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One
of St. Eustatius' (locally known as Statia) assets is the variety
of diving. There are deep sites and shallow areas. There are ancient
unrecognizable wrecks, as well as modern wrecks that have been down
just a matter of months. Though Statia does not have a fringing
reef system, some of the coral that has grown on the rocks has now
become coral reef.
Statia's waters unlock the treasures of intriguing marine life,
ballast stones, anchors, canons, warehouses, pottery shards, clay
pipes, bottles and remains of old trading ships, natural and coral
reefs. Snorkeling and diving Statia will take you over the remains
of 17th and 18th century life on Statia.
Few divers have discovered the wonders of Statia and the dive sites
remain pristine and untouched.
Water Temp 78 -82 Visibility 80 - 120 ft
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Dive
Services/Accommodations
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Explorer
Ventures Ltd. Liveaboard
PO Box 488
Mabank, TX 75147-0488
USA
800-322-3577; 903-887-8521
903-887-8526
info@explorerventures.com
http://www.explorerventures.com
Liveaboard diving vacations for 16 to 18 passengers,
to Turks & Caicos, Saba, St. Kitts, St. Eustatius
and St. Maarten, and to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral
Sea from Cairns, Australia.
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Travel
To St. Eustatius
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To
get to Statia you first have to go to St. Maarten and take a small
inter-island flight by WinAir. There are also many connections
to other islands in the Caribbean. Especially Curacao and St.
Maarten can serve you as a base for island hopping.
Airlines include: American Airlines, Continental, KLM Royal Dutch
Airlines, ALM Antillian Airlines, Air France, LIAT, Martinair,
USAirways, Air Aruba, Avianca, Surinam Airways (SLM), and many
others.
Entry requirements
For U.S. and Canadian citizens either a passport, birth certificate
or proof of citizenship with photo ID and a return ticket are
required. For all other nationalities a valid passport is required.
Departure Tax
When leaving the islands you will have to pay a departure tax.
The amount depends on your destination. If you fly between the
islands of the Netherlands Antilles this tax is U.S.$ 6,=. For
all international flights, including flights from and to Aruba,
the tax is U.S. $ 20,=.
Traveler Tips
Language
While Dutch is the official language of the islands, the people
from the ABC-islands also have their own language: Papiamentu.
This is a creole language based upon Spanish and Portuguese, with
Dutch, English, and African influences. But everybody speeks English
on these islands, as well as Spanish. Everybody is taught these
languages in school and Arubans and Antillians have a good sense
for languages.
On the windward islands the local language spoken is English.
Driving
Any U.S. or international license is acceptable. Just like the
U.S. and Europe, cars are driven on the right-hand side of the
road. The speed limit is 40 km per hour in build up areas and
60 in the country. On Saba these limits are lower, but you cannot
drive faster anyway.
Electricity
110-130 volts a.c. 50 cycles. Many U.S. appliances that operate
on 60 cycles will work fine, except items like hair dryers, irons
and some battery charging equipment, which may overheat if used
for an extended period of time. European appliances that run on
220 volt cannot be used, unless you have adapters.
Time zone
The islands follow the Atlantic Standard Time, which is 1 hour
ahead of Eastern Standard Time and equals Eastern Daylight Time.
There is no daylight saving time on the islands. The difference
with Central European Time is 5 hours during the winter and 6
when daylight saving time is in effect in the summer.
Shopping
Shopping is not the reason people visit Statia: The pickings are
pretty slim. Nevertheless, you can find handcrafted island souvenirs,
postcards and tropical beachwear.
Dining
The local cuisine is delightfully spicy, making use of typical
West Indian seasoning. Check your menu for barbecued chicken or
ribs, stuffed land crab and goat stew. Seafood is prevalent in
the restaurants, including red snapper, grouper, shrimp and Caribbean
lobster. Tropical fruits and vegetables are also common: christophene,
green banana, breadfruit, papaya and mangoes. Expect comfortable,
unpretentious restaurants where reservations aren't required. |
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