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Saba
Date: April 2nd - 9th, 2011
When it comes to Caribbean islands, Saba is called the “Unspoiled Queen”. It is a place rich in history (Columbus found Saba in 1493) yet off the beaten path for most tourists. In fact, 150 tourists a week is considered busy. There are no franchised restaurants, no high rise resorts and no casinos. This is a destination for travelers who want to get away from it all, not for the tourist looking for pre-packaged entertainment.
Accommodations: If your taste leans toward cruise ships or a Sandals resort, this may not be your cup of tea. All hotels on Saba are small, family-run places located in quaint villages. Our group is staying at Juliana’s, and like many of their guests, we are repeat customers. Juliana’s is efficiently run by Johanna van’t Holf and Wim Schutten, As their website states, ‘At some hotels, you might be invited to the manager's cocktail party, but at Juliana’s hotel you are invited to the managers' home and become part of their daily lives.’ Accommodations are clean and spacious. All rooms have a balcony to enjoy the beautiful view. Each room has a satellite TV, coffee maker, ceiling fan, and pool/dive towels.
Be the first to sign up and receive a free upgrade to an ocean view room!
Diving: Although obscure to the masses, Saba has long been known to divers. It is stunningly beautiful topside, looking like a classic volcanic island should. Beneath the water’s surface the reefs continue down the volcano’s slope. Dive sites start shallow and go to depths over 100 feet. Underwater lava tunnels and hot springs are reminders of the dormant Mount Scenery.
Saba Marine Park is highly recognized for its success in protecting the environment. The reefs are healthy, supporting an impressive array of tropical fish like grouper, jacks, tangs, turtles and seahorses. During wall dives, look out into the deep water for rays and larger pelagic.
This trip includes 11 boat dives (four days of 2 morning dives and one day with three dives). The schedule is unrushed. After a leisurely breakfast, taxis will take the group to the only harbor on the island. At 9:30pm we push off for the first dive. Surface intervals are spent relaxing or snorkeling in a protected area. After 60-90 minutes, the second dive begins. We’ll return to the harbor around 1:30pm, leaving you plenty of time to explore the topside or siesta in a hammock.
More than Diving: Pack your hiking shoes; there’s a variety of nature trails to explore. Walk to cliffs that overlook the ocean or traverse to the top of Mount Scenery (Elfin Forest). Mount Scenery is for the physically fit. Over 1000 hand-carved steps scale the side of this dormant volcano. The trail is encompassed by a rainforest rich with wild orchids, giant elephant ears, palms and mangoes. Maps and complimentary walking sticks are available at the front desk. Visit the Trail Shop to learn about the local flora and fauna. It’s also a great source for Saban lore. Next, try deep sea fishing, available with advance reservations. Fishing trips depart after the dive boats return so you won’t miss a thing.
Cuisine: Within walking distance from Juliana’s is a host of restaurants offering an array of cuisine at different price levels. One of the best restaurants on the islands is Tropics, owned by Juliana’s. With this trip, all your breakfasts are included at Tropics as well as 2 dinners and lunch on the 3-dive day.
Looking for romantic dinner? Then try a candlelight dinner at the Ecolodge Rainforest. Red curry coconut shrimp and Mom’s apple pie with homemade ice cream are a must, so are reservations.
Brigadoon restaurant is within walking distance from the hotel and they have an extensive menu. Thursday is prime rib night and is stated to be the best on the island.
Scout’s Place, up the road from Juliana’s has Mexican theme night for you enchilada lovers and the fresh catch of the day on Seafood Night.
Basically, you won’t go hungry in Saba. Each evening offers a different experience that you’ll sure to remember.
Cost:
Diver, double occupancy: $2099
Non-diver, double occupancy: $1599
Diver, single supplement: $2389
Package Includes:
Round trip air fare from Detroit to St. Maarten via US Airways
Round trip air fare from St. Maarten to Saba via WinAir
8 days/7 nights at Juliana’s, based on double occupancyn
FREE oceanfront upgrade (based on availability)
4 days of 2 morning dives
1 day of 3 dives with lunch
Breakfast daily at Tropics
2 Dinners at Tropic
Airport transfers
Daily taxi rides to the harbor on dive days
Welcome cocktail
All hotel taxes and service charge
Use of tanks and weights
SASS guide and t-shirt
Pre-trip pool refresher
Pre-trip pizza party & informational meeting
30% off Nitrox Class – March 5th
Payment:
A $400 non-refundable deposit is necessary to guarantee space on this trip. Sub-Aquatic Sports is only holding 16 spaces so please sign up early. Only six rooms qualify for the free ocean view upgrade and are given to the first people to sign up. Final payment is due January 25th, 2011. No refunds are possible after the final payment is made. Please understand that these are the policies of the airlines, hotel and dive operator and that Sub-Aquatic Sports has very little control over these matters. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended. We suggest Dive Assure or Divers Alert Network.
Package Includes:
Payment:
A $400 non-refundable deposit is necessary to guarantee space on this trip. Sub-Aquatic Sports is only holding 16 spaces so please sign up early. Only six rooms qualify for the free ocean view upgrade and are given to the first people to sign up. Final payment is due January 25th, 2011. No refunds are possible after the final payment is made. Please understand that these are the policies of the airlines, hotel and dive operator and that Sub-Aquatic Sports has very little control over these matters. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended. We suggest Dive Assure or Divers Alert Network.
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Documentation:
A valid passport is required to travel to Saba. It should be valid at least six months beyond the date of travel.
Flight Schedule: Flight times are subject to change without notice. Trivia Note: Saba has the shortest commercial runway in the world. It stretches a mere 1,292 ft. and is referred to as the ‘Flat Point’ on the island. Since we are taking a small plane from St. Maarten to Saba, luggage restrictions are strict. On Win Air, the first piece of luggage is free (no more than 50lbs) and the second will cost $25. There are also luggage fees for traveling on US Air.
- April 2
US Air - Detroit to Philadelphia - 7:05 am – 8:43am
US Air - Philadelphia to St. Maarten - 9:35am – 1:35 pm
Win Air - St. Marrten to Saba - 4:45pm – 5:05 pm
- April 9
Weather:
Win Air - Saba to St. Maarten - 9:55 am – 10:10 am
US Air - St. Maarten to Philadelphia - 2:35 pm – 7:04 pm
US Air - Philadelphia to Detroit - 8:35 pm – 10:23 pm
Daytime temperature on Saba averages 70 - 80F in April. Variations are due to the altitude changes from the ‘Bottom’ to the Windward side. We suggest packing a lightweight sweater for the evenings when temperatures. Water temperatures in April range from 81-84’. A 3mm wetsuit will suffice.
Language:
Dutch is the official language, but everyone speaks English. You may also encounter some other languages such as Spanish, a bit of French, German, and Papiamentu.
Currency:
The official currency is the NAF (Antillean Guilder) exchanged at about NAFL 1.80 = $1.00 US. Travelers checks and US dollars and major credit cards are widely accepted but there are no ATM machines on the island.
Electricity:
US Standard, 110 volts.
- April 2
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