Diving on St. Eustatius
The Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Eustatius, or Statia, is a jewel of tranquility and unspoiled nature that lurks in the shadow of its more touristy neighboring islands. With an area of only 21 square kilometers, this island belongs to the Windward Islands.
From the moment you dive below the surface, you will discover the wealth of underwater life that surrounds the shores of St. Petersburg. Eustatius surrounds. This island offers more than 36 dive sites. With an impressive variety of flora and fauna, including numerous fish and coral species, it is a diver’s paradise. The highlight, however, is the chance to discover the mysterious shipwrecks that serve as silent witnesses to the island’s colonial past.
But St. Eustatius is not only a diver’s paradise. Covered in dense vegetation, the island is home to an array of animals, from goats roaming freely to various lizards and a multitude of tropical birds. There are plenty of land-based activities, from exploring the dormant volcano The Quill, with its lush rainforest in the crater, to discovering the island’s rich history at Fort Orange and the St. Eustatius Museum.
Although you won’t find long sandy beaches on Statia, the island has some picturesque small beaches at Oranjebaai and Lynch Beach and an impressive black lava sand beach at Zeelandia Beach. Hiking trails take you through the pristine landscape, to the dormant volcanoes and past the ruins of an era when St. John’s was the capital of the world. Eustatius was called “The Golden Rock. This was due to the flourishing trade in the 18th century, a period whose traces are still visible in the old trade buildings and forts.
On the island, the only town is Oranjestad, split into an Upper Town and a Lower Town. Despite the lack of the usual tourist attractions such as casinos or big hotels, Oranjestad offers charming little cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy local delicacies.
Divers can enjoy year-round diving from St. Louis. Eustatius, except for September, enjoy the height of the hurricane season. Diving around the island is done in a protected marine park. Dive sites range from the Grand Canyon, overgrown with magnificent gorgonians, to the huge shipwreck of the Charlie Brown, and from the coral-rich Barracuda to the Double Wreck, which is home to enormous stingrays.
Diving on St. Eustatius?
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