Golden Rock Resort, a luxury eco-retreat on St. Eustatius, has opened Statia Divers, a PADI-authorized dive center. Perched cliffside with views of the coastline, the facility offers a range of PADI courses, valet-guided dives and top-tier ScubaPro rental gear.
Statia Divers by Golden Rock Resort provides services from its dedicated on-boat dive crew, including gear assembly, transfer to dive boats, refreshments and personalized dive experiences tailored to individual preferences. The center's two boats, named Patricia and Stormy, can accommodate up to 16 and 22 divers, respectively.
• Related: Ecotourism activities on St. Eustatius
Catering to divers of all skill levels, the center's instructors teach a variety of PADI courses ranging from Discover Scuba Diving to advanced specialties like Deep Diving and Divemaster certification as well as water training and "bubblemaster" classes for children ages 8 and up. Courses take place in the resort's ocean-fed lagoon, which it descrives as the largest in the Caribbean; it features a sunken American school bus 27 feet below the surface.
The dive center boasts modern amenities and offers ScubaPro rental gear and a dedicated camera room for underwater photographers and videographers.
The protected St. Eustatius National Marine Park has 36 dive sites, including several 18th-century shipwrecks and reefs with colorful marine life.
Golden Rock Resort sits on 40 acres overlooking the water and offers 75 rooms, suites and standalone cottages. Amenities include two restaurants; two swimming pools; a spa; outdoor yoga sessions; paddleball and pickleball courts and a multipurpose tennis court; an oceanfront gym; an outdoor yoga platform; a 17-hole minigolf course; and two conference rooms.