Martinique

Yes. The south and south west coasts around Anses d'Arlet, Cap Salomon and Sainte-Luce have many sheltered reef sites with sandy bottoms, gentle slopes and easy boat rides that work well for Discover Scuba, Open Water and refresher dives. Depths of 6 m to 18 m are common and marine life is rich without being intimidating. New divers should avoid deep wrecks at Saint-Pierre and only join Diamond Rock or La Perle trips once they have more experience and comfort in current and surge.

The most famous turtle spots are Anse Dufour and neighboring Anse Noire on the south west coast. These small coves have seagrass beds and rocky edges where green turtles graze and rest, often in just a few meters of water. Go early in the morning before boat traffic and crowds build, keep a respectful distance and never touch or block turtles as they surface. You can also see turtles on guided snorkel trips to Cap Salomon and Les Jardins de Salomon, especially on calm, sunny days.

Sea temperatures in Martinique stay warm, ranging from about 27°C in the coolest winter months to around 29°C in late summer and autumn. Most divers are comfortable in a 3 mm full suit year round, which provides warmth plus protection from sun and stings. If you get cold easily or plan many deep wreck dives, consider a 5 mm suit or a 3 mm with a hooded vest for January to March. Snorkelers often use a shorty or just a rashguard and boardshorts, but a thin suit is useful for longer turtle sessions.

A rental car is highly recommended unless you plan to stay entirely in a resort area like Pointe du Bout with on site diving. Public buses are limited and do not reliably reach small coves or early morning dive departures. With a car you can easily reach Anses d'Arlet, Sainte-Luce, Saint-Pierre and southern beaches like Les Salines, as well as swap bases mid trip. Choose a compact vehicle rather than a large SUV, because village streets and parking spaces near beaches are narrow and often busy.

Hurricane season in the eastern Caribbean officially runs from June through November, with peak activity typically in August, September and October. Many seasons pass with only distant storms and short periods of rough sea in Martinique, but some years see direct impacts or long swells that can shut down offshore sites for days. If you visit in this window, buy robust travel insurance, keep itineraries flexible, focus on sheltered south coast reefs and be prepared to skip diving during storm warnings. Divers with rigid, once in a lifetime schedules are usually better off planning for the dry season.

Yes. Martinique has French standard healthcare and a hospital based hyperbaric chamber at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Fort-de-France that serves the French West Indies. Emergency dispatch is via SAMU on 15 or the general European number 112, and maritime incidents are coordinated by CROSS Antilles-Guyane on VHF 16 or by dialing 196. Despite this relatively strong infrastructure, divers should still carry dedicated dive accident insurance and follow conservative profiles to minimize the chance of ever needing a chamber.

Absolutely. Non divers can spend mornings hiking Mount Pelee or the Caravelle Peninsula, browsing markets in Fort-de-France, touring rum distilleries like Habitation Clement or Depaz, or relaxing on beaches such as Les Salines and Anses d'Arlet. Many activities sit close to major dive hubs, so it is easy to drop divers at a boat and continue by car to viewpoints or villages. Shared evening meals in seaside restaurants and occasional snorkel trips let everyone reconnect between dive days.