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as seen in...
Visiting university students
SABA—Six students from Samford University and their professor spent Friday morning learning to make glass beads from recycled glass to support a programme to save endangered sea turtles. JoBean, of JoBean Glass Studio, had invited the undergraduates to get acquainted with her special sea turtle nature conservation project. Samford Professor Jennifer Rahn said that the students, who are follow an undergraduate course on ecology and scientific methodology, were enjoying a recreational activity, but also adding to the supplied of beads used in JoBean’s Sea Turtle Bottle Beads project.
read how Jo Bean met the
Widecast folks The project is a collaboration between the Nature Seekers organization, WIDECAST, JoBean Glass, and BHP Billiton of Trinidad and Tobago. JoBean held workshops last year on St. Kitts and Trinidad and Tobago to teach the skill of using recycled glass to make beads to create an income stream for residents to replace their illegal turtle harvesting. All sea turtles are on the CITES endangered species list. The students are also working on PADI advanced diver certificates and a PADI National Geographic Diver certification based on their individual Saba exploration research projects. Sport Diver
Magazine
SABA—The island’s yearly Sea & Learn nature programme is featured on a four- page spread of the October issue of the scuba magazine Sport Diver, the official publication of the PADI Diving Society. Publication of the article was timed to coincide with the Opening of the programme this Thursday. Featured in the Sport Diver article are Kathleen Dudzinsky, director of the Dolphin Communication Project, Vince Capone who uses underwater sonar to discover wrecks, and Saba’s own Tom van’t Hof, who lectures about roller-coaster history of the island’s Cloud Forest at the top of Mt. Scenery. Opening night of Sea & Learn 2009 is October 1, 5:30 at Scout’s Place Restaurant. Lt. Governor Jonathan Johnson will open the month-long programme, which is open to all. Registration is only required for certain day field trips. Thursday’s opening session will feature shark expert Mark Marks, a research biologist from Oregon. Marks is a returning guest speaker and appreciated for his dynamic presentations. Marks will get impressive competition from the Saba Youth Theatre Group, “the Sparky Theatre Club,” who will perform in their delightful fish costumes.The programme began seven years as a way to attract tourists to the island in the slow month of October. Nature experts and scientists are invited to the island, where, in exchange for a free stay, they participate in evening public lectures at island restaurants, invite interested parties to accompany them on Marine Park and terrestrial field trips, and spend lots of time at Saba’s elementary and high school, to bring this generation in contact with the natural world. In addition, the youth programmes of the Saba Conservation Foundation- Rangers, Scouts, etc. - has age-specific field trips for the younger crowd. Many of the participating experts are world known and have published extensively. Main organizer is Lynn Costenaro of Sea Saba who has managed to get funding from the Prince Bernard Foundation, AMFO, and many local businesses. She is expecting about 15 speakers, so that there can be about three lectures a week. Sign-up and scheduling information will be available at a tent in Lambee’s Place. Information is also available online at seaandlearn.org. Special Day at
©Photos courtesy Tom Greenway; story by Lynn Costenaro While researching our last trip (from Saba to Sabah) to the Danum Valley in Sabah, Borneo, we made contact with Ms. Tan, Research Assistant at Chicago's prestigious Field Museum. After sharing images of the frogs photographed after that trip, she invited John to conduct a photographic presentation for her colleagues at The Field. Ms. Tan originates from Borneo but has made her home in Chicago for the past 17 years. While living in Borneo and working as a laboratory assistant in Sabah Parks, she worked with famed biologist, Dr Robert Inger. After working together for 4 years, they married. Dr. Inger is Curator of the Reptile and Amphibian section of Chicago's Field Museum. He has traveled to and conducted research in Borneo and other areas of the world for more than 50 years. Before the presentation, we had the additional honor of a private tour of the "bowels" of the amphibian and reptile research area of the museum. In addition to the incredible works available for public viewing, The Field has huge archives below ground where researchers and scientists from around the world come to work. The Field is renowned for its collection of preserved specimens, some dating back over 100 years from some of the first collecting expeditions to South America and Asia. "It was a bit intimidating to speak before an audience of this level; however it was great to meet Ms. Tan and Dr. Inger who I greatly respect after using their publications for my own photographic purposes. Dr. Inger and Ms. Tan's level of energy and enthusiasm for their work was great to experience in person. Their sense of humor is all the more appreciated after seeing the patience needed for their incredibly detailed research procedures."
