Dive tourism is our island's main business and we think you will like the way we go about it. The safety of our divers is our first concern, along with the preservation of our pristine reefs and the marine life teeming on them. No matter what your certification level is, we can adapt to your needs and will offer dive sites from 25 to 130 feet. Most visitors are impressed by the diversity of dives you can make and are very pleased with the short boat rides. Whether your interest is in walls, reefs, old ship wrecks or new, we've got something for you. As for marine life, Statia offers a full compliment of Caribbean reef fish and coral, but the creatures that always have everyone talking are the large numbers of sea turtles, sting rays, and the rare flying gurnard. The diving conditions are very comfortable with water temperatures varying from 78 - 82 Fahrenheit or 26 - 28 Celsius. Visibility is commonly 80 to 120 feet or 25 to 37 meters and sea conditions are generally calm to slight chop and most surface intervals are taken back on shore.

Fast Facts on Statia:

LOCATION - Statia is located in the Northeastern Caribbean. Total area is approximately 11.8 square miles. It's highest point is "The Quill," an extinct volcano soaring 2,000 feet.

LANGUAGE - Statians speak several languages, including English, Dutch and Spanish. Dutch is the official language, however English is spoken everywhere.

CURRENCY - The local currency is the Netherlands Antilles Guilder. The exchange rate is approximately ANG 1.78 for US$ 1.00. US Dollars however are accepted everywhere and cash is the preferred mode of payment. Travelers Checks and major credit cards are accepted at some establishments. Local banks will also exchange other foreign currency. An ATM is now available at the Windward Islands Bank.

CUISINE - Statia has a wide choice of restaurants including American, Dutch, German, Chinese and Local cuisine. Prices range from $5.00 to $10.00 US Dollars for lunch and $10.00 to $25.00 US Dollars for dinner.

It's all about you. From the minute you arrive from the Airport you will feel at home. The Gin House is a luxury Inn within an informal setting in which you decide what and when to do. The staff is there to assist you and arrange excursions or make that perfect Pina Colada for when you're relaxing at our fresh water pool or ocean front Patio. The Lobby features comfortable chairs and is an elegant place to relax, have a drink or read a favorite book out of the midday sun. Around the Pool we have teak furniture and hammocks to relax and work on your tan.

The Restaurant is unique by itself. The Chef originates from Belgium where the Culinary art is influenced by the French and of course their own traditions. He has received many awards during his extensive career and has carried a Michelin Star while running his own restaurant in Belgium. He creates a balance between Traditional and West Indian Cuisine and uses a lot of local products.
A great lobster fan himself, he is delighted with the supply and quality he is able to get on an almost daily basis. Every evening a 4 or 6 course dinner is served at the Poolside restaurant along with a selection of a la carte dishes. The wines are carefully selected from throughout the world and form a well appointed list.

 Lunch is served at the seaside patio and comprises of light dishes or more distinctive ones in order to suit your appetite per day. The Chef welcomes any suggestions from your side as what you would like him to prepare for you. Preferably in the morning you can exchange ideas about a particular dish you like for dinner or the use of certain ingredients.
Breakfast is included in the room rate and consist of a selection of home made bread, toast, Belgian raisin rolls, assorted jams, cold cuts, cheeses, eggs, bacon sausages, fresh fruit, cereals, a variety of teas, coffee and of course we invite you to let us know if there is anything special you like us to prepare.

In the old days, sipping cocktails was a favorite past time before dinner. A tradition we like to embrace as it gives us time to unwind for a evening filled with culinary pleasures." The Bar is in one word… Magnificent. Not so much for what it serves as well the building in which it's housed. The walls are more than 250 years old and build with red bricks that where brought in as ballast on Tall Ships from Holland. On the upper part you will find our ever-growing library and comfortable leather chairs.

Overlooking the water the veranda is a perfect spot to watch the sunset and perhaps see the mysterious green flash that the Islanders will tell you about it, if the sun is about to touch the horizon. Discuss the day with new acquainted friends or read one of the Historical books that will give you more insight in the history of Statia. The Bar itself is stocked with name brand liquor, international beers and many more. Frozen Pina Coladas and Daiquiris are house specialties that should no be missed but also a chilled martini or T-punch are part of the selection. There is also the possibility that you create your own favorite cocktail by stepping in and become a bartender for a minute after which, of course, you will be served with elegance!

Fourteen Garden View rooms have a view on the Pool and are styled with 17 Century robust furniture that represent colonial times. Of course equipped with modern day amenities such as cable TV, direct dial phones and bathrooms with large walk in showers. All rooms offer the choice of Air-conditioning or a ceiling fan and tropical breeze to comfort you while dreaming of all the beautiful things you encounter in life.

Two Ocean view rooms are available for those enjoying being nearest to the water. From the balcony you can literally see the fish swimming in the waters. These rooms are housed in a renovated building and feature the same amenities as the Garden View rooms.

