Luxury diving vacation at the Golden Rock Dive & Nature Resort
Discover one of the best-kept diving secrets of the Dutch Caribbean. Dive among healthy reefs, historic shipwrecks, and volcanic landscapes while staying at the luxurious Golden Rock Dive & Nature Resort.
Travel period
Features
Starting from
Diving on St. Eustatius: Discover the Hidden Caribbean Island
St. Eustatius, better known to locals as Statia, is one of the least-explored destinations in the Dutch Caribbean. This small volcanic island lies between St. Maarten and Saba and has a character all its own. No mass tourism or crowded beaches, just a relaxed atmosphere, stunning nature, and a rich history. In the 18th century, Statia was one of the most important trading ports in the Caribbean. Today, time seems to move a bit more slowly there, and everything revolves around tranquility, nature, and the preservation of its unique heritage, both above and below the water.
The waters surrounding the island are part of the St. Eustatius National Marine Park, one of the oldest protected marine parks in the Caribbean. Thanks to this protection, the coral reefs are among the healthiest in the region. You’ll find more than thirty official dive sites here, ranging from colorful reefs and volcanic rock formations to steep walls, pinnacles, and historic shipwrecks. The extinct volcano The Quill has shaped the underwater landscape with ancient lava flows and large basalt boulders that are now completely overgrown with hard corals, sponges, and sea fans. The result is a diverse underwater landscape where turtles, barracudas, rays, reef fish, and occasionally nurse sharks call home.
Statia also has a lot to offer above water. Climb the imposing Quill and descend into the lush crater, hike through the rugged Boven Nature Reserve, or explore the historic streets of Oranjestad. During this trip, you’ll stay at the comfortable Golden Rock Dive & Nature Resort and go on daily boat dives with Scubaqua to the island’s most beautiful dive sites. A destination where nature, history, and excellent diving come together in a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere.
Best time to go on a diving trip to St. Eustatius:
You can enjoy great diving in St. Eustatius almost all year round. The only month when you can’t dive is September, because of hurricane season.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for St. Eustatius
We recommend diving with a 3mm or 5mm here
What will you experience on this trip?
View itinerary here
Day 1 | The Trip to Statia
Today marks the start of the journey to St. Eustatius, Or, to put it more simply: Statia! To reach this island, you first fly to Sint Maarten. This flight takes about 9 hours. At the Sint Maarten airport, you’ll transfer to a small propeller plane. This flight takes only 20 minutes and is known as the shortest international scheduled flight in the world! An experience in itself.
As soon as you land at F.D. Roosevelt Airport in Statia, you’ll be treated to a stunning view of the lush volcanic island. Upon arrival, a shuttle will be waiting to take you to the comfortable Golden Rock Dive & Nature Resort, where your diving vacation can begin.
Days 2 through 8 | Diving at the island's most beautiful spots
Over the next few days, you’ll explore the underwater world of Sint Eustatius on boat dives to the most beautiful dive sites around the island. From the Golden Rock Dive & Nature Resort, a shuttle takes divers to the dive center in about ten minutes and back again at the end of the day—and you can, of course, use this service for free.
Every morning, you’ll go on two guided boat dives. St. Eustatius is known for its enormous variety of dive sites. You’ll dive past colorful coral reefs, steep walls, volcanic rock formations, and impressive pinnacles covered in sponges and soft corals. At dive sites such as Barracuda Reef, The Cliffs, and Hangover, you’ll regularly encounter schools of reef fish, barracudas, sea turtles, rays, and sometimes nurse sharks.
The island also has a lot to offer for wreck diving enthusiasts. Among others, the Charles L. Brown Wreck and the Chien Tong Wreck are popular dive sites where marine life has fully taken root. Most dives take place at depths between 16 and 22 meters and are conducted from a comfortable boat under the guidance of a professional guide.
