What is the best time to dive St. Martin's Island?

The best months to dive St. Martin's Island in Bangladesh are November, December, January, February, March. Water temperatures range from 24°C to 30°C during peak season.

How deep is St. Martin's Island?

St. Martin's Island reaches a maximum depth of 18 m, with visibility ranging from 5–15 m. At 18 m, the site is accessible to Open Water certified divers.

What marine life can you see at St. Martin's Island?

St. Martin's Island is known for encounters with olive ridley turtle, reef shark, stingray, clownfish, pufferfish. The site features reef, shore diving across 6 named sites, with a marine life score of 45/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is St. Martin's Island good for beginners?

St. Martin's Island suits divers with a Open Water certification. Currents are moderate and maximum depth is 18 m — comfortable for intermediate divers who have a few trips under their belt.

How much does it cost to dive St. Martin's Island?

A 2-tank dive at St. Martin's Island averages around $45 USD, placing it in the budget tier. Both boat and shore access are available, giving divers flexibility on budget.

St. Martin's Island Diving — Score: 49.8/100 | Conditions, Operators & Guide

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World Class

Intermediate

St. Martin's Island

BangladeshAsia-Pacific

49.8

SCORE

20.6273°N

92.3226°E

St. Martin's Island is Bangladesh's sole coral island, a tiny speck in the Bay of Bengal where snorkeling and basic diving are emerging. Infrastructure is minimal and visibility limited, but the island's frontier status and rock-bottom prices attract adventurous divers. Coral conservation efforts are underway.

Bangladesh's Only Coral Island

Visibility5–15 m

Temperature24–30°C

Max Depth18 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$45

Best MonthsNovember, December, January, February

CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

45.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine life diversity

45.0

Coral & reef health

38.0

Visibility & conditions

38.0

Dive site variety

35.0

Water temperature

85.0

Depth & access

38.0

Operator quality

45.0

Topside experience

55.0

Getting there

30.0

Value & cost

88.0

Crowding

72.0

Social proof

28.0

Key species

olive ridley turtle reef shark stingray clownfish pufferfish

Dive types

reefshore

Traveling with non-divers?

Great news for traveling couples and families — this is a budget-friendly destination with plenty of affordable topside activities to keep non-divers happy while you explore below the surface.

Activities for non-divers

Chera Dwip rocky islet walksunset watchinglocal fish marketcoconut grove walks

Nearby cultural sites

Local fishing village

Non-diver score

6/10

Good topside options for non-diving companions.

Family FriendlyNot recommended

Restaurants & Nightlifenone

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

Learn more at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber400 km — Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka

Nearest Hospital80 km

Very limited medical on island; boat to Teknaf then road to Cox's Bazar hospital; no local chamber

Skill LevelIntermediate

Current Strengthmoderate

Top operators

Ocean Paradise Dive

PADI

18 reviews

Compare this dive site

St. Martin's Island in Bangladesh scores 49.8/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for reef diving with 5–15m visibility and 24–30°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$45 USD. Peak season: November, December, January.

Last updated: 2026-05-25

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Budget-conscious divers — avg $45/dive
+ Anyone visiting Asia-Pacific for the first time
+ Groups seeking 6+ named dive sites in one area

Skip if

− You prefer uncrowded sites and this has 6+ named spots drawing traffic
− You need shore access — this is boat-only

Verdict

Choose St. Martin's Island over similar Asia-Pacific destinations when value cost matters more than social proof

How St. Martin's Island compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
St. Martin's Island	49.8	5–15m	$45	reef, shore
Milne Bay	69.1	10–30m	$160	reef, muck
Okinawa	68.5	15–40m	$80	reef, pelagic
Atauro Island	67.8	15–35m	$80	reef, wall
Lakshadweep	67.0	15–35m	$70	reef, wall

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

25+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Open Water

“Accessible to most certified divers with basic open water skills.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Nearest hyperbaric chamber is ~400 km away. Evacuation is slow. Dive conservative profiles and get DAN insurance before you fly.
→Variable visibility
→Navigation in low viz

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 6°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	10–15	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Feb	10–15	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Mar	10–15	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Apr	10–15	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active
May	10–15	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active
Jun	5–10	29	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active
Jul	5–10	29	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, manta season
Aug	5–10	29	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, manta season
Sep	5–10	29	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active, manta season
Oct	5–10	29	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	reef fish active
Nov	10–15	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active
Dec	10–15	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	reef fish active

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects46

Wide angle37

Viz stability32

Hover friendliness70

Natural light32

Recommended kit

→General reef kit — mid-range wide or a 60mm macro depending on the specific site

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Dive planning
foundational
Variable conditions teach you to adapt on the fly.
Buddy awareness
foundational
New environments sharpen your team diving skills.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$1,700–$2,400

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $1,100–$1,300
Accommodation / day: $25–$50
Diving / day: $40–$50
Food / day: $10–$25
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Mid-range

$2,600–$3,750

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,550–$1,850
Accommodation / day: $60–$120
Diving / day: $50–$60
Food / day: $30–$60
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Splurge

$4,300–$6,600

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $2,250–$2,750
Accommodation / day: $150–$300
Diving / day: $60–$80
Food / day: $70–$140
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Budget decision guide

Choose Budget if you prioritize dive count over comfort — hostels and shore diving maximize bottom time per dollar. Choose Mid-range for the best balance of comfort and value — most divers land here. Choose Splurge for premium operators, private guides, and top-tier accommodation — worth it for special trips or non-diving partners.

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Reef Diving
See all top reef diving sites
47/100

St. Martin's Island Diving — Bangladesh

Score breakdown

Marine Life

Key species

Dive types

Traveling with non-divers?

Activities for non-divers

Nearby cultural sites

Non-diver score

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

Top operators

Ocean Paradise Dive

Who should dive here

Best for

Skip if

Verdict

How St. Martin's Island compares

What your dive shop won't tell you

When to dive it

Dive forecast

Photography brief

What this site will teach you

Dive planning

Buddy awareness

7-day trip, per person

Budget decision guide

Build a trip around it