SNUBA SXM
LOCATION
Are you ready to experience an amazing underwater adventure off the coast of Sint Maarten? Look no further than SNUBA SXM. If you haven’t been, Sint Maarten is simply a beautiful gem located in the picturesque Caribbean. One of the greatest aspects of Sint Maarten? No matter where you are on the island, you’re never far from pristine surf. If you’re looking for an official SNUBA SXM office, you won’t find it. To find SNUBA SXM, just look for the small gathering point in Bobby’s Marina – just a short walk from Cruise Ship Pier.
SNUBA SXM
WHAT IS SNUBA?
SNUBA® is the PERFECT blend of both snorkeling and SCUBA diving. With SNUBA®, you’ll enjoy the simplicity of snorkeling, but you’ll also enjoy the freedom of diving deeper and staying submerged longer – similar to SCUBA diving, only without any required certifications.
Similar to SCUBA, you’ll continue to breathe through a standard SCUBA regulator that receives air from an air supply; only you’ll be connected by a 20-foot airline to the air supply that has been placed on a specially designed SNUBA® raft that floats on the ocean’s surface following your every move.
By taking the heavy gear that enables you to breathe underwater and placing it on the surface, you’re able to freely explore the beauty of our underwater world at the depth most comfortable for you – from 2ft to 20ft. As SNUBA SXM likes to say, “You are as free as a fish”!
ALL ABOUT SNUBA SXM
SNUBA SXM is owned and operated by Regional Coordinator Michel (Mich) Wouterse and his wife, Kelly Wouterse. Mich and Kelly have been living on Sint Maarten since 2008, working not only as SNUBA Guides, but PADI Course Directors and IDC Staff Instructors as well. Together they have conducted thousands of dives throughout the years.
Michel (Mich) Wouterse
Michel (Mich) Wouterse has been living on Sint Maarten for over 11 years and has been conducting life-changing SNUBA programs for 10 of those years. Mich received his initial PADI Open Water Diver certification in 2000 and has been hooked ever since. In 2002, he completed his PADI Advanced, PADI Rescue, Medical First Aid and PADI DiveMaster certifications, followed by his PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certification shortly thereafter in 2003.
Once certified as an Instructor, Mich immediately started instructing new divers as a hobby and by the summer of 2003, Mich had completed five specialty ratings, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, certified about 35 divers, AND opened a dive shop. From there, Mich made Staff Instructor in 2004, Master Instructor in 2005 and PADI Course Director in March 2006. To date, Mich has taught over 1,800 diving programs from Discover Scuba to IDC Staff Instructor and Technical Diving not only in Sint Maarten, but in locations all over the world.
Despite all of Mich’s experience and training at the highest levels, he absolutely loves SNUBA.
“There is no better feeling than staring out with a person with some level of nervousness and turning this person into a confident diver. This feeling is the same whether I teach Dive Instructors who go up for their Instructor Exam, as well as SNUBA divers, who take their first breath under water”. – Michel Wouterse
Kelly Wouterse
Not only is Kelly an Administrator for SNUBA SXM, but she is also a PADI IDC Staff Instructor. Kelly did her NAUI Open water and Advanced equivalent during her college years at Old Dominion where she received her Master’s in Marine Biology. It’s no wonder the real motivation behind Kelly’s dives is so that she can retrieve samples of mud and water from the bottom of ponds and rivers.
In 2007, while running the Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center (WSORC) on the island of Utila, Kelly received her EFR, PADI Rescue Diver, PADI DiveMaster, PADI open Water Scuba Diver Instructor (OWSI), and Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) certifications. Kelly also became an IDC Staff Instructor in 2009.
Although Kelly has lead hundreds of SNUBA Dives and is still in the water occasionally as a SNUBA Guide, you’ll usually find her doing cruise ship pick-ups and chatting up our amazing SNUBA Guests.
The History of SNUBA.
The idea for SNUBA was conceived nearly 40 years ago by Michael Stafford, the original founder of SNUBA International, when he used an older surface ‘hookah’ system that enabled him to mine for gold underwater in the streams and lakes throughout Northern California. It was during one of those excursions that Michael was struck with the idea of a hookah style system that might be used recreationally as a way to allow people to explore underwater for a longer period of time.
After many months of working to test and perfect a lightweight, durable surface-supplied air delivery system, Michael secured the patents and trademarks for what is known today as SNUBA – the perfect hybrid that captures the essence of SCUBA diving with the ease of snorkeling.
Now under the direction of Lynn Ekstrom and Sandy Ullrich, former SNUBA Operators themselves, SNUBA has expanded worldwide and is offered as a recreational activity by licensed SNUBA Operators across the globe who have guided thousands of SNUBA tours and delighted millions of SNUBA Guests.
What makes SNUBA SXM unique?
The primary goal of SNUBA SXM is to provide a safe yet fun experience to those who would typically choose snorkeling, which is why we use the tagline GO BEYOND SNORKELING.
SNUBA is so much better than snorkeling in that it provides three dimensional underwater mobility that allows our guests to experience the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Sint Maarten in a way they’ve never experienced it before. Our SNUBA Guests will be surrounded by vibrant coral reefs teeming with exotic fish, sea turtles, and stingrays.
Here are three more reasons why you should choose SNUBA:
Safety
- When you book a SNUBA tour with SNUBA SXM, your tour group never exceeds four SNUBA Guest. You’ll be connected to the SNUBA raft by a 20ft. air line, making it impossible to get separated from the group.
- As a result, you will NEVER come to the surface to find the tour boat has left you behind.
20ft Dive Max
- With SNUBA, you’ll never dive at a depth greater than 20ft/6m. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about decompression sickness (the bends) during the SNUBA tour, even if you come up a little too fast.
- As long as you just breath normally, you’ll be under water for nearly 30 minutes and can rest easy, allowing you to enjoy the amazing underwater world of Sint Maarten.
SNUBA Guides
- Prior to heading out, your SNUBA Guide will outfit each SNUBA participant with a lightweight harness from which the airline is attached. Each participant will also be provided with a mask and fins, and an adjustable weight belt.
- Although you’ll be able to freely explore underwater at your own pace, your SNUBA Guide will be with you every step of the way
The Overtaker
The main boat from which SNUBA SXM operates SNUBA tours is “The Overtaker”, a 34-foot former cruise ship rescue vessel that has been equipped with ladders, a SNUBA platform, side exits, fresh water rinse, music, and is fully shaded.
It’s an adorable little boat and the ideal spot to simply ‘hang out’ as SNUBA Guests wait their turn. With a powerful diesel engine, brand new cabling, and brand new steering, what’s not to love?
The Overtaker cruises at a speed of about 9 knots and complies with all U.S. Coastguard inspection standards.
BOOK YOUR UNFORGETTABLE SNUBA TOUR NOW