Sea Excursions in St. Martin and St. Maarten

You can take day cruises to Prickly Pear Cay, off Anguilla, aboard the Lambada, or sunset and dinner cruises on the 65-foot sail catamaran Tango with Aqua Marina Adventures (599/544-2640 or 599/544-2631. www.stmaarten-activities.com). The 50-foot catamaran Bluebeard II (Simpson Bay. 599/577-5935. www.bluebeardcharters.com) sails around Anguilla's south and northwest coasts to Prickly Pear Cay, where there are excellent coral reefs for snorkeling and powdery white sands for sunning. For low-impact sunset and dinner cruises, try the catamaran Celine (Skip Jack's Restaurant, Simpson Bay. 599/545-3961 or 599/552-1535. www.sailstmaarten.com). The sleek 76-foot catamaran Golden Eagle (599/542-3323. www.sailingsxm.com) takes day-sailors to outlying islets and reefs for snorkeling and partying.

A cross between a submarine and a glass-bottom boat, the 34-passenger Seaworld Explorer (Bd. de Grand Case, Grand Case. 599/542-4078. www.atlantisadventures.com), a semi-submarine, crawls along the water's surface from Grand Case to Creole Rock; while submerged in a lower chamber, passengers view marine life and coral through large windows. Divers jump off the boat and feed the fish and eels.