Karibuni Restaurant at Pinel Island in St. Martin

Pinel Island Snorkeling Guide [Rated + Reviewed]

by Nichole | Last updated Mar 21, 2025 | St. Martin, Best Snorkeling Caribbean

St. Martin may not have the mind-blowing snorkeling its neighbor St. John is known for, but that doesn’t mean you should write it off entirely. There are still a few worthwhile spots to break out your snorkel gear, and Pinel Island is one of them. A visit here quickly became one of my favorite things to do in St. Martin.

From how to get there to where to snorkel (and which cool fish you might spot), I’ve got you covered.

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Table of Contents

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St. Martin Snorkeling Rating System

My husband and I love traveling, especially to places where we can snorkel and find the best spots. Then I rate and share them.

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 of my 3 FAVORITE St. Martin snorkeling sites in ONE comprehensive list, click the link below!

BEST St. Martin snorkel sites

Pinel Island Snorkeling

Northeastern beach on Pinel Island in St. Martin (where we snorkeled)

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Rating: 🤿 🤿 🤿

Hi, I’m Nichole—the discerning traveler, wine lover, and adventure seeker behind Enriching Pursuits.

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How to Get There

Pinel Island is located off the eastern shore of the French side of Saint Martin.

There are three ways to get to Pinel Island: ferry, boat, or kayak.

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01- Ferry

Donkeys hanging out by the ferry to Pinel Island in St. Martin

The fastest way to get there is by a 10-minute ferry ride, which runs daily starting at 9:30 am.

No reservations are needed. You might even be greeted by the resident donkeys.

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02- Boat

Private boat transfer to Pinel Island in St. Martin

The second option is by boat.

We stayed at probably one of the most amazing properties in Saint Martin, the Karibuni Boutique Hotel. One perk of staying at this hotel is they offer a FREE private boat transfer to Pinel Island.

You can get there BEFORE all the other people from the ferry arrive.

If you want to know more about this incredible hotel, don’t miss my full hotel review.

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03- Kayak

Kayaking near Pinel Island in St. Martin

The third option is by kayak.

You can rent kayaks from Caribbean Paddling. It will take you about 20 minutes to paddle over to Pinel Island.

If you are really feeling motivated, you could also kayak and snorkel around Petite Clef before heading over to Pinel Island.

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Snorkeling Map

A Snorkeling Map of Pinel Island St. Martin

If you are looking at a map of Pinel Island, we found the best snorkeling was on the northeastern beach.

Do not forget your snorkeling gear. My husband and I snorkel all over the world, so we bring our own mask and fins. Not having the right equipment can ruin your underwater experience.

Here are all my personal recommendations for the best gear I’ve tested out!

Hiking to our snorkel spot on Pinel Island in St. Martin

It requires a short hike.

If you are facing the Karibuni Restaurant from the water, walk to the left and up the small hill PAST the outdoor bathroom.

Hike along the well-marked trodden paths on the right towards the beach.

Hiking is just one of the many activities you can do on Pinel Island.

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Entry

Do not snorkel if the water is too choppy.

We entered the water at a sandy point, so entry was easy. There was a little wave action, but it was not hard to navigate. Use common sense.

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St. Martin Fish Sightings

My husband has an incredible eye for picking out marine life.

One of the large rocks had all these crevices. He pointed out several lobsters hiding in these holes. The giveaway was their antennae poking out alerting us of their presence.

Snorkeling with lobsters on Pinel Island

Other crustaceans we saw were shrimp.

I have eaten plenty of shrimp but have never seen them while snorkeling. That sighting was pretty cool.

You really have to look closely in the rock crevices to spot them.

Close up of shrimp while snorkeling at Pinel Island

I have seen more blue tang than I can count over the course of our snorkeling adventures.

Regardless, they are always beautiful to see especially when they congregate in large schools.

The largest school I ever saw was probably at Karpata in Bonaire.

Snorkeling with a school of blue tang at Pinel Island in St. Martin

Lastly, I saw a massive pufferfish. I love their oversized heads and little puppy dog eyes. They are quite shy.

Pufferfish at Pinel Island

Final Thoughts

We love Pinel Island!

It’s always part of our St. Martin itinerary.

We’ve been to St. Martin several times, and we always make sure to pop over for a visit.

I highly recommend staying at the Karibuni Boutique Hotel and taking advantage of their FREE private boat transfers and kayaks.

Enjoy a refreshing snorkel with some blue tang and then sip on a delicious Ti’ Punch with a Mahi burger at the Karibuni Restaurant on the island.

That is one perfect day.

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!