St. Eustatius Wrecks & Blue Beads

It is hard to imagine that this small, sleepy, historic island in the Dutch Caribbean was once one of the busiest of the 18th century. Saint Eustatius (Statia), known as 'the Golden Rock', boasts some of the western hemispheres best diving. Thrilling deep dives, historical, and modern, shipwrecks, artefacts, a breathtaking natural coral reef and coral encrusted lava flows offer you endless possibilities. Statia offers a full complement of Caribbean reef fish and coral, but the creatures that always have everyone talking are the large numbers of turtles, Sting Rays and the rare Flying Gurnard.

Statia has taken steps to protect its natural beauty by creating a national park in and around 'the Quill', a dormant volcano with a rainforest in its crater. It offers hiking trails with scenic views and wildlife to fill your non-diving time. In addition, an award winning underwater Marine Park has been established with over 30 moored and protected dive sites. No matter what your certification level, there are dive sites from seven to 40 metres only a short boat ride away, offering something for everyone. Diving conditions are comfortable and sea conditions are generally calm to slight chop, most surface intervals are taken back on shore. The real treasure is the abundant marine-life found on a reef system teeming with cleaning stations, octopus, eels, Squirrelfish and a large school of French Grunts, Black-bar Soldierfish, turtles, Sting Rays, Barracuda and Goatfish.

Something special to Statia is The Blue Bead Hole, a site in the harbour where divers have found a number of these beads. Made in Europe out of blue glass and used to reward slaves in the 17th century the beads are the only artefacts that visitors are allowed to keep. Even if you do not find beads, this sandy site attracts marine creatures not usually seen on reefs, such as the Peacock Flounder or the amazing Flying Gurnard.