2nd Annual Watch this page for stories and photos coming soon!
Another Sea Saba Difference  Sea Saba is proud to announce that our entire staff are now Level 3 REEF Surveyors! What does that mean, you might ask? It means that we are masters at Fish identification and we are making huge efforts to make our dives count for something. Last month Sea Saba welcomed REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) to the island to help set up Saba as a field site for their program. REEF is well known thanks to Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach and their Reef ID books (which are available on Sea Saba boats). REEF has been around for almost 20 years, but has recently been stepping up efforts to recruit every day divers to their cause: "To conserve marine ecosystems for their recreational, commercial, and intrinsic value by educating, enlisting and enabling divers and other marine enthusiasts to become active stewards and citizen scientist."
Leiden archaeologist explains Mary’s Point dig SABA—Ryan Espersen shared his archaeology findings with the Saba public at a lecture last week at the Eugenius Center. Espersen, who is working on a Master’s Degree in Archaeology at the University of Leiden, has undertaken two expeditions to the Mary’s Point ruins, with an effort to establish when the village was established and its economic history. Espersen told an audience of about 30 that the small village is known folklorically as a pirate’s den and he hoped to find evidence whether the artefacts he discovered substantiate in any way that notion. Espersen displayed on two tables a variety of objects that he had unearthed, including ceramic pieces, bottles, tools, and two coins. One coin is 18th century from French Guiana and the other an 1862 Danish coin that indicate residents were involved in international commerce. In his background information, Espersen said that there is evidence that Saba was inhabited from 1800 BC, if only seasonally. Indigenous populations from South America would have used Saba for its wood, as evidenced by stone artefacts left behind. Dutch population is documented from the early 1630, but an English-speaking priest was requested a few decades later. Espersen, who also researched in the National Archives in Curaçao, said the first mention of a village at that location is a 1816 map which shows four houses just above Torrens Point with the notation “Palmetto Point.” A more accurate map from 1850 shows more houses and by 1934 when the village was vacated there were 13 dwellings. The small population relocated to The Promised Land in The Bottom. Espersen said that given the isolated location of the village, it is possible that it was used as a sanctuary for residents involved in illegal activities. He found evidence of heavily terraced areas of agriculture, with enough surplus that residents sold to other villages and also to other islands. The village would have descended to the well at Well’s Bay below for water and was essentially self-supporting. Leiden Archaeology Professors Menno Hoogland and Corinne Hofman were on hand for the lecture, since Espersen is their student. Hoogland and Hofman used their time on Saba to visit the Mary’s Point excavations and also to collect samples at 25 different locations for continued strontium studies on human remains found on other Saba locations. This research will help determine whether previous populations were born on Saba or elsewhere, which will help define population mobility.
Hurricane Omar
The island of Saba had already experienced some choppy seas and stormy weather over the weekend as a system of weather passed to the south of us. On Monday, the National Hurricane Center forecasted that the tropical depression that was already 600 miles southwest of us would be effected by a high pressure system that would push the storm back, making a north-easterly turn, and likely become a Tropical Storm and pass over Puerto Rico. Early Tuesday greater concern over the track of the storm and our ability to get our boats under the draw bridge in St. Maarten's Simpson Bay to reach 'safe harbor' in time forced us to finish our dive day after two days and head straight to St. Maarten with both Giant Stride and Sea Dragon. As per Sea Saba's annual Hurricane Plan, our staff had storm back packs ready and were met with them at the harbor. At this point in time, there was still great uncertainty surrounding the intensity and track of the storm so preliminary preparations were made, including returning all equipment to our customers. The NHC 5 a.m. update on Wednesday morning predicted Omar would be a Category 2 Hurricane headed for the Northern Leeward Islands. We went in to full storm preparation mode. The boats were taken out of the water in St. Maarten. Our main focus was the Fort Bay harbor facility where our compressors, dive equipment and all tools and machinery are held. After securing the harbor facility, Sea Saba's office area and crew homes were next...a long day. Incredible rain was upon us by 4:30 p.m. as we neared the final stages of storm preparations. By 10 p.m., the wind and thunderstorms began. Booby Hill and The Level received the highest winds with gusts up to 123 mph. But before you could worry how long it would last, by 5 a.m. the wind stopped and the sun was out. One large tree was down on Wall Street with leaf debris and branches in this area. Otherwise, it was hard to tell there was even a storm on Saba--no roof or house damage, a few flowers off.
