Dive Review of Scubaqua/The Old Gin House in
St. Eustatius

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Scubaqua/The Old Gin House: "Great dive operation, beautiful reefs", Jun, 2023, by JJohnson, NC, US ( Reviewer 5 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 12450.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Scubaqua runs a friendly and safe operation. Guides are knowledgeable and competent and dive briefings were good. Boats do not have specific accommodations for camera gear but guides were careful and helpful with mine. As another reviewed, there was a substantial amount of purple algae present on the reefs but reefs were not damaged by it and my understanding is that STENAPA (marine sanctuary management) does not yet know if this is harmful or not. Regardless, the reefs were abundant and healthy. Beautiful color. Even the artificial reefs created in the early 2000s were vibrant. Lots of small critters, no large animals though we did see several turtles and a couple of reef sharks. The dive shop will arrange lodging at The Old Gin House and book your dive package. Lodging includes breakfast. The Old Gin House has 2 updated rooms overlooking the water, where we stayed. Bed was very comfortable. Cannot comment on the other rooms. Gin House has a restaurant and the Barrel House is next door, run by same management. Down the road are a couple other places to eat. All food was quite expensive but good. You can also walk up hill to the small town and buy snacks and basics at the store. Though the island is Dutch, USD is the currency and everyone speaks English.
Websites	Scubaqua The Old Gin House
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Indonesia, Philippines, Caribbean, Malaysia, Southeast coast Atlantic
Closest Airport	St. Eustatius	Getting There	Miami to St. Maarten then Winair flight to St. Eustatius, or ferry from St. Maarten to St. Eustatius (ferry takes 3 hours and can be rough).
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, choppy
Water Temp	80-83°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-70 Ft/ 15-21 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Notify guide when at 1/2 tank and at 750psi.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	As above. Larger boat has fresh water tank for camera gear, smaller boat does not. Guides were very helpful and careful with my gear. Rinse tank on shore. Lots of small critters and colorful, abundant coral.

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Dive Review of Scubaqua/The Old Gin House in St. Eustatius

Scubaqua/The Old Gin House: "Great dive operation, beautiful reefs", Jun, 2023,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Scubaqua/The Old Gin House in
St. Eustatius