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Scuba diving on Saba

The scuba diving industry on Saba Island exists since the 1980s. Since 1987 all the reef around Saba became part of the Saba Marine Park. An area protected from fishermen and the yachting industry. All the dive sites on Saba have moorings. Which protects the beautiful reef around Saba from anchor damage to the reef.

Because of the existing marine park, the reefs and the fish are found in large numbers and in a heathy condition all around the island.

Saba is very well known by scuba divers espacially because of the famous pinnacles. 5 seamounts which were formed by past volcanic activity. The pinnacles are found just a short boat ride from the islans main reef. Because of there depths (start @ 28 meter/90 feet) you will find a lot of groupers, turtles, lobsters, frogfish, shrimps etc. Also various pelagics: sharks, manta rays and jacks.

There are three dive operators on Saba.
Saba Deep, Sea Saba and Saba Divers. All three are existing on Saba for a long time. The instructors know the waters around Saba very well.

It is forbidden to scuba dive around Saba without an instructor or dive master of one of the dive operators. This is to protect the marine park and for the safety of the scuba divers.

Queen's Gardens Resort works with all of the three dive operators. Just tell us what your dive expectations are and we will help you to find the dive operator that suits you. We offer diving packages with all of the three dive operators.

Saba is a scuba dive destination for everybody. Espacially for experienced divers due to the dephts range and the unque geological underwater structures, like the pinnacles.

The shallower dives are perfect for the beginner scuba diver.

PADI scuba dive courses are offered by all dive operators. Such as:

Resort Course / Discover scuba diving course
This is a course of one day to see if scuba diving is for you! Which consists of a theory session, a swimming pool session @ the resort and one open water dive.
Duration: 1 day. 

Open water diving course
Become a certified open water scuba diver. This course makes it possible to scuba dive all around the globe. This course includes four theory sessions, knowledge reviews, a theory exam. Four open water sessions, a final exam and certification.
Duration: 3 to 4 days.

Advanced open water course
This certification allows the Open Water Diver to explore a wider range of activities, all under instructor supervision, thereby allowing the student to gain more skills and confidence and bringing the diving experience to a higher level of fun and enjoyment.
The PADI Advanced Open Water Certification consists of five dives, including one navigation dive, one deep dive and three elective dives (specialities you can choose from are night diving, multi-level dives, underwater naturalist, fish ID or search and recovery, to name just a few).
Duration: 3 to 5 days.

Other scuba diving courses are also available, such as: Rescue diver course, Master diver course and Dive master course.


Underneath you will find a small description of all the Dive sites around Saba (In alpabatical order).

Description with courtesy of Saba Deep Dive Center

Babylon One of ladder bay's deeper sites - it is named after the hanging gardens of Babylon.  A good place in Ladder Bay to spot sharks and frog fish.  Fabulous colours and unique formations.

Big Rock Market
Site marked by a distinctive cluster of coral encrusted boulders. Average depth of dive is 40-60 feet.

Core Gut
Offers a wide variety of formations.  In the shallows you have sand and rock, midwater you have volcanic structure with swim through and over hangs.  In the deep you have a wall.   Largest Elkhorn coral we have spotted can be seen here.  Good clear visibility and wide variety of marine life.

Customs HouseAn inshore, deeper dive.  A giant coral head surrounded by sand.  This dive offers depths of 60-130feet.  A great place to spot a wide variety of marine life.  Also home to at least 7 of Saba's historical anchors.

Davids Drop-Off
Similar to Hole in the Corner, except you will 'drop off' the boulder formations.  At the edge look for spotted eagle rays and sharks.

Diamond RockShallow Pinnacle dive.  A distinctive Saba landmark.  Only Pinnacle that you can see both above and below water.  Unique position as the dividing line between Atlantic and Caribbean sea-allows you to dive 2 Oceans in one dive.  Great place for sharks all loads of marine life.

Giles Quarter
This true coral reef is a 'must see' if the weather permits.

Green Island
On the opposite side to Fort Bay, this small 'islan has lots of pristine coral and many schools of fish.

Greer Gut  The first site you hit going east of the harbour.  This site along with Giles Quarter are Saba's only true coral reefs made out of limestone.   On the white sandy bottom you may spot rays, turtles, and conch.

Hole in the Corner  A great diverse site, offers unique formations covered with hard corals, including large healthy  Elkhorn and Staghorn corals.  A great place to spot trumpet fish, lobster, turtles, trunk fish.  At the shallowest part of the dive, you are at the edge of the island, and can look up to see the waves crashing onto Saba - an awesome sight!   Always good clear visibility.

Hot Springs
This site is made up of one main reef and many smaller patch reefs.  A great spot to see lobster, green turtles, spotted drum and if your lucky you will see a flying gurnard  and rays off in the sand.

Ladder LabyrinthA unique site with many broken fingers of coral encrusted lava, lends a maze-like feel to this dive.  Home to many fingerprint Cyphoma.  Average depths are 40-75 feet.

Man O'War Shoal
Always a crowd and crew favourite.  Saba's shallowest pinnacle.  Over 78 specifies of marine life recently identified that call this site home.

Mt. Michel
Stare out into the blue on this site and we are sure you will be rewarded.

Outer Limits  Smallest seamount area - shaped like a large finger shape, it is a long narrow stretch of beautiful volcanic formation.

Porities PointSite offers depths of 40-70 feet.  Close in shore, so a good site in rough conditions.

Ray's 'n' Anchors  Saba's newest dive site, its shallow depths make it perfect for classes and newer divers.  You will see lobster, turtles, sting rays and the occasional nurse shark.

Shark ShoalStand alone deep water pinnacle.  A favourite dive for many of us.  Breathtaking pinnacle formations, and true to its name a good place to spot sharks.

Tedran
The deepest point on the tent reef wall.   A great wall dive with a unique 90 degree bend if you dive it heading east.  A great place for large turtles, string rays on the plateau, and a wide variety of marine life.

Tent ReefWe call this our aquarium dive with a myriad of tropical life and a beautiful coral garden.  The structure offers something for everyone and includes a large overhang and other  swim through, a 'grand canyon' and a mini wall. 

Tent Reef Deep  A large single coral head, starting at 60 feet, going to over a 100 feet.   Fantastic, healthy corals.  A great place for sting rays, lobster, turtles and a tropical aquarium experience.
Tent Reef Wall
A more shallow wall then Tedran.  Fantastic corals, sea whips, barrel sponges, octopus sponge and gorgonian.  Lobster are frequently spotted as well as octopus.  As with all sites on the Tent Reef system an abundant variety of marine life will be spotted.

Third Encounter
Saba's most famous dive site due to the 'Needle Formation' that has been frequently written about.   The Needle is a spectacular formation that sits just off in the blue water from the seamount.   A dive not to be missed.

Torrents Point  Site is mostly used as the third dive of the day. It is a favourite place to take students as it is in a sheltered spot.

Twilight Zone  On the edge of Saba's seamount grouping, Twilight Zone offers opportunities to see nurse sharks tucked in on the plateau, the raised peaks on the north end provide a fantastic wall-like drop off.

Click here for a for a full island map of the dive sites on Saba.

Interested in diving on Saba. Click here for our diving package.
We do offer custom build diving packages to suit your needs. Contact us with your wishlist and we tailor a package especially for you.