Going to Saba?
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I wrote a long trip report after our July 2005 trip; you'll probably find it with a basic search. Wife and I absolutely loved Saba diving.
I don't have any feedback regarding Sea Saba aside from 'we saw their boat'. They were a bit bigger (I don't think I can quite say 'cattleboat' not really knowing how they were laid out) than I'd prefer, and it seemed like they hung out for their surface interval rather than going back to dock.
We dove with "the Mikes" (and Oliver) at Saba Deep, and I couldn't begin to recommend them more!! They take smaller boats, moor and dive with you. We never had more than 8 divers total and generally it was more like 4-5. Most of the week my wife and I dove with a husband and wife who were both doctors from S Carolina who go there every single year for two weeks straight. Wonderful people. Another day we got to dive with one of the locals who runs a glass art shop near El Momo (Jobean). Basically if Saba Deep is the local's choice, that says a lot in our book... And Sally and her helper's cooking at their restaurant (In Too Deep) for lunch was also superb; perfect break in the day between dives 2 and 3!
Saba Deep just runs a small boat (open top with a half-cover on it), but don't be fooled by all the spouting about 40' luxury ships from the other guys...the slope off of Saba is so steep most of the dives are within about 10-15 min from shore even on a little boat...you're not there to pay someone's yacht mortgage after all, you're there to dive!! Again, I've got nothing BAD to say about SeaSaba, as I have no experience with them. I just loved the personal experience with Saba Deep too much to even consider anyone else (narrow-minded bahstid, I am
)
Housing is semi-limited on Saba in choices. I think there's just like 3-4 hotels, the rest being cottage rentals. The Gatehouse hotel is gorgeous, but way on the airport side of the island so its a bit out of the way. You'll need a taxi or ride (maybe they provide, I don't know) to visit much else from the hotel itself...Saba is VERY mountainous so even extremely short hikes seem waaaaay longer
. Princess Juliana Resort from what we saw is similarly very nice, and more centrally located (the Dr.'s we dove with stayed there). I don't know anything about the Willard's place other than that people have said its pricey, or Scout's Place (?? is that even the name or still there ??), and at the very top o' the mount is the Ecolodge which is a bit more adventuresome, and probably a bit awkward for getting to early morning dives.
At the lower-cost end, we stayed at the El Momo cottages, which were more a 'backpacker'/eco-friendly type stay. I'd have to say we wouldn't do El Momo again in July - no AC and only small fans in the cottages, and a rather lot of noise from insects/frogs and the like at night, so if 'camping' isn't your thing you might want something a tad nicer. No real complaints, great hospitality and nicely maintained for what it was - it just wasn't quite the right choice for us (and I've heard its up for sale too, which is kind of sad even though it wasn't our cup-o-tea - the owner made a wonderful tropical banana spread and a wicked banana rum as well!!)
My suggestion: contact Saba Deep and tell them what you're after. There are rental cottages and other choices to be had for lodging if you're staying at least 3 nights. "Little" Mike was absolutely wonderful about giving advice and he and his wife Sally actually set up our reservations for us, as well as setting us up with a taxi driver to make sure we made it to the dives each morning (even if you did choose the Gatehouse, it's not like you're on the other side of the planet - the island just ain't that big).
Really I don't think you can go wrong at all wherever you stay, just consider your willingness to get up a bit earlier and/or have to hike a bit to get to where the taxi can meet you (our walk from our El Momo cottage to the road was only about 60 yards - of very steep stairs...ouch! Woke my knees up in a hurry each morning!!), and whether you want AC and real hot showers or not, and you'll find something right for you. Worst comes to worst, you learn (like we did) about the lodging, but you'll get another chance - the diving is worth going back for again. We certainly plan to sometime!!
I don't have any feedback regarding Sea Saba aside from 'we saw their boat'. They were a bit bigger (I don't think I can quite say 'cattleboat' not really knowing how they were laid out) than I'd prefer, and it seemed like they hung out for their surface interval rather than going back to dock.
