- Open Water course
- €460
Updated July 2026
Good to know
Good to Know
- There are no liveaboard dive boats in Martinique — every site here, including the Diamond Rock and the Saint-Pierre wrecks, is dived as a day trip from a shore-based dive center's boat.
- Fort-de-France itself has no major dive center right in the city; expect to take a short ferry to Trois-Îlets/Pointe du Bout or drive south (Diamant, Anses d'Arlet, Sainte-Luce, Sainte-Anne) or north (Saint-Pierre) to reach an operator.
- The Saint-Pierre wrecks date from Mount Pelée's May 8, 1902 eruption and range from a 10m beginner-friendly barge (L'Amélie) to an 85m technical-only wreck (Le Tamaya), so ask your dive center which specific wrecks are on the day's plan.
- December–May is the best window for visibility and calm seas; June–November is wetter with a real hurricane-season risk (peaking Aug–Oct), and currents around Diamond Rock and Pearl Rock can be strong regardless of season.
- Reported wreck lengths and depths (e.g. the Roraima) vary somewhat between dive-club and tourism sources — treat exact figures as approximate.
- There isn't much of a dive shop scene right in central Fort-de-France itself — the nearest real operator is across in neighboring Schœlcher, and the bulk of Martinique's dive centers (and most of the course variety) are 20 minutes by ferry across the bay in Trois-Îlets, or 30-60+ minutes south (Le Marin, Sainte-Anne, Anses d'Arlet, Sainte-Luce) or north (Saint-Pierre).
- You'll see both PADI and the French FFESSM/ANMP certification systems offered side by side almost everywhere — worth deciding in advance which card you want, since a French Niveau 1/2 isn't identically structured to a PADI Open Water, though both are internationally recognized.
- December to May (dry season) is generally cited as the best visibility window for diving here, with calmer seas; summer brings more rain and current but also a chance of larger pelagic species.
- If freediving is a priority, look specifically for a dedicated apnea club (e.g. in Saint-Pierre) rather than assuming any scuba shop will offer it — most of the PADI-branded resorts here are scuba-only.
Dive Sites And Conditions
- Best Season General
- Optimal visibility and calmest seas run December to May (dry season); water stays warm year-round.
- Overall Access Model
- Diving around Fort-de-France is day-boat based, not shore-dive dominant and not liveaboard-dependent — there are no liveaboards operating in Martinique. Dive centers are clustered in Trois-Îlets/Pointe du Bout (a short ferry ride across the bay from Fort-de-France), Le Diamant, Les Anses-d'Arlet, Sainte-Luce and Sainte-Anne to the south, and around Saint-Pierre to the north. None are literally walk-in from Fort-de-France's city center, so a nomad based in Fort-de-France should expect a ferry/car transfer to a dive center's marina followed by a short boat ride (typically 5–45 minutes) out to the actual site.
Sites
Rocher Du Diamant (Diamond Rock)
- Type
- Volcanic rock wall with cave/tunnel system; drift-influenced
- Best Season
- December–May for calm seas; diveable year-round but currents can be strong
- Depth Range
- A sheltered cove (locally called 'la Piscine') sits around 5–14m for beginners/discovery dives, with the signature tunnel around 14–25m and drop-offs extending to roughly 60m for advanced divers
- Diver Level
- Beginner-friendly sheltered areas exist, but the main tunnel/fault and drop-offs are recommended for intermediate-to-advanced divers due to current
- Marine Life
- Gorgonians, sponges, corals, moray eels, triggerfish, jacks, barracuda, and in some spots resting nurse/sleeper sharks — one of the few Martinique sites where shark encounters are reported
- Area And Access
- South coast off Le Diamant; reached by day-boat (roughly 45 min navigation) from dive centers in Trois-Îlets, Le Diamant/Taupinière port, or Les Anses-d'Arlet.