We then drove to the Fort Bay Harbor where we were reminded of the wrath of Mother Nature--never under estimate her power! At 6:30 a.m., there were still 20' seas. In just 6 hours of the storm, the power of the sea did considerable damage to the buildings in the harbor area including the fishermen's buildings and the dive shops of Saba Divers and Sea Saba. As we started the cleanup of our Fort Bay facility hotel owners and our divers asked "when do you think you'll be diving again?" Tomorrow!
Sea Saba's workshop facility is set up with a double barrier, specifically to prevent severe storm damage. The most expensive assets are strategically positioned for this reason. At this writing, we are still assessing the damage but we are confident our compressors and larger machinery is in tact as well as all of our dive equipment with the exception of masks and fins which will be replaced in just 3 days. We will use this opportunity to improve our facility making the day-to-day operations run smoother and giving John more work space for all the special projects that keep us, and others, going. Marine scientists to survey success of Marine Park
SABA—A group of six scientists from the University of Rhode Island will be on Saba this week conducting a unique assessment of the success of the Saba Marine Park. Saba is just one of 35 Caribbean Marine Parks which is part of a four-year study sponsored by the National Science Foundation, under the leadership of marine biologist Professor Graham Forrester. The five team members are graduate students. Forrester said that the study is unique because it combines both an inventory of underwater biodiversity and community social factors, such as the local population’s perception of the Marine Park as a success and its benefits to the community. Forrester said another important point is that since the research criteria area being used in each of the 35 studies, the information gathering is consistent, will allow for reliable comparisons, and will produce a dependable outcome. With the support of the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), four team members will undertake approximately three dives a day to complete an underwater survey. This will include fish, hard corals, soft corals, and so forth. Two team members—Sarah Smith and Kate Mulvaney—will interview 60-100 members of the community. Two Saba teenagers will serve as community guides. Smith and Mulvaney said that the survey questionnaire would only take about 15 minutes and is completely confidential. The pair will also interview SCF staff and board members as well as government officials. Forrester said that there were objective criteria to measure success such as: are users willing to follow the park rules, is staffing adequate, does financing work, is there a management plan, have fisheries improved, does the community perceive itself better off with the park, etc. The team surveyed 21 Caribbean marine parks during the last two summers, which included Belize and Honduras. This summer will complete the assignment with 14 parks, with visits to Curaçao, Bonaire, Statia, and Saba. The final research will be published and Forrester said that workshops would be held for Caribbean NGOs and park managers to share the information with them so that they can use the proven indicators to judge their own progress.
Archaeologists to research Mary’s Point Ruin SABA—Two young Canadian archaeology students, Ryan Espersen and John Ratcliffe, are investigating the Mary’s Point Village ruin in the northwest corner of the island. Masters Candidate Ryan Espersen is particularly interested in determining when Mary’s Point was first settled and what was its economic status. All permissions to investigate Mary’s Point were secured with island government before the young men started their task of clearing out the incredibly overgrown site. The young men received assistance from Saba Conservation Foundation Trail Ranger James Johnson who helped them clear debris with a chain saw. Public Works is assisting with transportation. Espersen said that there are about 12 foundations on the site, and he will be looking for clues in these areas and in refuse areas or middens. There is a claim that Mary’s Point was originally a Pirate’s den but there are no concrete artefacts to support this, Espersen said. If this were true, he would expect to find some sort of evidence of “luxury items,” which would be out of the usual and would indicate that these goods were acquired in an unorthodox fashion. He has already located pieces of clay pipes, nails, and a piece of a chamber pot, which will be handed over to the museum when he has completed his verifications.
