Chien Tong Wreck: Statia's Turtle Hotel
A sunken Taiwanese fishing vessel turned nocturnal sea turtle sanctuary off St. Eustatius
Why Go
By day it's a coral-crusted ship silhouette patrolled by barracuda; by night, more sea turtles than you can count tuck themselves into its nooks to sleep. Divers routinely call the Chien Tong the single most memorable night dive in the Dutch Caribbean.
The Experience
Slip beneath the surface just outside Oranjestad's harbor and the Chien Tong materializes out of the blue — a roughly 100-foot Taiwanese longliner deliberately scuttled to seed a reef. Descend along the mast and the hull opens up in easy, penetrable sections wrapped in azure vase sponges and neon-orange cup corals that only bloom open after dark. A resident great barracuda hangs above the wheelhouse in a shimmering cloud of scad, while decorator crabs, cleaner shrimp and the occasional longlure frogfish wait to be found by patient torchlight. It's the rare wreck that rewards you twice: once as a photogenic daytime swim-through, and again after sunset when the turtles clock in.
What to Try
Book the wreck as a two-tank package — one daytime pass to learn the layout and locate the frogfish, then return for the night dive when green and hawksbill turtles settle onto the deck plates. Bring a red-filtered torch so you don't spook them, and drift the stern railings where the orange cup corals fully extend their polyps.
Insider Tip
Time your visit for a new-moon week and dive the Chien Tong right at dusk — the changeover is when the turtles arrive to bed down and the reef fish still haven't tucked in, giving you a 20-minute window of chaos most divers miss by starting later.
The Practical Stuff
The site sits just off Oranjestad in the Statia Marine Park; all diving must be booked through a local operator (Scubaqua, Golden Rock, or Statia Divers) and requires a marine park tag (roughly $6/day or $30/year, included in most packages). Depths range from about 60 to 90 ft, making it an Advanced Open Water dive with mild current. Water is typically 79–84°F year-round; a 3mm wetsuit is plenty. Bring proof of certification and a dive computer — nitrox is available on request.
Pair It With
- Scubaqua Dive Center Guide — Long-running PADI 5-star operator in Oranjestad that runs guided two-tank trips to the Chien Tong and handles marine park permits for you.
- Bacchanalia Guide — Walk-in bistro a few blocks from the dive shops — an easy post-dive dinner spot to refuel with cocktails and local plates before the night boat leaves.
- A Quiet Getaway - One-Bedroom Apartment Guide — Nearby self-catering base with space to rinse and hang gear, ideal for divers doing multi-day trips on the Chien Tong and neighboring wrecks.
- Barrel House St. Eustatius - Classic Apartment Guide — Central Oranjestad stay within walking distance of the harbor pickup point, so you can roll out of bed and be underwater within the hour.
