Captain Flint Boat Charters
Small-group power boat trips to Creole Rock, Tintamarre, and Anguilla from Cole Bay
Why Go
A single sleek Mako 253 cruiser, a crew that knows every reef pass between the Dutch and French sides, and a passenger cap that keeps the deck feeling like a friends' day out rather than a floating cattle call.
The Experience
Captain Flint runs out of a low-key dock on Welfare Road in Cole Bay, right in the boatyard belt between Simpson Bay Lagoon and the Cole Bay hills, so you skip the cruise-crowd bustle of Philipsburg entirely. The signature 3 Island Snorkeling Delight loops from the Dutch coast around to the French side, hitting Creole Rock off Grand Case and quiet coves that bigger catamarans can't tuck into. There's an open bar of Presidente, rum punch, and sodas from the moment you push off, snorkeling gear and floats laid out, and a crew that actually gets in the water with you to point out turtles, parrotfish, and the odd stingray. Half-day getaways cover the same feel in a compressed window (good if you're on a tight cruise clock and still want off the beach), while the Anguilla Beach Hopping day (walk-in guests only, no cruise passengers because of immigration) crosses to Shoal Bay or Prickly Pear with a Caribbean BBQ lunch. Private charters are where regulars really lean in, plotting their own mix of Tintamarre, Pinel, or a sunset lap of the lagoon.
What to Try
Book the 3 Island Snorkeling Delight if it's your first trip out and you want the full Dutch-and-French geography lesson from the water. Repeat visitors and small groups should push for the private charter and ask specifically for Tintamarre (uninhabited, mud-bath beach on the French side) plus a Creole Rock snorkel stop; it's the itinerary the captain runs on his own days off. If Anguilla is on your bucket list, this is one of the easier ways to do it as a day trip without dealing with the public ferry at Marigot.
Insider Tip
Small group means small group here: with a 24-person cap on the shared tours, weekends and cruise-heavy days book out a week or two in advance, and there's no second boat to overflow onto. If you're in an all-inclusive resort or Airbnb villa in Terres Basses, Simpson Bay, or even Maho, ask Anita about a Cole Bay pickup when you reserve rather than making your own way to Welfare Road; the dock is easy to miss the first time and taxis from the French side can be pricey. Also, cash the $6 per person Marine Park fee is separate from the tour price and easy to forget when you're budgeting.
The Practical Stuff
Address: 62 Welfare Rd, Cole Bay, Sint Maarten (Dutch side, just north of Simpson Bay Lagoon). Phone: +1 721 526 8011 or +590 690 220 572 (French-side mobile). Email: anita@captainflintsxm.com. Shared tours run roughly $129 per adult and $119 for kids 2 to 6 on the snorkeling trip, plus the $6 Marine Park fee; Anguilla and private charters are priced on request. Included: snorkel gear, flotation, open bar (beer, rum punch, soda), snacks, and lunch on the Anguilla day. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a towel, a hat, and cash in USD for tips. Anguilla trips require a passport and are not open to cruise-ship passengers. Departures are morning-focused; confirm exact time when you book, as it shifts with weather and group size.
Pair It With
- Grand Case — After a morning snorkel at Creole Rock just offshore, drive up to the French-side culinary capital for a lolo lunch of grilled ribs and johnnycakes or a proper bistro dinner on Boulevard de Grand Case.
- Karakter Beach Bar (Simpson Bay) — Ten minutes from the Cole Bay dock, this beachfront spot is the natural post-tour landing for a sunset cocktail and dinner with your feet in the sand.
- Maho Beach Guide — If your boat day ends early, head 15 minutes down the coast to watch the jets skim the sand at Sunset Bar & Grill, a classic Dutch-side pairing with a day on the water.
- Marigot Market Guide — On days you're not chartering, cross to the French-side capital for spices, pareos, and a stroll around Fort Louis, capturing the other half of the island Captain Flint shows you from the sea.
