Nestled in the northeastern Caribbean sea lies Saba, a 13 km² (5 square mile) island classed as a municipality of the Netherlands. While you may not have heard of this secret escape, Saba certainly holds its own on scuba diving bucket lists. This eco-conscious island enjoins adventure with relaxation from opportunities to join a Saba liveaboard or to explore the only road on the island.
It’s not hard to justify Saba’s place on your bucket list.
- Saba promotes Eco-Tourism
- There’s more to Saba than diving
- You can join an awesome Saba liveaboard
- It’s a hidden gem
- You’ll struggle to get lost
- It boasts incredible underwater topography
Saba Promotes Eco-Tourism
Saba is often called the “unspoiled queen” of the Caribbean thanks to the smaller numbers of tourists that visit the island, allowing it to maintain its natural beauty. In light of this, large areas of the island remain undeveloped and covered in natural greenery.
The majority of Saba’s tourism comes from the nearby island of St.Marteen. From here, holiday makers take the ferry to visit Saba for day trips, as opposed to long stays. As a result, the island avoids the impact of longer stays from tourists while still generating income for the locals.
There’s More to Saba Than Diving
While diving in Saba is popular, the other main attraction is hiking. Many venture to Saba to tackle the potentially active volcano called Mount Scenery. This is the highest point of both Saba and the Netherlands, sitting at 887 metres (2,910 feet). Upon reaching the summit, you’ll encounter striking views of the surrounding islands: St. Kitts, St. Barts, St. Marteen, and St. Eustatius.
Additionally, the island features 12 designated hiking trails alongside climbing areas maintained by the Saba Conservation Foundation. Although small, Saba is mighty when it comes to adventures.
You Can Join an Awesome Saba Liveaboard
As well as resort-based diving, liveaboards are also a popular way to explore the diving scene of Saba. Currently, the only liveaboard that explores Saba and St.Kitts is the Caribbean Explorer II. It usually departs from Bobby’s Marina in the neighboring island of St Maarten before following a southbound itinerary to include Saba.
If you’re new to liveaboard diving and not sure where to start, check out our liveaboard FAQ’s here.
It’s a Hidden Gem
As the smallest island in the Caribbean, Saba is truly a hidden gem. It’s an ideal destination for those who want to avoid mass crowds and would rather add an unusual destination to their diving bucket list as opposed to the more popular spots.
The island is totally free from large resorts, casinos and chartered flights, making it less tourism-heavy. With this in mind, Saba heavily avoids the environmental damage that has come with mass tourism to other Caribbean islands.
Lastly, the journey to Saba itself does not include a direct flight from major airports, so the route is not extremely popular.
You’ll Struggle to Get Lost
One of Saba’s awesome features is that it only has one “real” road. Aptly named “The Road”, it runs through the center of the island, connecting all four of the small villages. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can opt to rent a car to explore the island yourself.
The single harbor on the island, named Well’s Way, also holds the only beach. Bear in mind, Saba is a mountainous landscape with rocky shores rather than pearly white beaches!
Incredible Underwater Topography
The Saba National Marine Park was created in 1987 to protect the surrounding marine environment of the island. This has helped to maintain the pristine quality of the coral reef and levels of marine life. With over 150 different species protected, marine life is abundant.
All of the diving in Saba is done by boat. So, if you’re joining a Saba liveaboard, you’ll encounter the incredible topography without a doubt.
The volcanic landscape of the island results in five of the most popular dive sites in Saba. A particularly loved site is “Man O’ War Shoals” with two towering pinnacles and a swim-through. There is also “Diamond Rock” bursting with pinnacles, swim-throughs, caverns and tunnels. Yes, that’s a lot to see in one dive site!
Want to Visit Saba?
What if we told you that your dream Saba vacation is just a click away? PADI Travel has two resorts on Saba itself, as well as liveaboards departing from surrounding islands in the Caribbean.
