World-class diving and snorkeling sites
If there is anywhere to have unforgettable snorkeling and diving experiences it is in Statia. St. Eustatius National Marine Park surrounds the entire island and covers a wondrous underwater world of 27.3 km² where sunken walls, remnants of old buildings and cannons of the lower town, shipwrecks and anchors are part of an extensive reef system. At more than 30 dive sites, you will venture below the water's surface into the protected habitat of nurse sharks, stingrays, cuttlefish and sea turtles.
The different spots
Off the southwest coast of the island, barracuda swim around colorful coral walls at Barracuda Reef. At Double Wreck, just off the coast of the lower town, you will find two ships dating back to the 18th century. The coral has taken the shape of these two disintegrating ships and attracts crawfish, stingrays, moray eels and large schools of fish. About 100 meters west of Double Wreck is the Japanese ship Cheng Tong, an old fishing boat that was sunk to create an artificial reef. It is known as the "turtle hotel" and is inhabited by hawksbill and green turtles. Off the south side of the island lies the sunken Charles L. Brown, a 1957 cable-laying ship that created another artificial reef when it was sunk in an underwater crater. Off the west coast of the island is Stenapa Reef, a reef created from the wrecks of barges, a harbor boat and other ship parts. Large groupers and turtles are among the marine life you can spot here. For snorkelers, Crooks Castle has several stands of pillar coral, giant yellow sea fans, and sea whips just southwest of Lower Town.
