Island Profile: Saba

Best known for undersea pinnacles that thrust upward from deep water As round as a compass, tiny Saba rockets straight out of the sea to nearly 3,000 feet elevation where the mountain peak meets the clouds in a marvelous rain forest thriving in the crater of Mount Scenery, an extinct volcano. Climbing the 1,064 steps to the top is a worthwhile adventure, especially since there aren't any beaches on the island on which to pass the time.There aren't really any resorts on Saba, but more a collection of inns and guesthouses. Nightlife mostly consists of storytelling and sampling Saba Spice, the locally brewed rum liqueur. Accommodations are up the mountain (as is everything), so all the dive operators provide door-to-door transfers to their boats.A marine park with strict enforcement surrounds Saba, ensuring that its 30 or so moored sites remain in excellent condition. Most are on the lee side and few are more than 15 minutes' boat ride. While Saba does have spur-and-groove corals and its share of walls, it is best known for pinnacles that thrust up from deep water. The signature dive is Third Encounter (sometimes called Eye of the Needle), a coral-encrusted column in blue water that attracts pelagics of all types.Both Dutch and English are spoken. Money is the Netherlands Antilles florin or guilder, US$1 = $1.80. From the U.S. you must travel through St. Maarten to reach Saba. Continental and American fly non-stops there. You must then use one of the regional Caribbean airlines or transfer by boat. For more information about traveling to Saba, accomodations, diving services and special dive packages, click on the home page below. For more information about diving Saba by live-aboard, click on the home page below.