The last look at the site was by Archaeologist Jay Haviser in the early 1980s. Mary’s Point is located in very rough terrain and was vacated in the 1930s because residents had difficulty accessing schools, medical facilities, and other amenities. Many of them resettled in an area of The Bottom called “The Promised Land.” On Wednesday morning, the archaeologists were called down to Spring Bay to look at some bones that had been found by a hiker, and were thought possibly to be from a gravesite. The remains were determined to be of a large animal, however. Ryan Espersen is a student of Archaeology Professor Corinne Hofman at Leiden University, the Netherlands, who with husband Menno Hoagland has done extensive research on Saba. Espersen will use this research for his Master’s Degree Thesis. He is assisted by John Ratcliffe, whom he met on St. Eustatius were both were working with Statia archaeologist Grant Gilmore II. Read more about Saba's history and link to the specific articles about the archaeology work done on the island on the History & Lore page of this website.
Saba Rocks (a
few times)
Saba—Lt. Governor Syndey Sorton updated the Island Council during its Friday meeting on seismic activity experienced on the island in the month of January. He assured that all on-island measuring equipment is in good working order. Two tremors were felt on Monday, January 14 at 10:30am (3.8 Richter Scale) and 10:35am (3.9 Richter Scale). They were measured near Saba at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres. On Sunday, January 27, another two tremors were felt shortly after midnight, measuring 3.5 and 3.6 respectively on the Richter Scale and located in the same area. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (RNMI) analyzed the earthquakes and concluded that they were cause by shifts in the nearby tectonic plates, and were not volcanic in origin. Sorton explained that the RNMI was charged by the Central Government in 2006 with seismic monitory on Saba, replacing the Seismic Research Unit of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad. The RNMI installed systems on the three Windward Islands in November 2006 and it continually monitors activity over the Internet. Locally, the SATEL phone company is in charge of the equipment. Sorton said that representatives from the RNMI, the Meteorological Office of the Netherlands Antilles/Aruba, the Puerto Rico Meteorological office, and technicians from the Seismic Research Unit met February 25-29 at UWI in Trinidad. The meeting resulted in an agreement that a protocol should be signed between the RNMI and the UWI Seismic Research Unit to monitor activity on the Windward Islands. Citizens can obtain current seismic and weather information by visiting the RNMI web site at http://www.knmi.nl. Saba Conservation Foundation
SABA—Champagne was opened at Fort Bay’s small pier Monday afternoon to celebrate the new Marine Park Boat, the “Lady Rebecca.” The boat was named after Rebecca (née Jones) Levenstone of The Bottom. Levenstone, who died in 1988, had 15 children, and the two who live on Saba – Bernadette and Joe - were on hand for the ceremony. Also present for the libations were Acting Lt. Governor Jonathan Johnson, former Commissioner Will Johnson, Director of Tourism Glenn Holm, Harbour Staff Rollie Levenstone, Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF) Board members and staff, and representatives from the dive shops. SCF Manager Jan den Dulk said that he had chosen the name “Lady Rebecca” because Rebecca Levenstone was one of Saba’s sturdy transport persons, often carrying goods up from Fort Bay to The Bottom herself or with the help of a donkey. Her daughter Bernadette said that her mother often travelled from Saba to St. Eustatius and St. Kitts to bring back trade goods such as cloth to the island. Den Dulk said the new boat would replace the Sabina II, which is reserved for the use of Saba Bank studies. Den Dulk said the new boat is much more appropriate to the work of the Marine Park since it is more a commercial working boat. It is heavier and wider which will make it more sea worthy. It has two 150 hp, four-stroke Yamaha outboard engines. It will soon be outfitted with tank holders, cleats, and other necessary hardware. Den Dulk said he was very happy for the new boat which will make the work of the Marine Park much easier and safer.
