Little Bay's diving centres on a dense cluster of reef, wreck, and artificial reef sites, most of them boat-access only within the Man of War Shoal Marine Park. Topography ranges from the maze-like swim-throughs of Mike's Maze and the cratered terrain of Moonscape to historic wreck sites such as HMS Proselyte and Carib Cargo. The fish life is consistent and varied: Caribbean Ocean Surgeonfish and Wrasses appear across almost every site, while Nurse Shark, Great Barracuda, and French Angelfish are regularly observed. Most sites suit beginners, with a handful of deeper options for intermediate divers.
Monthly water temperature across Little Bay's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water stays warm year-round, rising from its coolest in the early months to its peak around September and October. The best-months data points firmly toward December through May as the prime window, with June seeing a notable dip in conditions. Divers planning around calmer, clearer water will find the cooler dry-season months the most reliable.
6 more sites to explore
Water temperature around Little Bay ranges from about 27°C in January to 30°C in September, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
With water around 27–30°C, a rash guard or 3mm shorty works in Little Bay year-round.
Fin maps 18 sites in Little Bay (17 scuba diving sites and 5 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Across Little Bay's dive sites, February, March, April, May and December are most often reported as the best months to visit.
Observation-backed sightings cover a wide range of species. French Angelfish, Rock Beauty, and Foureye Butterfly Fish are among the most consistently encountered. Nurse Shark and Great Barracuda appear regularly, and Whiptail Stingray, Caribbean Spiny Lobster, and Indian Lionfish are also well documented across the sites.
The majority of sites in Little Bay are rated for beginners, including Charly Shoal, Coralita, Fish Bowl, Frenchmen's Reef, and Moonscape. Depths at these sites vary from very shallow to moderate, and conditions are generally mild. Intermediate divers will find additional challenge at sites such as HMS Proselyte, Isabella Reef, and Carib Cargo.
Almost all sites require a boat. Shore entries are limited to a small number of sites, including Simpson Bay's Wreck and Indigo Bay. With no listed operators currently in the area, divers should arrange access through operators based in the wider Sint Maarten area.
Little Bay offers several wreck sites with quite different characters. HMS Proselyte is a historic British frigate with a wide depth range, incorporating reef and wall sections. Carib Cargo and Lucy's Barge sit at moderate depths and have been heavily colonised by reef life. The Bridge combines wreck and artificial reef structure in a single dive.
