Dive Review of Scubaqua/Old Gin House in
St. Eustatius

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Scubaqua/Old Gin House: "Pristine diving, old Carribean setting.", Apr, 2017, by David Ross, QC, CA ( 2 reports with 6 Helpful votes). Report 9553 has 6 Helpful votes.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	The good: Diving like it used to be: small island, no mass marketing, pristine coral, massive sponges, Inteesting history (was once the largest port in the Caribbean- still litttered with ballast stones, anchors, artifacts (Please leave in place!). Underwater topo courtesy of local volcano which has left long lava extrusions criss-crossing the area, making for extensive overhang habitat for critters up the wazoo. The dive crew was professional yet flexible, Rental equipment of good quality and well-maintained. Did I mention the Free Nitrox? Average profile: square - 60 ft/20 meters. Nice new Newton dive boat and a little Boston Whaler for those quickie excursions. I am a photographer with a big fat pig of a rig. They took good care of it, entering and exiting the boat. Surprised they didn't collectively herniate. Not a word of compliant. They took me out all by myself one afternoon, because I had asked (everyone else was sated). Really nice. At the risk of straining credibility, have precisely zero negatives to report on the dive op. Good people, solid pros, personable and knowledgable. [facebook.com link] The not-so-good: a bit of a bugger for we Montrealers to get to. Travellers beware: the local oligarchy owns the local shuttle airline (WinAir) which is over-priced and synchronizes rather poorly with major flights out of St Maartens. The food at the hotel is over-priced (but improving! New chef!). Before too much time goes by, go for a wee walk (like, wee - 4 minutes or so) up the street to the Blue Bead or up the hill to the Ocean View. Much more for much less! If you dont like crashing waves, dont go for the ocean-front rooms. The hotel is old, but very,very clean. We loved the place, and appreciate it even more now. Consider it. Respects and regards, and thank you for reading this report. David Ross Montreal, Qc, CAN.
Websites	Scubaqua
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Rest of Caribbean. Red Sea (N and S). Phillipines.Bali. Great Barrier Reef.Various nasty Quebec quarries.
Closest Airport		Getting There	Via St Maarten.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	80-82°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	30-80 Ft/ 9-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Max depths were approx 100-120feet. No wandering off . Advise DM at 1500 and 500 psi. First to 500 escorted up by a DM - others are NOT forced to terminate! (Hurray!). Use your head. Marine park, so hands off the shells / artifacts / etc. You find a blue bead, you keep it.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	1 or 2
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Dedicated photo table - basic but serviceable Dedicated photo dunk tank (on boat and at dive shop). Took my rig back to the hotel (about 33 feet away)

Report currently has 6 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Scubaqua/Old Gin House in St. Eustatius

Scubaqua/Old Gin House: "Pristine diving, old Carribean setting.", Apr, 2017,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Scubaqua/Old Gin House in
St. Eustatius