Wrecks of Saint-Pierre Bay (Collective Site — Multiple Named Wrecks)
- Type
- Historic shipwreck field (steamers, schooners, barges, a former minesweeper)
- Best Season
- December–May preferred; conditions in the bay depend on weather
- Marine Life
- Wrecks are heavily colonized by coral, sponges, and filament algae, and shelter barracuda, moray eels, lobster, angelfish, and crabs
- Area And Access
- North coast off Saint-Pierre, roughly 45–60 minutes by car/an hour+ from Fort-de-France; dived by boat from Saint-Pierre-based centers, with transit to individual wrecks typically 5–20 minutes
- Context
- Roughly a dozen to fifteen wrecks lie in the bay from ships that burned and sank during Mount Pelée's catastrophic eruption on May 8, 1902
Le Roraima
- Type
- Wreck — steamer/cargo ship
- Best Season
- December–May
- Depth Range
- Roughly 50–60m (sources vary; some cite the stern near 56m and bow near 36m)
- Diver Level
- Advanced/technical — depth puts most of the wreck beyond standard recreational limits
- Marine Life
- Nicknamed the 'white-haired wreck' by Jacques Cousteau for its algae-covered rigging; gorgonians, trumpetfish, lizardfish, and barracuda are seen around it
- Area And Access
- Saint-Pierre Bay, boat-accessed
L'épave Du Nahoon
- Type
- Wreck — three-masted schooner, deliberately scuttled to create an artificial reef
- Best Season
- December–May
- Depth Range
- Around 36m, sitting on a 35–50m-long hull
- Diver Level
- Certified divers, minimum level 2 equivalent (roughly Open Water/Advanced with depth experience)
- Marine Life
- Barracuda, angelfish, crabs, lobster; mast and holds largely intact and heavily colonized
- Area And Access
- Off Saint-Pierre/Anse Dufour area, boat-accessed
Le Tamaya
- Type
- Wreck — deep-water sailing vessel
- Depth Range
- Around 85m
- Diver Level
- Technical/trimix divers only — nicknamed 'the Grail' of Saint-Pierre diving due to its depth and rarity of visits
- Area And Access
- Saint-Pierre Bay, boat-accessed
Le Biscaye (Also Called La Gabrielle)
- Type
- Wreck — three-masted schooner
- Depth Range
- Roughly 30–38m
- Area And Access
- Saint-Pierre Bay, ~200m off the town pontoon
Le Dahlia
- Type
- Wreck — former minesweeper that caught fire/exploded in the 1950s while being repurposed
- Depth Range
- Roughly 25–30m
- Marine Life
- Dense fauna and coral-covered structure around the hull
- Area And Access
- Saint-Pierre Bay, near Le Diamant and Le Raisinier wrecks
Le Diamant (Steam Shuttle Wreck)
- Type
- Wreck — small steam passenger vessel that once ran Fort-de-France–Saint-Pierre
- Depth Range
- Roughly 25–30m, lying capsized
- Marine Life
- Colorful reef fish over a volcanic sand bottom
- Area And Access
- Saint-Pierre Bay, near L'épave du Dahlia
Le Raisinier
- Type
- Wreck — overturned transport barge
- Depth Range
- Around 10m
- Diver Level
- Accessible to all levels including beginners
- Marine Life
- Shelters dense marine life underneath its overturned hull
- Area And Access
- Saint-Pierre Bay
L'Amélie
- Type
- Wreck — transport barge, sister ship of the tall ship Bélem
- Depth Range
- Under 10m
- Diver Level
- Beginner-friendly, long relaxed dive
- Marine Life
- Reclaimed by reef growth; juvenile cowfish and similar reef fish reported
- Area And Access
- Saint-Pierre Bay, on the Raisinier site area
La Théresa Lo Vigo
- Type
- Wreck — wooden sailboat, hull broken in several pieces
- Depth Range
- Around 35m
- Area And Access
- Saint-Pierre Bay
La Clémentina
- Type
- Wreck — copper-sheathed wooden sailboat keel section
- Depth Range
- Around 49m
- Diver Level
- Advanced due to depth
- Area And Access
- Saint-Pierre Bay, resting on the edge of the drop-off
Statue Manman Dlo
- Type
- Underwater art installation (sculpted mermaid) with a small cave
