​St. Eustatius 

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If you have never heard about this small, undiscovered island in the Caribbean, it's only because it's a well-kept secret. St. Eustatius (Statia to the locals), the busiest port of the Caribbean in the eighteenth century, is now a sleepy island where time stood still. Unaffected by mass tourism St. Eustatius is not your average Caribbean island; imagine the Caribbean about 25 or 30 years ago and you get close.

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We reach Statia by our private chartered plane from St. Maarten. The 20 minute flight takes us to our fairytale island.

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. Most of the 36 official dive sites are located in the two reserves which cover a large part of the northern and southwestern waters. 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 corals and sponges. Combine these reefs with a number of historical dive sites and more recently sunk wrecks and you’ve got yourself a divers paradise!
 

This tiny eastern Caribbean island is 8 square miles and home to about 3500 people. The atmosphere on the island feels like going back in time, with hiking, dormant volcano and an absence of commercial shopping!

 

We will be staying at the historic Old Gin House, built in the 18th century. This ocean front property is next door to our dive operators, Scubaqua who have been guiding the magical diving around the island for the last 15 years.