No More Excuses;  As a PADI Gold Palm Resort, Sea Saba adheres to the highest standards in the industry. As well, we employ a top-notch instructor team to ensure we are at the leading edge. In line with this concept, we will soon be announcing more details on how you can start your diving training in the comfort of your own home via PADI's new E-Learning program. Don't worry! This new concept is not compromising the normal safety standards and the camaraderie created between teacher and student. Instead, the academic portion of the course can now easily be accomplished at your leisure on your computer. Our instructor will still spend the required time with you for pool training and of course, your open water dives. So grab that friend who keeps saying "I don't have time to learn to dive". It's time; no more excuses. Go to the Training and Courses page of our website to understand which introductory course is right for you. Link to E-Learn and start today!
Saba Herbarium Collection
Jeopardized;
SABA—Over 800 Saba plants ended up in quarantine at JFK Airport recently, almost spoiling a very successful herbarium expedition to the island. Homeland Security agents seized the entire “catch” of the three New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) botanists when they entered the United States on March 13th. The specimens will eventually be posted to the NYBG’s virtual herbarium web site, “Plants and Lichens of Saba.” see launching story and photos below Expedition leader Dr. William Buck said that the group had left Saba with all permissions in hand, including permits required to leave the Netherlands Antilles and to enter the United States with the collection. However, when the group was going through Agricultural Inspection at U.S. Customs, run by the Department of Homeland Security, the agent stopped Dr. Scott Mori, who had about 400 plant specimens, carefully laid between pages of Daily Herald newsprint. The specimens had been dried on Saba, were all identified in the margin of the newspapers, and had been carefully placed in a suitcase. Once Mori was stopped, the agent then recalled Buck, who had already passed through to give up his collections of about 330 specimens as well. For reasons that were not clear to the scientists, the specimens were seized, apparently for further identification. Buck said that the concern was that the specimens could possibly deteriorate and mold in the close confines of their packaging, which is required to be watertight. Another worry was that an examining agent might rummage through the samples and damage them or mix them up. The plants were in a type of quarantine for 10 days as officials decided what to do with them. In the end, Buck said that all but one sample was returned. The confiscated plant was Cuscuta americana, known locally as Dodder Vine or Love Vine. It was considered a noxious weed. This decision appeared somewhat arbitrary since The New York Botanical Garden has imported it on previous trips with no problem. In addition the collection also included Antigonon leptopus, or Coralita, an invasive species, which went through with no problem. St. Eustatius is currently running a program to eradicate Coralita, which has invaded the island even more than it has Saba. The scientists regained their collections intact on Monday. Mori said that one reason that the plants survived the detention was the careful drying process they had undergone on Saba before being packed. Buck said that scientists need to work to educate Homeland Security agents to recognize when a scientific expedition is well prepared and has the appropriate paper work so that the scientists can quickly get the samples to a safe, climate controlled environment for further cataloguing. “This isn’t the same as confiscating a piece of fruit from a tourist!” Buck said, venting his frustration that the team’s work on behalf of Conservation International to catalog every plant on Saba came very close to annihilation. In Cooperation with
©Photos and story courtesy Suzanne
Nielsen,
SABA—Commissioner Will Johnson launched Saturday evening the first public viewing of the web site of the Plants and Lichens of Saba, created by scientists at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). www.sweetgum.nybg.org/saba/index.html At a public showing at the Tropics Café, Johnson “flipped the switch” by touching the keyboard of the computer set up to project the site on the huge screen that the Café uses for its Friday-night movies. With plant specialist Dr. Scott Mori of the New York Botanical Garden at the helm of a laptop computer, the audience navigated through the site, which currently has over 1,000 photos. Each plant is represented by pictures taken by expedition photographer Carol Gracie, images of the sheets of pressed plants prepared for the NYBG herbarium, details about the plant’s identification with scientific and common names, where on Saba the plant was collected by GPS coordinates, and other particulars.