- Depth Range
- Around 9m
- Diver Level
- Snorkel-accessible; a small grotto behind the statue can be entered with a tank
- Area And Access
- Saint-Pierre, close to shore
Cap Salomon
- Type
- Reef made of large stacked boulders
- Best Season
- December–May
- Depth Range
- Around 20m
- Diver Level
- Calm water suited to novice divers
- Marine Life
- Stingrays, eagle/leopard rays, and a large resident colony of snapper
- Area And Access
- North of Grande Anse d'Arlet, boat-accessed from Anses d'Arlet dive centers
Anse Dufour / Anse Noire
- Type
- Shallow coastal reef, twin bays divided by a rocky bluff
- Best Season
- Year-round, calmest December–May
- Depth Range
- Shallow, largely under 10-15m
- Diver Level
- Beginner-friendly and popular for snorkeling too
- Marine Life
- Coral, sponges, starfish, tropical fish, and resident green sea turtles often seen grazing in seagrass
- Area And Access
- West coast between Trois-Îlets and Les Anses-d'Arlet; some shore access possible, also visited by day-boat
Les Trois Vallées
- Type
- Coral canyon/plateau site
- Depth Range
- Moderate, plateau-and-sand-channel terrain
- Marine Life
- Coral canyon walls rising above ribbons of white sand
- Area And Access
- South coast near Sainte-Luce/Le Diamant, boat-accessed
Grande Caye De Sainte-Luce
- Type
- Coral reef
- Depth Range
- A roughly 200m-long reef with a coral garden starting around 5m
- Diver Level
- Ideal for discovery/first dives (baptêmes)
- Area And Access
- Just east of Sainte-Luce town, easily boat-accessed
Rocher De La Perle (Pearl Rock)
- Type
- Volcanic islet wall/drop-off
- Depth Range
- 0–40m drop-offs
- Diver Level
- Intermediate/advanced due to current
- Marine Life
- Kingfish, marlin, barracuda, jacks, and reef fish; strong currents possible
- Area And Access
- Far north near Le Prêcheur, inside the Réserve Marine du Prêcheur — this is a genuine distance from Fort-de-France (well over an hour's drive north) and is normally dived from Saint-Pierre-area operators, not as a quick trip from the city
Rivière Claire
- Type
- Three rocky massifs
- Depth Range
- 8–35m
- Diver Level
- Suitable for all levels
- Marine Life
- Coral reef fish, chub, sergeant majors, sponges, and reported seahorse sightings
- Area And Access
- North Caribbean coast near Saint-Pierre, boat-accessed
Canyons De Babodi
- Type
- Lava-formed underwater canyons
- Marine Life
- Site is valued more for its lunar volcanic rock terrain than for large fish schools
- Area And Access
- North of Saint-Pierre, boat-accessed
Rocher Du Sous-marin
- Type
- Near-shore rock formation riddled with cavities
- Depth Range
- 0–20m
- Diver Level
- Beginner-friendly
- Marine Life
- Moray eels, lobster, surgeonfish, and turtles sheltering in the rock's cavities
- Area And Access
- North Caribbean coast, close to shore
Typical Course Costs
Priced per single introductory dive; not a certification.
PADI Scuba Diver / French Niveau 1 equivalent (~3 dives)
- PADI Scuba Diver / French Niveau 1 Equivalent (~3 Dives)
- €280
French Niveau 1 (5 dives, incl. logbook & e-learning)
- French Niveau 1 (5 Dives, Incl. Logbook & E Learning)
- €420
EUR
EUR
EUR
PADI Advanced Open Water (5 dives, all-inclusive)
- PADI Advanced Open Water (5 Dives, All Inclusive)
- €535
PA20 / Plongeur Autonome 20m (6 dives)
- PA20 / Plongeur Autonome 20m (6 Dives)
- €550
PADI Divemaster
Certifying Bodies And Levels
- Summary
- Martinique's dive scene (including the operator closest to Fort-de-France and the wider cluster reachable from it) runs on a dual system: PADI is offered essentially everywhere alongside the French national FFESSM/CMAS and ANMP certification tracks, which is normal for a French overseas département.
