Diving in Saba

[requiembell]

I am taking a group of four to Saba in January and wanted to hear about the diving there. Does anyone have any personal experience. We normally make this same trip to Bonaire but thought we would try something a little different. Specifically I am looking to see how Saba diving compares to Bonaire for visibilty, wildlife, current and difficulty.

Thanks in advance

 

[tajkd]

Saba was great! Pinnacles with tons of life and sharks all around. There's a great flat sand area yellow with volcanic action and heat. Saba has perhaps less visibility compared to Bonaire, same or more wildlife, there are currents more than Bonaire and the level of difficulty slightly higher but not prohibitively. Enjoy.

 

[DeputyDan]

Diving in Bonaire is about as easy as its ever going to get.
No shore diving in Saba. There can be wicked current out on the pinnacles. Not as much current closer in. The alternative activity is hiking.

 

[billt4sf]

It's a bit deeper, too, isn't it? I have heard that the diving begins around 70 feet? I could be wrong about the depth, but as someone said, Bonaire is as easy as it gets.

So: current, deeper, all boat diving. At a minimum, bring your SMBs.

- Bill

 

[DeputyDan]

The dives close to the island are 40 to 75 feet
The dives on the pinnacles are about 85 to 115 feet (with current)

The above are estimates but are close enough to plan by.

 

[KeithG]

We have only dove Saba via the Explorer live aboard, but it is nothing like Bonaire. The island is very mountainous and there is no shore diving and no beaches. But very scenic. You my find it hard to get your fill of dives in. Not sure you can get night dives.

The current can be very strong on a few sites so they may be off limits at times. The pinnacle site (can not remember the name) is very deep with the peak around 100 feet. There are some very shallow (50 ft.) sites on the south west of the island.

Diamond rock is unique and awesome (google and I am sure you will find some pics). The flat sand bottom is around 70 ft and the rock rises straight upwards. We generally take the whole hour to swim slowly around it.

It is on our go to list if we get in the mood for a very relaxed and lazy scuba week.

 

[skipm45]

+1 tajkd,
Spent a week there in November 2012. Deep dives, pinnacles, large animals, currents.
Excellent!