The Blue Bead Dive is a unique experience. During this dive, you’ll search for small blue glass beads that have been lying on the seabed for more than four centuries. According to local history, these beads date back to the era of trading ships and remain one of Sint Eustatius’s greatest mysteries. Who knows—maybe you’ll find one.
Day 9 | Hike to the Quill, an extinct volcano
On your last day on Sint Eustatius, it’s worth exploring above water as well. The island is dominated by The Quill, an extinct volcano over 600 meters high that is considered one of the best-preserved volcanic craters in the world. Together with the northern nature reserve of Boven, The Quill has been a protected national park since 1998.
On a hike to the crater, you’ll pass through various vegetation zones. The higher you climb, the more lush the vegetation becomes, until you descend into the green crater, where a dense tropical forest has taken root. Here you’ll even find the tallest tree in the Netherlands.
There’s plenty to see along the way. Sint Eustatius is an important habitat for the rare Lesser Antillean iguana, which is found only on a few Caribbean islands. With a little luck, you might also spot large land crabs, hermit crabs, and the Red Belly Racer, a harmless snake found exclusively on St. Eustatius and Saba. Birdwatchers will also be in for a treat thanks to the many tropical bird species that live in the national park.
There are several hiking trails, ranging from easy to challenging. You can hike them on your own or with a local guide. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended for the hike to the crater.
Prefer a more relaxed way to spend the day? Then visit a local bee farm, discover the island’s rich history at the museum or on a historical island tour, or wrap up your stay with a relaxing yoga class.
Day 10 & 11 | Return home
Today you’ll say goodbye to the peaceful island of Sint Eustatius. Depending on your flight time, you may still have a chance to enjoy the view or the tropical atmosphere at the resort. You’ll then be taken to F.D. Roosevelt Airport for the short flight back to Sint Maarten.
After your layover in Sint Maarten, you’ll fly back to Europe. As you look out over the Caribbean Sea, you’ll have plenty of time to reflect on the colorful reefs, impressive shipwrecks, volcanic landscapes, and relaxed atmosphere of Sint Eustatius. The next day, you’ll arrive at the airport where your journey began, with a treasure trove of wonderful memories of a truly special diving destination.
Highlights of this trip
What can you expect from St. Eustatius?
Volcanic Dive Sites
One of the best-protected marine parks in the Caribbean surrounds St. Eustatius. You’ll dive past colorful coral gardens, steep volcanic walls, impressive pinnacles, and healthy sponge formations. Thanks to the limited amount of tourism, the reefs are exceptionally well-preserved. During your dives, you’ll regularly encounter sea turtles, barracudas, schools of reef fish, rays, and sometimes nurse sharks.
Shipwrecks Steeped in History
The waters around St. Eustatius are home to several historic shipwrecks that have now become an integral part of the underwater landscape. Wrecks such as the Charles L. Brown and the Chien Tong are overgrown with corals and sponges and provide a habitat for countless fish and other marine animals. In addition, every dive reveals something about the island’s maritime history, as it was once an important trading center in the Caribbean.
The Quill & Statia’s Nature
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort
The Golden Rock Dive & Nature Resort is a stylish 4-star resort on the outskirts of Oranjestad and serves as the perfect base for a diving vacation on Sint Eustatius. The resort is nestled in the middle of a tropical garden and features comfortable rooms, several swimming pools, a restaurant, a spa, and various sports facilities.
Every morning, you start the day with a hearty breakfast before taking the free shuttle to the dive school. After diving, you can relax by the pool, enjoy a massage at the spa, or explore the area on one of the free bicycles. There are also opportunities to play tennis, mini-golf, go hiking, or snorkel.
Thanks to its peaceful location, excellent service, and great facilities, the resort is ideal for both divers and non-diving travel companions. Whether you want to stay active or simply unwind, Golden Rock Dive & Nature Resort offers a comfortable and relaxing stay on one of the most unspoiled Caribbean islands.
Golden Rock Dive & Nature Resort offers a variety of room types.