We dove with "the Mikes" (and Oliver) at Saba Deep, and I couldn't begin to recommend them more!! They take smaller boats, moor and dive with you. We never had more than 8 divers total and generally it was more like 4-5. Most of the week my wife and I dove with a husband and wife who were both doctors from S Carolina who go there every single year for two weeks straight. Wonderful people. Another day we got to dive with one of the locals who runs a glass art shop near El Momo (Jobean). Basically if Saba Deep is the local's choice, that says a lot in our book... And Sally and her helper's cooking at their restaurant (In Too Deep) for lunch was also superb; perfect break in the day between dives 2 and 3!
Saba Deep just runs a small boat (open top with a half-cover on it), but don't be fooled by all the spouting about 40' luxury ships from the other guys...the slope off of Saba is so steep most of the dives are within about 10-15 min from shore even on a little boat...you're not there to pay someone's yacht mortgage after all, you're there to dive!! Again, I've got nothing BAD to say about SeaSaba, as I have no experience with them. I just loved the personal experience with Saba Deep too much to even consider anyone else (narrow-minded bahstid, I am
)Housing is semi-limited on Saba in choices. I think there's just like 3-4 hotels, the rest being cottage rentals. The Gatehouse hotel is gorgeous, but way on the airport side of the island so its a bit out of the way. You'll need a taxi or ride (maybe they provide, I don't know) to visit much else from the hotel itself...Saba is VERY mountainous so even extremely short hikes seem waaaaay longer
. Princess Juliana Resort from what we saw is similarly very nice, and more centrally located (the Dr.'s we dove with stayed there). I don't know anything about the Willard's place other than that people have said its pricey, or Scout's Place (?? is that even the name or still there ??), and at the very top o' the mount is the Ecolodge which is a bit more adventuresome, and probably a bit awkward for getting to early morning dives. At the lower-cost end, we stayed at the El Momo cottages, which were more a 'backpacker'/eco-friendly type stay. I'd have to say we wouldn't do El Momo again in July - no AC and only small fans in the cottages, and a rather lot of noise from insects/frogs and the like at night, so if 'camping' isn't your thing you might want something a tad nicer. No real complaints, great hospitality and nicely maintained for what it was - it just wasn't quite the right choice for us (and I've heard its up for sale too, which is kind of sad even though it wasn't our cup-o-tea - the owner made a wonderful tropical banana spread and a wicked banana rum as well!!)
My suggestion: contact Saba Deep and tell them what you're after. There are rental cottages and other choices to be had for lodging if you're staying at least 3 nights. "Little" Mike was absolutely wonderful about giving advice and he and his wife Sally actually set up our reservations for us, as well as setting us up with a taxi driver to make sure we made it to the dives each morning (even if you did choose the Gatehouse, it's not like you're on the other side of the planet - the island just ain't that big).
Really I don't think you can go wrong at all wherever you stay, just consider your willingness to get up a bit earlier and/or have to hike a bit to get to where the taxi can meet you (our walk from our El Momo cottage to the road was only about 60 yards - of very steep stairs...ouch! Woke my knees up in a hurry each morning!!), and whether you want AC and real hot showers or not, and you'll find something right for you. Worst comes to worst, you learn (like we did) about the lodging, but you'll get another chance - the diving is worth going back for again. We certainly plan to sometime!!
gatorchick
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I dove with Sea Saba for 3 days end of May/June 06. I thought they were great, they were recommended by the Eco-Lodge. I went to Saba solo on a side trip from St. Maarten as I was told not to waste my time diving in St. Maarten, that advice could not have been more correct! (Except that I did dive for 2 days in St. Maaten but it was a joke). I stayed at Eco-lodge one night, I had a cute cottage, great restaurant (I was there on the night they have the nature slide show), and great staff....just not my speed so much as I was solo. I stayed another 2 nights at Juliana's on windwardise, much more my speed, A/C, hot shower, nice pool, hot tub, and good restaurant. I can't wait to go back...I'm looking into applying to the med school there but I think the atraction is just the island and not the notion of wanting to be an MD.
djanni
Contributor
Two or so years ago my wife and I dove with Big Mike and Little Mike at Saba Deep.
