The Old Gin House - St Eustatius
Stay in a historic UNESCO monumental hotel with many amenities and authentic old-fashioned charm. The diving school is within walking distance.
Travel period
Features
Starting from
The Old Gin House
St. Eustatius, better known to locals as Statia, is one of the best-kept secrets of the Dutch Caribbean. This small volcanic island lies between St. Maarten and Saba and is known for its laid-back atmosphere, rich history, and exceptionally well-preserved underwater world. On this trip, you’ll stay at the charming Old Gin House, a quaint seaside hotel located right next to the Scubaqua dive school. From the hotel, you can walk straight to the boat for your next dive.
The waters surrounding the island are part of the St. Eustatius National Marine Park, a protected nature reserve where the reefs have been allowed to develop undisturbed for decades. Here, you can dive at more than thirty official dive sites, ranging from colorful coral reefs and volcanic pinnacles to historic shipwrecks and impressive lava landscapes. The extinct volcano The Quill has shaped the underwater landscape with lava flows and rock formations that are now completely covered with hard corals, sponges, and sea fans.
There’s plenty to discover above water, too. Climb The Quill, hike through the rugged Boven Nature Reserve, or explore the historic streets of Oranjestad. Thanks to the island’s small size and Old Gin House’s central location, you’ll experience Statia’s authentic character up close. A relaxed diving destination where nature, history, and an impressive underwater world take center stage.
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 Old Gin House, 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. The dive shop is right next to the hotel, so you can walk there in less than a minute.
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 take a historical island tour.
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
The Old Gin House
The Old Gin House is a charming hotel located in Oranjestad. Housed in a historic building that once served as a gin distillery, the hotel still retains much of its old charm and character. It offers a unique and comfortable experience to guests.
The Old Gin House’s restaurant is also a g ourmet culinary paradise. The menu offers a wide selection of both local and international dishes, prepared with fresh and high-quality ingredients. Guests can enjoy a delicious meal in an atmospheric setting overlooking the ocean. The restaurant is known for its welcoming atmosphere and attentive service.
The hotel also features an outdoor pool, a gym and a spa, where guests can relax and unwind after a day of diving. Scubaqua’s dive center is located next to the Old Gin House.
The Old Gin House offers a variety of room types, all comfortably furnished in a charming Caribbean style. Thanks to its small-scale layout and seaside location, it’s a great base for a relaxing stay on Sint Eustatius.
The Garden View Rooms overlook the tropical garden and are equipped with all modern amenities, including air conditioning, a private bathroom, and free Wi-Fi.
The Ocean View Rooms feature the same comfortable furnishings, but also offer a stunning view of the Caribbean Sea. A wonderful place to start or end the day in peace.
For those who want more space, there are the Suites. These feature a separate living room and bedroom, and some suites include a kitchenette. This makes them ideal for a longer stay on the island.
All rooms are furnished with comfort in mind and equipped with the amenities you need for a carefree stay. The personalized service and relaxed atmosphere make Old Gin House a favorite among divers who enjoy staying within walking distance of the harbor and the dive shop.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package costs NZD 3.625 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 NZD 3.625 p.p.
- 9 nights in a Garden view room
- Stay on a bed & breakfast basis
- Transfer from and to the airport
- Dive package consisting of 10 dives
- VZR & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight from NZD 2.547 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, NZD 157 per person per dive
- Diving equipment, per day approx. NZD 88 p.p.
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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 ( is an anchor and cannon) where we give resfresher dives and confined OWD. If possible, diving can be done here. However, this is not recommended. The best dives around the island are by boat.
Yes. It is a PADI 5* dive center.
The diving school is located next to the Old Gin House. It’s just a minute’s walk away.
Diving equipment
Both DIN and INT are possible.
No. Only 12L tanks are available.
Yes. Nitrox is included in the price.
Yes. Per day, this costs 50 USD. For more than 7 days, it becomes cheaper.
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