The One Bedroom Cottage features a separate bedroom and a comfortable living room. Thanks to the extra living space, this is a great choice for those staying on Sint Eustatius for a while or who simply want more space.
The Deluxe Room is a spacious hotel room with a comfortable sitting area, a luxurious bathroom, and a balcony or terrace overlooking the tropical gardens, the pool, or the Atlantic Ocean.
For extra comfort, there’s the Golden Rock Suite. This spacious suite features a separate bedroom, a generous living room with a fully equipped kitchen, and an extra-large balcony. It’s ideal for guests who want to enjoy even more space and privacy during their stay.
All rooms are equipped with modern amenities, including air conditioning, Wi-Fi, coffee and tea-making facilities, and comfortable beds, so you can relax after a day full of diving adventures.
The diving school
The diving school and facilities
Scubaqua Dive Center
Scubaqua has been a household name on Sint Eustatius since 1997 and is known for its excellent service and small-group diving. The PADI 5-Star IDC dive center is located in a beautifully restored historic building on the waterfront in Oranjestad.
The dive center has two boats, rinse stations, showers, Wi-Fi, and a well-stocked shop where you can buy diving gear, accessories, and souvenirs. For those traveling without their own gear, well-maintained rental equipment from Aqua Lung and Cressi is available. Nitrox is also available free of charge to certified divers.
A detailed briefing is provided before each dive, and thanks to the short boat rides, you’ll reach the dive site quickly. There’s no set time limit for the dives; as long as you stay within your no-decompression limits and have enough air, you’ll have plenty of time to fully enjoy the underwater world.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package costs US$ 2.550 per person, based on two people sharing a Deluxe room. The trip can be extended as desired. A number of items are included as standard in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about the possibilities? Get in touch with us!
Included in this trip, from US$ 2.550 p.p.
- 9 nights in a 1 bedroom lodge
- Stay on a bed & breakfast basis
- Transfer from and to the airport
- Dive package consisting of 10 dives
- Daily transfer to the diving school
- VZR & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight from US$ 1.487 p.p.
- Departure Tax (payable locally) US$15 per person
- Marine park fee: US$30 per person
✈︎ The quoted (international) flight prices are indicative prices and based on departures from Europe. However, we can arrange flights from any location worldwide. Booking your own flights is of course also possible.
Optional
- Night dive, US$ 91 per person per dive
- Diving equipment, per day approx. US$ 51 p.p.
Send this trip by email
Want to save or share the details of this trip with someone? You can do so by sending the trip by email.
Where may we send the email to?
Frequently asked questions about this diving holiday
Diving general
All dives are conducted from the boat. The type of dives you’ll do depends on your own diving level. There are 36 dive sites around the island. You can do drift dives, wreck dives, reef dives, and more… Most dive sites have a maximum depth of around 20 meters. There are also a number of deeper dives that reach 40 meters or even deeper. The Charles Brown Wreck has a maximum depth of 31 meters. Also good to know: if your air supply and bottom time allow it, long dives are conducted. A dive lasting longer than 70 minutes is not uncommon.
All dive sites are between 3 and 15 minutes boat ride away.
You will make 2 dives here in the morning. If there is enough enthusiasm, a 3rd dive may be organized in the afternoon. At least 3 divers are then needed.
Yes. You can do night diving here. There is a guarantee of night dives at least 2x per week.
No, there is an old city wall underwater (with an anchor and a cannon) where the dive school conducts refresher dives and confined-water OWD courses. If possible, you can dive here. However, this is not recommended. The best dives around the island are done by boat.
Yes. It is a PADI 5* dive center.
The diving school is about 10 minutes from the resort. A free shuttle will take you to the diving school.
Diving equipment
Both DIN and INT are possible.
No. Only 12L tanks are available.
Yes. Nitrox is available free of charge to certified divers.
Yes. Per day, this costs 50 USD. For more than 7 days, it becomes cheaper.
Related diving trips
We are EWDR