Big Mike is the DM and boat captian. He's a character. We liked him a lot. Little Mike owns the place.
We didn't stay on the Island but took a boad ride over there two separate days and did 4 dives.
We've considered going back and staying on the island for a week and assuming Mike still owns the place we'd dive with them.
The diving was incredible albeit on the deep side. 70+ I'd say. You know the stories about jumping into an aquarium... Saba is where they come from.
Let us know how it was if you go.
Big Mike is the DM and boat captian. He's a character. We liked him a lot. Little Mike owns the place.
We didn't stay on the Island but took a boad ride over there two separate days and did 4 dives.
We've considered going back and staying on the island for a week and assuming Mike still owns the place we'd dive with them.
The diving was incredible albeit on the deep side. 70+ I'd say. You know the stories about jumping into an aquarium... Saba is where they come from.
Let us know how it was if you go.
OP
H2Andy
Contributor
great, thank you guys...
i took a look at Deep Saba and Jualianna's and they look just like my wife and
my cup of tea... definetely look good
follow up question:
what's there to do for non-divers (my wife)?
i took a look at Deep Saba and Jualianna's and they look just like my wife and
my cup of tea... definetely look good
follow up question:
what's there to do for non-divers (my wife)?
Basically not much to do unless she likes hiking. There is a tiny bit of shopping, if you stay at the Gatehouse it's above the airport and you can watch the planes land which is cool. I believe the wife of Little Mike from Saba Deep has a massage place in town.
Ber :lilbunny:
Ber :lilbunny:
Jamdiver
Guest
H2Andy:
Not much andy, maybe hike and sight see a bit.
Perhaps i'll see you there in July??
OP
H2Andy
Contributor
dang ... we're shooting for October/November
(lots of scheduling issues...)
(lots of scheduling issues...)
We were in Saba and Statia at the beginning of the month. We stayed at Julianna's and dove with Sea Saba. Lynn at Sea Saba can set up all of your reservations. Have your wife take the glass beadmaking course at JoBean's. My daughter and I spent an afternoon making beads. Your wife can also spend time wandering around Windwardside. There is virtuallly no crime on the island. In fact, they didn't even give us keys to the rooms. At Julianna's we stayed in Flossie's Cottage. It does not have A/C but has nice cross winds at night and ceiling fans. The other people in our group stayed in the regular garden rooms and had A/C. I believe the Orchid Cottage has air and some sort of a private outdoor shower. There are 2 computers with internet access at the hotel for the guests. The hike up Mt. Scenery is tough but worth doing--just not on a diving day. Sea Saba was great. We usually had about 5-8 people on our boat. The diving was incredible. Great vis, little current, the healthiest coral I have ever seen and life everywhere. Make sure that they take you to Diamond Rock. It is a pinnacle that actually comes out of the water. We saw several turtles, a carribean reef shark and a free swimming octopus on that dive. Don't miss the slideshow at the Ecolodge and barbeque night at the Swinging Doors.
If you have extra time you can take a WinAir flight over to Statia (St. Eustatius) for a couple of days. We stayed at the Old Gin House and dove with Golden Rock (both owned by the same couple). The diving there is shallower but both are very easy, relaxed diving. On Statia you can search for Blue Beads that slaves used as money in the 17 and 1800s. The 3 of us found 2 full beads, a half bead and one other piece of one. They are the one thing that is legal to remove from the marine park. If there is any other questions I can answer, feel free to ask. We had our kids and parents with us and they found more than enough to do without diving.
If you have extra time you can take a WinAir flight over to Statia (St. Eustatius) for a couple of days. We stayed at the Old Gin House and dove with Golden Rock (both owned by the same couple). The diving there is shallower but both are very easy, relaxed diving. On Statia you can search for Blue Beads that slaves used as money in the 17 and 1800s. The 3 of us found 2 full beads, a half bead and one other piece of one. They are the one thing that is legal to remove from the marine park. If there is any other questions I can answer, feel free to ask. We had our kids and parents with us and they found more than enough to do without diving.
Tim Ingersoll
Contributor
Just booked my air for January, 2007! Really looking forward to it.
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