Dive locations around Statia  
.



 
Here are some more details on most of our diving locations:
Locations listed after primary location are similar, but all with unique characteristics
 
 North Point - set at the base of a steep volcanic hill, where giant boulders have rolled down cliffs for centuries, creating a dynamic underwater environment full of "nooks and crannies"

Briefing: 40' to a sandy bottom, sloping to a maximum depth of 70', working our way along the deeper part of the reef for the first half of the dive, then stage up to a shallower depth of 35' extending bottom time while returning to the boat over the tops of the boulders.

Similar Locations:

  • Gibraltar
  • Two Sisters
  • Norman’s Nose
  • Jenkins Bay  

Charles Brown - Imagine making a dive on one of the Caribbean’s largest ship wrecks, in clear blue water with colorful tropical fish and a 40m or 120ft long swim through. The Charlie Brown Artificial Reef is at just the right depth to have your choice of a shallow dive, deep dive, multi-level, light or technical penetration. Charlie Brown, the newest attraction to one of the hottest diving destinations in the region, St. Eustatius (Statia). This is a dive you have to add to your must do list.

Briefing: The vessel has two mooring lines on it at the bow and stern which gives us a choice depending on current. We will make our decent to the lowest part of the dive at this point you will see the large overhangs from the tapering at the bow and stern at a depth of 98ft or 31m. Normally we will then proceed to the Highway at a depth of 85ft or 26m which is where the fiber optic cable was fed out from the cable tanks in this wide open hall way you will pass through the ship for a length of 120ft or 40m. Due to the fact that C. B. is on its side the portholes are like skylights giving enough light to make this penetration without the need for a dive light. After passing through the ship we will now go over it at around 60ft. or 17m as it has very interesting structure topside. You will also enjoy all the marine life that now calls C.B. home, the school of Horse Eyed Jacks are impressive and don’t forget “Barry” the Barracuda, he’s big and friendly. More technical dives are available contact your dive guide for details.

 Penetration Dive Briefing
 

S.T.E.N.A.P.A. Reef - okage that have been submerged for various periods of time, allowing us to see the progression of coral and sponge growth. One of the barges has several entrances to allow for light  penetration diving. A favorite site of our many large southern stingrays and visiting divers!

Briefing: located in a protected area making for good surface conditions . Starting at the base of the mooring which is attached to the main barge, we will begin by touring the tug boats and island freighter reaching a maximum depth of 68' checking the scattered debris for interesting marine life. Finally returning to the main barge with time left to enter for a quick look around.

Double Wreck - this historical wreck sank approximately 300 years ago. Consisting mostly of ballast stones fused together in the shape of the ship with old pottery shards, pieces of hand blown bottles and a beautiful old anchor. But the real treasure at this wreck is abundant marine life every inch of it is teeming with cleaning stations, octopus, eels, squirrelfish and a large school of French grunts.

Briefing: located in a protected area making for normally good surface conditions. At the bottom we will have a maximum depth of 60 ft. We start by touring the entire site and then spending the remaining time freely investigating the many sections individually which always make for an interesting surface interval.

Similar Locations:

  • Stingray
  • Supermarket
Bluebead Hole - if you haven't heard about blue beads this is something special in Statia. The beads were made in Europe out of blue glass and were used to reward slaves in the seventeenth century . Beads are the only artifacts visitors are allowed to keep. In a certain area of the harbor divers have found quite a few of them . This site is mostly a sandy bottom with occasional stones. Blue bead or not you will enjoy some different marine creatures than you would normally see on the reef like the peacock flounder or the amazing flying gurnard.

Briefing: this dive will be at depths between 50 & 60 ft. Keep one eye on the guide and one on the bottom and good luck.

Barracuda - this is a special place , truly a world class Caribbean reef. A mini wall formed of volcanic rock over grown with healthy corals and sponges. The wall offers a lot of great hiding places for all types of animals including the occasional nurse shark. But we can't forget the reefs namesake there are normally several groups of them numbering from 5 to 20.

Briefing: down the mooring line we will cruse along the deeper half of the reef at a maximum depth of 70 ft. Returning on the top part of the reef at a depth 50 ft.

Similar Locations:

  • Blairs Reef
  • The Blocks
  • Castle Rock
  • Five Fingers North
  • Five Fingers South
  • The Ledges
Hangover - no the name doesn't come from the way you might feel in the morning, but from the interesting stone  structures that created the foundation of this reef. Also it has some of the best examples of corals and sponges to be found anywhere. This area is a favorite of French angels and local divers alike!

Briefing: the maximum depth at this site is 60 ft. However we will be spending most of our time at 40 to 50 ft. Which gives us great light so we can enjoy the brilliant colors of this reef.

Similar Locations:

  • Anchor Point
  • Inside Anchor Point (Anchor Point South)
  • Crooks Castle
  • The Humps
  • Mushroom Garden
Off The Wall - this dive site is a real pleasure for the more experienced diver. These coral buttresses were  originally created thousands of years ago when lava flowed off the island. Over time the corals grew until they formed the canyons which pour off the wall today.

Briefing: this is a good site for a multi level dive. Going down though the canyons to the deepest part of the dive first where maximum depth is 130 ft. We will spend a few minutes along the wall then moving to the tops of the buttresses at a depth of 80 ft. And finally to 60 ft. For the remaining time. Common types of marine life in this area, black jacks, sharks, and many more!

Down South - a favorite of the more seasoned divers, this site is a corner stone of the wall with a sloping drop to  the west and a more vertical drop to the south due to its position, it is a natural location for current feeders like the wrasse and chromis as well as ambush predators like the barracuda and reef shark.

Briefing: another good place for a multi level dive. Starting down the western slope and following it to the corner taking a left at this point we should be at our deepest depth maximum 130 ft. Then starting up the southern wall passing through a forest of black gorgonians to 80 ft. Where we cross over the top of the corner stone, then on to 60 ft.

Similar Locations:

  • The Drop Off
  • No Name Drop Off
  • Endless Reef
  • Coral Gardens East
  • La Cave
Aquarium - Aquarium has become one of the most talked about dive on Statia, as it is an isolated bolder outcropping in a sand field making it more populated with marine life than most reefs. At every level you will find something of interest from the Rays in the sand, Morays in the crevices, Turtles everywhere, and the swarms of Sergeant Majors. We have also had good luck in finding some of the stranger things in the sea there like Frog Fish, Sea Horses, and Nudibranches, you just never know. If you have ever looked into an aquarium and wished you could just dive in, this is probably as close as you will ever get.

Briefing: As aquarium is in a sand filled there is no chance of getting lost so the guides will give you more freedom to look around on your own. This is defiantly the kind of place that you should take your time and look around. There is no mooring on this site and we will be anchoring so it’s a good idea to make a note of where the anchor is or stay with the guide. The depths are max. 60ft or 18m and the shallowest point is at 35ft. or 13m making for tons of bottom time. You will love this one.

 
 
 

 







"Diving is our business on St. Eustatius, and we think you will like the way we go about it! No matter what your certification level is, we can adapt to your needs. We offer dive sites from 25 to 130 feet, and all are havens for a wide variety of marine creatures, fish and colorful corals."
 

Dive Shop | Dive Staff | Dive sites | Marine Park | Charles Brown | Why Statia | How to get here | Booking Info | Contact Us | The Old Gin House | Press Releases
 
Contents & Images Copyright © 2003 - Golden Rock Dive Center / Whitewall Studio multimedia productions