St. Eustatius

Saint Eustatius, also known affectionately to the locals as Statia, lies in the northern Leeward Islands portion of the West Indies, southeast of the Virgin Islands, immediately to the northwest of Saint Kitts & Nevis and to the southeast of Saba. Clean, unhurried and unaffected by regional tourism trends and fads, Statia is not your average Caribbean island.

A rich history as a wealthy trading spot in the 18th century (with approximately 20000 inhabitants!) barely shows now that this sleepy island has such a small population (only about 3500). The saddle shaped island is only 18 square kilometers, and is home to a dormant volcano that climbs just shy of 2000 feet, named Quill. Two smaller volcanoes lie to the northwest, Signal Hill and Little Mountain. Three National Park areas protect the high biodiversity and unique tropical ecosystems present on both land and sea and the total protected area covers 33km2 – almost twice the size of the island itself.

Statia is unspoiled and offers a laid back, relaxed Caribbean atmosphere. You won’t find crowds, grandiose landscapes or built up, condo-littered shorelines here. What you will find, is find is a safe and friendly island where time stood still. With practically no crime, reefs teeming with fish, warm, gentle, breezes and welcoming locals who are genuinely friendly, Statia is truly a little undiscovered slice of marine paradise!

Diving In Statia

Volcanic remains that crept into the sea, paired with the protection of the marine park have made Statia a real haven for diving. The lava from decades past has influenced the underwater topography, creating incredibly unique reefs. Lava flows shaped like ‘fingers’, and in the Southwest, a distinctive spur and groove zone (a series of alternating rocky fingers and sandy channels) has formed. Statia is a unique oasis for Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Flying Gurnard, Moray Eels, Spotted Drums, Frogfish, Sea Horses, Octopus, Lobster, Rays, Sharks, and Turtles. Whether it’s walls, mushroom shelves, pinnacles, or wrecks from all the way back to the 1700s, Statia offers an unspoiled, quaint paradise to discover the underwater world.

We dive with Scubaqua in Statia. Read more here