Martinique Scuba Diving, Travel, Accommodations and Vacation Services

MARTINIQUE

Mount Pelee towers above the island of Martinique, in the West Indies. Since 1902, it is one of the most famous volcanos on Earth ; its eruption led to the destruction of the entire city of Saint-Pierre, with its 28,000 inhabitants.

Martinique is the largest of the the islands in the French West Indies at 425 square miles. The western coast offers most of the hotels and diving opportunities. Here you will find fasinating dive sites including cliffs and wrecks, with a profusion of marine life. Some of the more memorable sites include Ilet la Perle and the wrecks off St.Pierre in the north. On the southwest coast are Anses d'Arlets and Cap Salomon, while further south are Diamond Rock and Ste. Anne.

Climate 71 - 86F 22 - 30C Water Temp 79 -82F 26 - 27C Visibility Average 80 - 100 ft 24 - 30 m

Dive Services & Accommodations

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Quick Facts

General Information

Area: 1100 sq km (424.7 sq miles).

Population: 381,364 (1999).

Population Density: 346.8 per sq km.

Capital: Fort-de-France. Population: 100,080 (1990).

Geography: The French Overseas Department of Martinique, a volcanic and picturesque island, is the northernmost of the Windward Caribbean group. The island is noticeably more rocky than those of the Leeward group, with beaches (of fine black or white or peppered sand) surrounded by sugar, palm, banana and pineapple plantations. Christopher Columbus called it 'the most beautiful country in the world' and before he named it in honour of St Martin, it was called Madinina ('island of flowers') by the native population.

Government: Martinique is an Overseas Department of France and as such is an integral part of the French Republic. Head of State: President Jacques Chirac since 1995, represented locally by Prefect Dominique Bellion since 1998. Head of Government: Claude Lise, President of the General Council since 1992.

Language: The official language is French; a Creole patois is widely used.

Religion: The majority of the population is Roman Catholic.

Time: GMT - 4.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications:

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 596. Outgoing international code: 19. There are both payphones and card phones on the island. Télécartes (phonecards) are sold at post offices, newsagents and kiosks. There are only card phones at the airport.

Fax: Available in most hotels.

Mobile telephone: GSM 1800/900 networks in use. Roaming agreements in operation. Network providers include France Telecom and Améris. Coverage extends throughout the French Antilles and in French Guiana.

Internet/E-mail: Local ISPs include Wanadoo (website: www.wanadoo.fr) and Antilles-net (website: www.antilles-net.com).

Postal: Post offices are open Mon-Fri 0700-1800, and Saturday mornings.

Press: Newspapers are in French and vary in their political bias. The main daillies are France Antilles, Antilla, Aujourd'hui Dimanche and Carib Hedo.

Travel

AIR: Martinique's national airline is CTA Air Martinique. Other airlines serving Martinique include Air France, Air Guadeloupe, Air Liberté, AOM, Nouvelles Frontières and LIAT.

Approximate flight times: From Martinique to Los Angeles is 9 hours; to New York is 6 hours, to Singapore is 25 hours, to London is 12 hours (including an average stopover time of 1 hour in Paris).

International airport: Fort-de-France (FDF) (Lamentin) is 11km (7 miles) from the city. Airport facilities include restaurants, banks/bureaux de change, shops, tourist information and car hire.

Departure tax: None.

SEA: The main port is at Fort-de-France. The Pointe Simon cruise dock, nearer the city centre, accommodates larger cruise ships. Regular high-speed catarmaran services run to Guadeloupe, St Lucia and Dominica. For more information contact either Express des Iles (tel: 631 211; fax: 633 447) or Brudey Frères (tel: 700 850; fax: 705 375). Other ships sail from Miami and San Juan (Puerto Rico). Martinique is a point of call for the following international cruise lines: Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Cunard, Sun Line and Princess Cruises.

Entry

	Passport	Visa	Return Ticket Required
Australian	Yes	No	No
British	Yes	No	No
Canadian	Yes	No	No
Japanese	Yes	No	No
Other EU	Yes	No	No/1
USA	Yes	No	No

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond length of stay required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except the following for a period of up to 3 months;
(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Korea (Rep. of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela;
(c) nationals of the following, provided their passport states 'holder has right of abode in the UK': Cayman Islands, Montserrat, St Helena, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Validity: Short-stay visas are valid for 6 months from date of issue. Transit visas are valid for single or multiple entries of maximum 5 days per entry, including the day of arrival.

Additional Visa Information:
http://www.france-consulat.org

Misc. Info.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: French customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from French West Indies of items such as firearms, medications, animals, etc. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of France or a French consulate for specific information regarding customs requirements.

CRIME: Petty street crime occurs throughout the French West Indies, but has increased in St. Martin. Valuables left on beaches or locked in rental cars are subject to theft.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical care is available throughout the French West Indies. Martinique has the best medical care in the Eastern Caribbean, with 13 hospitals. Guadeloupe also has good medical care. Not all doctors speak or understand English.

MEDICAL INSURANCE: U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties.

Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation, and for adequacy of coverage. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the U.S. can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the U.S. The information below concerning the French West Indies is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Safety of Public Transportation: Fair
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor to Fair

The roads in the French West Indies are the best in the Eastern Caribbean. Both Martinique and Guadeloupe have some six-lane highways. Roads are well paved and well maintained. Traffic safety is enforced by the police. Night driving can be dangerous, especially in the mountains and on winding rural roads. Public transportation in the form of taxis and vans is relatively safe.

For specific information concerning French West Indies driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the French National Tourist Organization office.