Top 5 spots for jet skiing in Saint-Martin

A wild cove framed by lush hills and washed by remarkably clear water, Anse Marcel is both our home base and a destination in its own right. The sheltered lagoon stays calm at any hour, making it the perfect place to find your bearings before heading further out.

For those who want to stay in a quiet bubble, a thirty-minute spin inside the bay is enough to soak in the scenery, with no rush and no crowds.

You can't talk about Saint-Martin without mentioning Maho Beach and its one-of-a-kind airshow: Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s skim the heads of beachgoers from just a few metres above, with a roar that drowns out the sea.

From a jet ski, you have the best possible view, at a safe distance from the runway. Our 2-hour tour times your visit with the day's arrivals — the perspective from the water is in a different league from the beach view.

The largest lagoon in the Caribbean, Simpson Bay is a vast and surprisingly calm playground. You move between luxury yachts, mangroves and sandbanks, sheltered from the ocean swell.

This is the highlight of the 2-hour tour: you literally glide across a mirror, with the perched villas of the Dutch coast as a backdrop. In the morning, you sometimes spot turtles and rays in the shallows.

On the French side, the route to Marigot follows an untouched rocky coastline, dotted with turquoise coves. Marigot — a lively, colourful capital — marks the turning point of our 1-hour tour: an ideal photo stop before slowly heading back via the northern beaches.

Along the way, we can stop for a swim in small hidden coves that few tourists ever discover.

Between the famous names lie half a dozen coves known only to locals. Small stretches of white sand, crystal-clear water, the shade of coconut palms: we stop there to take a dip far from everything.

These are our gems, and we share them with those who ride with us. The choice depends on the day's wind and weather, but there's always at least one worth the detour.

Set off early to enjoy a flatter sea and softer, golden light. Bring a waterproof phone or a GoPro to capture Maho Beach — that perspective from the water can't be found anywhere else.

Above all, listen to your guide: they know every cove and adjust the route to the weather, the crowds and your wishes. A jet ski tour in Saint-Martin is never the same twice — that's what makes it special.