Dive Review of Dive Adventures/Pelican Bay Resort in
St. Maarten/Simpson Bay

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Dive Adventures/Pelican Bay Resort, Sep, 2005, by Bruce Wallace, IN, USA . Report 1994.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	St. Maarten has not received great ratings or numerous reviews. I would say - GREAT! That leaves a fantastic reef unspoiled with little or no damage for those of us who want virgin diving. The colors are as good as anywhere; there is well over 300 species of fish identified; Saba has lots of large pelagics and the famous pinnacles; St. Barths is ALIVE with excellent corals; wrecks abound around St. Maarten and St. Martin (if that's what you want); deep coral valleys, swimthroughs, tunnels and sandy flats are everywhere; all the folks speak English and take American dollars; food is excellent and very low cost; casinos are all over the island and there is a good nightlife. My favorite dive was Mike's Maze which was groove diving at its best - narrow alleys through coral which were filled with sponges, fans, rope and various typical Caribbean hard and soft corals. Barracuda and bait fish everywhere inside the Maze. Enough sunlight from time to time so you didn't think you were in a cave. Ledge hanging lobsters (both Spanish and Caribbean) everywhere. This is the best 60 minutes in my dive log. Of the 14 dives, the average bottom time was 61 minutes with an average depth of 57 feet. No dive deeper than 90 feet. DM in the water with divers who wanted guided critter tours, otherwise buddies were on their own after first checkout dive. Dive Adventures' Vinnie is shop manager and kick-butt operator with an outstanding staff of locals. Very laid back operation with no pressures other than choosing the daily dive sites by group agreement in the morning. Aqua Mania is an incredible booking agent right at the Pelican Resort. Their discounts for multi activities (tours, Saba/St. Barths dive trips and dinner cruise) were the best on the island. Thrifty Car Rental had newer Toyota Corollas for $115 per week. Lotrie Farm's "Fly Zone" is the best non-diving activity with 22 transfer stations in the rain forest trees to test your zip line abilities (save this for last day). Go to Coz, Cay and Bonaire - we want St. Maarten for ourselves.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cancun, Cayman, Cuba, Florida, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hawaii, St. Barths, Saba, Turkey, USVI
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, surge
Water Temp	84-88°F / 29-31°C	Wetsuit Thickness	1
Water Visibility	80-120 Ft/ 24-37 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Don't come back on board with less than 500 psi and try to stay out of decompression.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Small "cameras only" tub. Computer in shop available for edit. Cyber cafes all over Simpson Bay and Phillipsburg. Very friendly photo dive operator.

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Dive Review of Dive Adventures/Pelican Bay Resort in St. Maarten/Simpson Bay

Dive Adventures/Pelican Bay Resort, Sep, 2005,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Dive Adventures/Pelican Bay Resort in
St. Maarten/Simpson Bay