Join us this summer in one of the Caribbean’s best keep secrets! Statia is the perfect escape for divers and non-divers alike. Explore beautiful underwater sites sculpted by the island’s volcanic history, teeming with marine life. Discover the country's unique past (shipwrecks, anyone?) and hike up the island's volcano. Relax and fall into the rhythm of island life. The charm of this idyllic island and its friendly people will make this one trip you won’t forget! 

Statia

Discover this secret gem of the Dutch West Indies. Tucked away between St Martin and St Kitts lies the tiny island of St. Eustatias, fondly known as “Statia” for short. Fantastic diving on pristine reefs awaits! With little exposure to humans in comparison to many other islands in the Caribbean, animal encounters are special and underwater photographers are often almost “posed for” it seems! An abundance of varied dive sites await you including soft corals, lava fingers, wreck diving, shark dives and more as well as a sting ray cleaning station, not to mention home of the infamous blue bead dive. 

Topside offers a quiet, unhurried way of life teeming with history and welcoming residents. Active travelers will enjoy a morning hike to the Quill – Holland’s second highest mountain! If you are looking for a different dive vacation to a destination that gets away from it all but delivers some of the Caribbean’s best diving, make Statia next on your dive bucket list!

The Diving

Minimum dive certification/experience:  Advanced Open Water Diver (can be completed on trip) and Enriched Air/Nitrox. 

The reefs surrounding St. Eustatius are flourishing in a protected marine park. Underwater you will experience what much of the Caribbean must have looked like many years ago. The eye-catching volcano “the Quill” dominates the island with its impressive crater and is responsible for the huge amount of lava flows and blocks under the surface. These old labyrinths of lava are now fully overgrown with coral and sponges. Combine these reefs with numerous of historical dive sites and more recent sunk wrecks and you got yourself a diver's paradise!

Other Activities

There’s plenty to keep you occupied top side as well.: snorkeling on local reefs, hiking the Quill Volcano and enjoying panoramic views of the entire island, touring the historic old fort or just relaxing by the pool.

Old Gin House

We'll be staying at the Old Gin House, a quaint historical waterfront hotel just steps away from the dive shop.  The hotel has a beautiful restored historical bar, ocean-side restaurant and terrace, plus a pool with towel service in the garden. 

Travel

You should plan to fly into St Eustarius (EUX) via Sint Maarten (SXM) on Saturday, July 17.  For the return, plan to depart EUX early in the morning on Saturday, July 24 to ensure your bags make it to SXM before your flight home. (The flights on WinAir are tiny and your bags may or may not get on your flight. However there are many flights throughout the day so they should make it on the next one.)

You may find it easier to book your flight to Sint Maarten separately from your flight to St Eustatius (on Winair). It may also be easier to fly to Sint Maarten on Friday and stay overnight so you can get on an earlier flight to EUX. Please email or call the shop before booking your flights! 

Upon cancellation of a reservation for any reason, the refund of the deposit and payments made or due will be contingent upon Blue Planet reselling the participant's reservation. Any refund may also be subject to a $200 cancellation fee and payment of any non-refundable fees imposed by the tour company, dive operator or any other contractor associated with the trip. 

Dive accident insurance is required for all divers on this trip. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your vacation investment. Contact us if you need more information.