth 15' - 60' Large rock coming above the surface to an elevation of 100'. Very nice coral formations at the top of the reef with large boulders making up the reef to a depth of 60'. Nice holes for lobster. Extremely large banded shrimp and arrow crabs are found here. Great for close up photography. FLAT ISLAND (Tintamarre) - Depth 40' Here a sunken 40' tug boat creates a dive site. It's lying on its keel in a sand bottom. Some interesting plant life has developed on the hull. As the ship is small, this dive can be fairly short. SPANISH ROCK - Depth 10' - 30' Rock formation with many channels and ravines. This is a shallow dive! Conditions can sometimes be rough. Fish life in most cases is plentiful. CREOLE ROCK - Depth 10' - 25' This area is excellent for beginning divers. The water is always calm and normally quite clear, with no currents. Nice shallow coral formations, soft coral, and small tropical fish are plentiful here. LONG BAY REEF - Depth 20' - 25' On days when the conditions are not suitable elsewhere, this reef can be quite interesting. It offers quite a bit of marine life. Be very careful of currents in this area. WRECK ALLEY - Depth 15' - 55' 2 wrecks in one dive. A fifty foot sailboat and a 100' steel barge sunk here a few years ago. Lots of tropicals, big barracudas and rays. Larger fishes swim by quite often. Nice reef nearby. SAMSON'S REEF - Depth 25' - 60' Cement pilings of the old drawbridge piled up here. Large sailboat wreck within swimming distance. Lots of grunts, eels. Great for close up photography. Bed of seagrass. TIME TUNNELS - Depth 40' - 60' Long submarine canyons run parallel to each other. Sightings of eagle rays, nurse sharks quite frequent - Mini caves. FISH BOWL REEF - Depth 40' - 75' Coral garden loaded with every imaginable species of fish. Great variety of corals. Nice grotto covered with sponges. Nurse sharks seem to like this area. Everything possible here. One of Ocean Explorers favorites. TUG BOAT ANNY - Depth 25' Excellent dive for beginners and photographers. 40' tug boat stands upright on a sandy bottom. Hundreds of tame tropical fish and eels. Very nice night dive. SPECIAL DIVE SITE - ONE STEP BEYOND - Depth 45 '- 90' Not located on our dive map for security reasons, this is the best dive in the area. Large rambling coral reef. Tame fish in large quantities. This is a "blue water" dive. Barracudas, morays, turtles, lobster, everything imaginable. Fantastic site. Known only to Ocean Explorers. Due to its location, this dive is only possible when sea conditions are favorable. For more information: Phone/Fax: 45252, From U.S.: 01-599-5-45252 Or Write: Ocean Explorers Dive Center, Simpson Bay, St.Maarten, Netherland Antilles. Or Call: ODRC Direct, 1-800-480-8555 |
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