Scubaqua Dive Center
Small-group diving into Statia's Marine Park from an 18th-century trading house
Why Go
Housed in a whitewashed stone building once occupied by the Dutch West India Company, this PADI Five Star IDC has been Statia's trusted dive shop for nearly three decades — famous for a strict 6-to-1 diver-to-guide ratio, unlimited bottom time, and free Nitrox for certified divers.
The Experience
You walk in off Lower Town's Oranje Bay, past coils of rope and stacks of Aqua Lung and Cressi gear, into a beach-facing dive base that feels more like a friend's boathouse than a commercial operator. The team gives an unhurried, detail-rich briefing before every dive — dive sites, currents, marine life to look for — then loads you onto the boat for the short run out to the Statia National Marine Park. Mornings are typically two-tank; a third afternoon dive is available for the obsessed. Between dives, expect coffee, banter and a genuinely inclusive vibe: they welcome every diver regardless of certification agency or experience level. The building itself is a quiet highlight — cached rainwater, recycled fit-out, and 18th-century stonework that keeps things cool even on a bright Statia afternoon.
What to Try
Book the two-tank morning to hit a signature reef plus one of Statia's storied wrecks (the island is layered with colonial-era anchors, cannons and blue-bead history). Certified divers should grab the free Nitrox and add the afternoon third dive — with unlimited bottom time, you'll get the most out of the marine park. First-timers can do a Discover Scuba, and the shop runs the full PADI course ladder from Open Water through Advanced, Night Diver and Deep specialties. Don't skip the Lionfish Jewelry Workshop — you help cull an invasive species, then turn the spines into a wearable souvenir.
Insider Tip
Ask specifically for a dusk-into-night dive at one of the shallower reefs — the shop runs night dives on request and it's when octopus, seahorses and bioluminescent plankton come out. Also: sign your gear rental slip the night before if you want to catch the first morning boat, since briefings start on time and Statia mornings are the calmest window.
The Practical Stuff
Address: 34 Oranjebaaiweg (Oranjebaai), Lower Town, Oranjestad, St. Eustatius. Open 365 days a year; phone +599 319 5450, email dive@scubaqua.com. Bring: certification card, logbook, swimsuit, towel, reef-safe sunscreen and a windbreaker for the boat ride. Nitrox is free for Nitrox-certified divers; rental gear (Aqua Lung / Cressi) available. Payment for the Marine Park tag is additional and required by law. Cash (USD) and cards accepted; book ahead in high season as groups are capped at six per guide.
What's On Here
All events nearby →Pair It With
- Aquarium - Dive Site Guide — One of the marine park's most-loved reef dives — Scubaqua regularly runs boats here, so pair the shop visit with a morning two-tank that includes this site.
- Baby Beach Guide — A quiet stretch of sand a short drive away, perfect for a post-dive surface interval or a nap once you've off-gassed.
- Bacchanalia Guide — Nearby restaurant for a proper post-dive lunch or sundowner — a natural next stop after you rinse gear at the shop.
- Alvin V. Courtar Park — An easy on-foot green space in Oranjestad if you have time to kill between the morning and afternoon dive.