Two One bedroom suites offer superb Caribbean luxury. Located at the waterfront these suites are extensively decorated with fine furniture and feature a separate living room, bedroom, large bathroom with bath and separate walk in shower, study, large balcony, fridge, air-conditioning, cable TV, DVD and direct dial cordless phones.

DIVE SITES

North Point - set at the base of a steep volcanic hill, where giant boulders have rolled down cliffs for centuries, creating a dynamic underwater environment full of "nooks and crannies"

Briefing: 40' to a sandy bottom, sloping to a maximum depth of 70', working our way along the deeper part of the reef for the first half of the dive, then stage up to a shallower depth of 35' extending bottom time while returning to the boat over the tops of the boulders.

Dooby's Crack - a large circular volcanic buttress that is isolated in a sandy area making it an oasis for large and abundant marine life especially great for sharks and sea turtles.

Briefing: descending down the mooring line we will move directly to the deepest point of the reef where the maximum depth is 100', in this area we'll have several ledges and the main "crack" to our right then ascend to a depth of 70' covering the entire reef.

S.T.E.N.A.P.A. Reef - one of the largest artificial reef sites in this region built by the St Eustatius national parks association, made up of many individual pieces of wreckage that have been submerged for various periods of time, allowing us to see the progression of coral and sponge growth. One of the barges has several entrances to allow for light penetration diving. A favorite site of our many large southern stingrays and visiting divers!

Briefing: located in a protected area making for good surface conditions . Starting at the base of the mooring which is attached to the main barge, we will begin by touring the tug boats and island freighter reaching a maximum depth of 68' checking the scattered debris for interesting marine life. Finally returning to the main barge with time left to enter for a quick look around.

Double Wreck - this historical wreck sank approximately 300 years ago. Consisting mostly of ballast stones fused together in the shape of the ship with old pottery shards, pieces of hand blown bottles and a beautiful old anchor. But the real treasure at this wreck is abundant marine life every inch of it is teeming with cleaning stations, octopus, eels, squirrelfish and a large school of french grunts.

Briefing: located in a protected area making for normally good surface conditions. At the bottom we will have a maximum depth of 60 ft. We start by touring the entire site and then spending the remainding time freely investigating the many sections individually which always make for an interesting surface interval.

Bluehole - if you haven't heard about blue beads this is something special in statia. The beads were made in Europe out of blue glass and were used to reward slaves in the seventeenth century . Beads are the only artifacts visitors are allowed to keep. In a certain area of the harbor divers have found quite a few of them . This site is mostly a sandy bottom with occasional stones. Blue bead or not you will enjoy some different marine creatures than you would normally see on the reef like the peacock flounder or the amazing flying gurnard.

Briefing: this dive will be at depths between 50 & 60 ft. Keep one eye on the guide and one on the bottom and good luck.

Barracuda - this is a special place , truly a world class caribbean reef. A mini wall formed of volcanic rock over grown with healthy corals and sponges. The wall offers a lot of great hiding places for all types of animals including the occasional nurse shark. But we can't forget the reefs namesake there are normally several groups of them numbering from 5 to 20.

Briefing: down the mooring line we will cruse along the deeper half of the reef at a maximum depth of 70 ft. Returning on the top part of the reef at a depth 50 ft.

Hangover - no the name doesn't come from the way you might feel in the morning, but from the interesting stone structures that created the foundation of this reef. Also it has some of the best examples of corals and sponges to be found anywhere. This area is a favorite of french angels and local divers alike!

Briefing: the maximum depth at this site is 60 ft. However we will be spending most of our time at 40 to 50 ft. Which gives us great light so we can enjoy the brilliant colors of this reef.

Off The Wall - this dive site is a real pleasure for the more experienced diver. These coral buttresses were originally created thousands of years ago when lava flowed off the island. Over time the corals grew until they formed the canyons which pour off the wall today.

Briefing: this is a good site for a multi level dive. Going down though the canyons to the deepest part of the dive first where maximum depth is 130 ft. We will spend a few minutes along the wall then moving to the tops of the buttresses at a depth of 80 ft. And finally to 60 ft. For the remainding time. Common types of marine life in this area, black jacks, sharks, and many more!

Down South - a favorite of the more seasoned divers, this site is a corner stone of the wall with a sloping drop to the west and a more vertical drop to the south due to its position, it is a natural location for current feeders like the wrasse and chromis as well as ambush predators like the barracuda and reef shark.

Briefing: another good place for a multi level dive. Starting down the western slope and following it to the corner taking a left at this point we should be at our deepest depth maximum 130 ft. Then starting up the southern wall passing through a forest of black gargonias to 80 ft. Where we cross over the top of the corner stone, then on to 60 ft.