- Evidence
- One centre operating out of Le Marin explicitly advertises the dual pathway.
PADI Levels Commonly Offered
- Discover Scuba Diving (no certification needed)
- PADI Open Water Diver
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
- PADI Rescue Diver
- PADI specialty courses (e.g. Deep, Nitrox)
- PADI Divemaster
French System Levels Commonly Offered
- Niveau 1 (Plongeur encadré à 20m)
- PE40 / PE60 (Plongeur encadré à 40m/60m)
- PA20 / Niveau 2 (Plongeur autonome à 20m)
- Niveau 3/4 (autonomie et guide de palanquée), via FFESSM and ANMP
Operator Density
- Summary
- Diving is genuinely dense across greater Martinique — a compiled federation list plus PADI's own directory names well over twenty distinct clubs/dive shops island-wide, spread across the north (Saint-Pierre/Le Carbet), the center (Fort-de-France/Schœlcher/Le Lamentin/Trois-Îlets), and the south (Le Marin, Sainte-Anne, Sainte-Luce, Le Diamant, Les Anses-d'Arlet).
Named Examples
- Club de Plongée Batelière (Schœlcher, closest to Fort-de-France)
- CRESSMA (Le Lamentin)
- Odyssea Plongée (Schœlcher)
- Corail Club Caraïbes (Trois-Îlets)
- Aliotis Plongée (Trois-Îlets/Anse Mitan)
- Espace Plongée / Abaca Dive (Pointe du Bout, Trois-Îlets)
- Alpha Plongée (Grande Anse d'Arlet)
- Boucaniers Diving (Sainte-Anne)
- Marin Plongée / Paradis Plongée (Le Marin)
- Kariba Plongée (Sainte-Luce)
- UCPA Saint-Pierre, A Papa d'Lo, Exotikdive, DIAJ Plongée (Saint-Pierre/Le Carbet, north)
- Deep Turtle Plongée, Nautitan (Les Anses-d'Arlet)
Freediving Crossover
- Caveat
- The larger PADI-oriented operators found in the sources we checked (Alpha Plongée, Corail Club Caraïbes, Espace Plongée, Marin Plongée, Boucaniers Diving) advertise scuba/snorkeling but not structured freediving certification courses, so crossover should not be assumed at most shops — it's concentrated in a small number of specialist clubs.
- Summary
- Freediving (apnée) crossover exists but is niche rather than a standard add-on at the mainstream PADI scuba shops. It shows up mainly through dedicated apnea-focused clubs rather than the big PADI resorts.
- Genuine Crossover Found
- Yes
Examples
- Symbiose Apnée, a freediving-specific club based in Saint-Pierre
- Club Sportif Militaire, whose diving section is explicitly listed as 'Plongée – Apnée' (scuba and freediving combined)
Proximity Note
Fort-de-France itself has very few dedicated commercial dive shops right in the center. The closest genuine operator is Club de Plongée Batelière, based at the Hôtel La Batelière in Schœlcher, a town described as bordering Fort-de-France. The large majority of Martinique's dive operators are clustered 20 minutes (by ferry) to over an hour away, across the bay in Trois-Îlets/Anse Mitan/Pointe du Bout, or further south in Le Marin, Sainte-Anne, Sainte-Luce and Les Anses-d'Arlet, or north around Saint-Pierre — these are day-trip/across-the-bay distances rather than walkable from the Fort-de-France center, but they are where the bulk of the island's course offerings and boat-diving infrastructure actually sit.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.