Hello all! I will be married in October and we have planned our Honeymoon in St. Maarten. We are staying at the Pelican Resort and were curious as to what it cost for various activities! (I.E. snorkeling, scuba diving, eating.) If anyone could please provide information regarding costs it would greatly be appreciated!

Chris, Congratulations on the big day! Hope you guys have a wonderful wedding, honeymoon and life together. Hope you're able to return to SXM many times to celebrate anniversaries. Try this site for activities and discounts. We are headed down right after Christmas. We stayed at the Pelican last year.

[www.caribbean-activities.com]

Scuba diving is around $40-$50 a dive, I think. You can take a day trip for snorkeling for maybe $75 a person or thereabouts. It's been a few years since I've done that. Of course, you can rent snorkel gear for several dollars a day or bring your own and do your own thing!

You have a wide range of prices for dining. At Pelican you will be walking distance from a number of moderately priced restaurants along with Burger King and McDonald's.

Pick up the brochures at the airport and any you find at the resort. Along with the ads there may be coupons.

Snorkeling is what we do everyday while in St. Maarten. You'll want to rent a car a see the island anyway. We always use Michael for our rental car. [www.unitycars.com]. While out and about try these snorkel spots:

Friars Bay – this is always our first snorkel, water is calm and smooth. There is usually a wide variety of fish. You can snorkel to the right all the way to Happy Bay.

Bay Rouge – Our favorite place, this is where the cave is, snorkel around to the right from the beach. Usually excellent conditions with lotza fish.

Long Bay – Very, Very good with large fish. However, it is hard to get in and it is often very rough. Snorkel to the Left towards La Samana, there is a slight current you’ll be swimming into, then coming back is a breeze. If you catch it when conditions are right, you’ll love it. There are no services on the beach so bring your own.

Divi – Quickly becoming our new favorite. Snorkel to the left from the beach. Water gets very deep towards the point. Lots of bigger fish. Look for the Cannons on the bottom.

Creole Rock – You can “Ride the Rhinos” from Simpson bay to Grand Case. There is a snorkel stop at the rock.

Pinel Island – Is a nice ½ day trip – snorkeling is average – nice beach for hanging out.

Prickly Pear Island – Definitely a MUST. Take the Bluebeard trip. It’s an all day excursion and the snorkeling is excellent !!! Not to mention the wonderful boat ride

Az Guy, thanks for the great info! Do you recommend flippers for most of these areas? We have dragged our snorkeling gear along on two trips now and never used it yet! Wondering if I can get away with just the face gear.

Bring your fins! I was always been interested in a dive off the cabana at Bambo Bernies so I did it last year. About 30 or so ft deep, a wall, smooth sand bottom with an umberella, refidgerator motors, beer bottles and misc junk, oh and yes part of that cool electric palm tree that used to be at BBB's. If you are a golfer I brought up about 30 golf balls.
I did see the largest puffer fish I have ever seen in my life, A spotted moray, Flounder, and Ruby Lipped Bleni on the wall, Other than that its a boring snorkle. It was still fun.

For a fun time and nice meal visit Cheri's on the french side next to Casino Royale. The Greenhouse at the end of the boardwalk in Phillipsburg is very nice and priced around US dollars, the best day to go is on 2 for 1 Tuesdays. No free refills can of coke is $2 a piece everywhere on the island.

Just so any newbies don't get confused, Cheri's is not on the French side but rather in the Maho area. It is next to Casino Royale which is on the Dutch side. There are places on the island to get a can of soda for less than $2.00 too.