The Swaliga II is a powercat, so it is fast and gets you to your snorkel destinations quickly.  The all day trip included a stop at Anguilla (Cove Bay?) for snorkeling, then on to Prickly Pear Island...

Visitors can participate in a mini-America's Cup boat race in actual boats from the 1987 competition, including Dennis Conner's famous Stars & Stripes.

Pinel Island is a little gem just a short boat ride off French Cul-de-sac.  Regular ferrys leave the dock at cul-de-sac starting at 10am with the last return ferry at 5pm.  You can also reach Pinel by

This large beach has very gentle waters.

Maho Bay, on the southwestern shore, is Sint Maarten's main resort area. It feels a bit like the Las Vegas Strip: while little more than a block long, it's dense with multistory buildings housing exclusive jewellers, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and a huge resort and casino. Maho Bay has a nice enough beach except that it's at the very end of the airport runway. The area is even marked with a sign warning beach goers that 'low flying and departing aircraft blast can cause physical injury!'

The island's most popular beach features a clothing-optional area on one end.

A popular tourist beach on the island's east coast.

If you're looking for a beach that's quiet but not totally secluded, Cupecoy is a good choice. Its white sands are backed by low sandstone cliffs that have been eroded in such a way that they provide a run of small semiprivate coves.

This pristine mile-long beach offers great swimming and scuba diving and is less known than some of the island's more popular beaches.

Known as the "flat island"

This small pristine tropical island is perfect for a relaxing afternoon of snorkeling.

Located at the end of Maho Bay and also very close to the airport where airplanes fly right above the beach.

A horseshoe shape beach known for its kid friendly atmosphere.