Dive Services/Accommodations
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.
Quick Facts
General Area: St Kitts: 168.4 sq km (65.1 sq miles). Nevis: 93.2 sq km (36 sq miles). Total: 261.6 sq km (101.1 sq miles). Population: 40,130 (1998). Population Density: 153.4 per sq km. Capital: Basseterre. Population: 12,220 (1994). Geography: St Kitts (officially known as St Christopher) lies in the northern part of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean. The high central body of the island is made up of three groups of rugged volcanic peaks split by deep ravines. The vegetation on the central mountain range is rainforest, thinning higher up to dense bushy cover. From here the island's volcanic crater, Mount Liamuiga, rises to almost 1200m (4000ft). The foothills, particularly to the north, form a gently rolling landscape of sugar-cane plantations and grassland, while uncultivated lowland slopes are covered with thick tropical woodland and exotic fruits such as papaya, mangoes, avocados, bananas and breadfruit. To the southeast of the island, a low-lying peninsula, on which there are many excellent beaches, stretches towards Nevis. 3km (2 miles) to the south and only minutes away by air or ferry across The Narrows channel is the smaller island of Nevis, which is almost circular in shape. The island is skirted by miles of silver-sand beaches, golden coconut groves and a calm, turquoise sea in which great brown pelicans dive for the rich harvest of fish. The central peak of the island, Nevis Peak, is 985m (3232ft) high and its tip is usually capped with white clouds. The mountain is flanked on the north and south sides by two lesser mountains, Saddle Hill and Hurricane Hill, which once served as look-out posts for Nelson's fleet. Hurricane Hill on the north side commands a view of St Kitts and Barbuda. On the island's west side, massed rows of palm trees form a coconut forest. There are pleasant coral beaches on the island's north and west coasts. Government: Consitutional monarchy since 1983. Gained independence from the UK in 1983. Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor General Sir Cuthbert Montroville Sebastian since 1996. Head of Government: Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas since 1995. Language: The official language is English. Religion: Anglican and other Christian denominations. Time: GMT - 4. Electricity: 230 volts AC, 60Hz (110 volts available in some hotels). Communications: Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 1 869. Outgoing international code: 1 (Caribbean, Canada and USA); 011 (elsewhere). Mobile telephone: TDMA network not compatible with GSM handsets. Handsets can be hired from the network provider, C & W Caribbean Cellular (website: www.caribcell.com). Unregistered roaming is available - visitors with TDMA handsets can make calls without registering, provided they can give a credit card number. Fax: This service is available to the public at the offices of Cable & Wireless (see below) and at some hotels. Internet/E-mail: ISPs include Caribsurf (website: www.caribsurf.com) and Cable & Wireless (website: www.candw.kn). Public access is available at the Internet kiosk at the Cable & Wireless offices in Basseterre, St Kitts. Telegram: Facilities are available at main hotels and at the offices of Cable & Wireless at Cayon Street, Basseterre and Main Street, Charlestown. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0700-1900; Sat 0700-1400 and 1900-2000; 0800-1000 and 1900-2000 Sunday and public holidays. Postal: Post offices are open Mon-Fri and Sat 0800-1500; Thurs 0800-1100. Press: There are three newspapers published in English: the Democrat and the St Kitts and Nevis Ovserver (weekly); and the twice-weekly Labour Spokesman.    Travel AIR: Most flights are via St Maarten, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe or Antigua. LIAT (LI) runs six flights a week from Antigua and offers day-trip charters to St Maarten (for duty-free shopping) and Antigua & Barbuda. Other airlines serving the islands include American Eagle, Winair and Caribbean Star. Approximate flight times: From New York to St Kitts is 5 hours. From London to St Kitts is 10 hours, including stopover in Antigua. International airport: St Kitts (SKB) (Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, formerly Golden Rock Airport) is 3.2km (2 miles) from Basseterre on St Kitts. Airport facilities include tourist information, restaurant and duty-free shop. Taxi fares are regulated; fares from the airport to Basseterre are approximately EC$13-16 (50 cents is charged on each additional piece of luggage over one). Newcastle Airfield (NEV) is 11km (5 miles) from Charlestown on Nevis. Departure tax: EC$41. Children under 12 years are exempt. An environment levy fee of EC$4 is also payable on departure. SEA: Basseterre is a deep-water port capable of berthing ships up to 120m (400ft) and is regularly visited by cruise liners operated by Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Regal Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Seabourn and Sun Cruises. Regular ferry services operate from St Kitts to St Maarten.    Entry   A visit to St Kitts-Nevis requires a valid passport, a return ticket to the country of departure, and a valid St Kitts-Nevis visa if traveling from countries requiring a visitor visa.    Misc. Info. SAFETY/SECURITY: There may be demonstrations by small but vociferous groups during election periods. While there is no evidence that these demonstrations are anti-American, it is a good security practice to avoid all demonstrations. Contact the Consular Section for additional information. CRIME INFORMATION: U.S. citizens have occasionally been victims of armed robbery, assault, burglary, and other petty street crime. Valuables left unattended on beaches are subject to theft. MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical care is limited. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the U.S. can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. MEDICAL INSURANCE: U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the U.S. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the U.S. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties. Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor, or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death. TRAFFIC SAFETY/ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the U.S. The information below concerning St. Kitts and Nevis is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance. Safety of Public Transportation: Good Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor Traffic in St. Kitts and Nevis moves on the left-hand side of the road. Main roads and most secondary roads are in reasonably good condition. More detailed information on roads and traffic safety can be obtained from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Environment, Bay Road, Pelican Mall, P.O. Box 132, Basse Terre, St. Kitts, telephone 1-869-647-8970.