Petite Clef Snorkeling Guide [Rated + Reviewed]

by Nichole | Last updated Jan 7, 2025 | St. Martin, Best Snorkeling Caribbean

If you love snorkeling, the best places to go in the Caribbean are St. John and Bonaire. But if you are going to St. Martin and love to snorkel, popping over to Petite Clef to snorkel and swim is worth the adventure. Let’s chat about how to get there, where to snorkel, and what cool fish you might see.

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Table of Contents

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St. Martin Snorkeling Rating System

My husband and I are always exploring new places, searching for unique snorkeling destinations. I rate all the sites we snorkel.

Please see the rating key below.

OVERALL SNORKEL RATING KEY

🤿 🤿 🤿 🤿 🤿 = World-class snorkeling and worth traveling just for the snorkeling alone!

🤿 🤿 🤿 🤿 = Incredible snorkeling and should be on your list of top things to do!

🤿 🤿 🤿 = Decent snorkeling and worth the effort!

🤿 🤿 = Worth consideration if you are running out of things to do!

🤿 = Not worth it!

If you want to discover all my 3 FAVORITE St. Martin snorkeling sites in ONE comprehensive list, click on the link below!

St. Martin Snorkeling Guide

Petite Clef Snorkeling

The beach at Petite Clef in St. Martin

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Rating: 🤿 🤿

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How to Get There

Kayaking to Petite Clef in St. Martin

Petite Clef is the island located right before Pinel Island.

You can get there by kayak or paddleboard.

Our accommodation, Karibuni Boutique Hotel, provided us with FREE kayaks to use for our stay.

See our full review of this amazing hotel!

You can also rent kayaks or paddleboards from Caribbean Paddling.

In less than 10 minutes, we reached the soft sandy beach. We dragged our kayaks to shore, secured our belongings, and then hopped in the water with our snorkeling gear.

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Snorkeling Map

A snorkeling map of Petite Clef in St. Martin

We snorkeled clockwise around the island.

It’s calm on the western side, but the waves really pick up on the eastern side. Snorkel that side with caution.

I wear a snorkeling vest in case I tire out.

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Entry

Entry is super easy.

No rocks or sea urchins. The sandy bottom makes entering and exiting a breeze.

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St. Martin Fish Sightings

Don’t get too excited. There is not a lot of marine life to see.

But we did some blue tang here and there.

Blue tang at Petite Clef

What amazed me though was the quality of the soft and hard coral on the backside of the island.

We saw some beautiful sea fans waving around in the sea current.

Coral and sea fans at Petite Clef

Final Thoughts

I highly recommend a day trip to Petite Clef to kayak and snorkel. Although the snorkeling was not spectacular, it was still fun to be out in the water.

Stay at the lovely Karibuni Boutique Hotel and use their free kayaks.

If you still have the energy, kayak a little further to snorkel at Pinel Island and enjoy these other fun outdoor activities.

I’m Nichole, the author of all the blog posts on Enriching Pursuits. Think of me as your geeky discerning travel friend who dives deep (Google Page 20, forums, travel groups deep!) to uncover the best ways to enjoy exceptional outdoor adventures and foodie experiences.

My husband and I are experienced snorkelers, day hikers, and casual cyclists who also love delicious street food, an incredible glass of wine, and the occasional Michelin-starred meal.

Balancing full-time careers, we cherish every second of our vacation days and love sharing tips to help you do the same. If this sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe below or drop me a note with any questions. I’d love to hear from you!