Expedition leader Dr. William Buck, a specialist in mosses, said that soon after the founding of the NYBG in the late 1890s, it chose the West Indies for its first international expedition. The current group was very interested in carrying on this tradition with this expedition to Saba. The goal of the project, which is funded by Conservation International, is no less ambitious than to catalogue every plant on Saba. There have been previous plant surveys of Saba, with some specimens processed and entered into Herbariums, however, this information is only available to scientists and is not organized in a meaningful way. The unique part of the current project is that all information—specimen, photos, and plant identification--is digitized so that it can be shared any where in the world. The site is not copyright protected, so that any interested person can download the images of their choice. During the current 10-day trip, the botanists will gather hundreds more plants, mosses, and lichens, which will be added to the site by Mori. Mori will also expand the accessibility of the site by adding more common names and by creating pages of flowers which look alike so that a search could be made on physical appearance only, such as the plant has yellow flowers. Mori said that it was important for the work to be continued by the Saban community, and he encouraged young Sabans to take up a career in science. Paul Hoetjes, Senior Police Advisor at the Department of Environment and Nature on Curaçao secured all export permits for any endangered species the group is taking back to the NYBG. The web site for the Plants and Lichens of Saba is http://sweetgum.nybg.org/saba/index.html.
Tropics Cafe Focuses on
Tropics Cafe is limiting its dinner openings to just 3 nights per week. Join the fun with Paula's Down-Island specialties--originally from the island of St. Vincent, Paula's home cooked Caribbean Night is a night not to miss--from stewed conch to coconut chicken, look forward to different specials each week. Friday Night remains as the ever popular Movie Night--a burger (beef, chicken or veggie) and a movie in a fun outdoor ambience for just $10--can't be beat! And finally on Sundays...back by popular demand...enjoy Wim's beer battered Fish N Chips night. Tropics Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. On Mondays, the hotel's cafe is open for breakfast only. Understanding venturing out in to Windwardside to try different restaurants is part of the Saba experience, Check out the other nightly specials offered by island eateries on our Taste of Saba page of this website. El Momo
Cottages Upgrades
El Momo Cottages opened in 1996 on the premise of 'cheap and cheerful'. Over the years, this property has evolved to now attract travelers ranging from backpackers to upscale travelers. The common denominator is the appreciation of nature in a simple setting. "Peace, Nature, Silence" is El Momo's slogan. All cottages have outstanding views matched only by the reknowned Willard's of Saba at 5x the price. The service has remained at this eco retreat while little improvements have made it all the easier for any level travel to enjoy the ambience created by Angelika and Oliver Hartleib. New for the 2007 season, the Hartleib's have upgraded all bathrooms and equipped them with electric instant showers. In order to keep water and power consumption low each bathroom has it's own heater. Installation close to the point of use avoids the otherwise inevitable loss of heat from the hot water pipes of a centralized facility. Electricity is only used while showering. The new showers are high quality made-in-Germany products with easy-to-use electronic step-less rotary temperature selector, safety device and build in ELCB protector (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker). Of course the popular solar showers are still available, but in case of less sunshine, you now have an additional choice and hot water is 100% guaranteed. And as the moon was never working to full satisfaction, early morning showers can be warm ones.
4th Annual Award-Winning
The 4th Annual Sea & Learn event was another great success. View the calendar on the Sea & Learn website to see what you missed in 2006. Monitor the website to see what's in store for 2007. The month-long award winning program brings in nature experts from around the world. Some examples of this year's subjects: frogs, sharks, crabs, cloud forests, sponges, tropical birds, orchids, stingrays and more! Evening presentations are scheduled throughout the month along with "hands on" field projects. The experts also work specifically with Saba's school children and youth groups. Read more about the event, its history, this years' calendar and the intriguing guest list. It's just another reason to visit Saba. Sea Saba is a proud founding sponsor of this event. Saba
Meets the Press:
©Photo
and story courtesy of Suzanne Nielsen, SABA—Saba
is the featured article in the current issue of the German dive magazine
“Unterwasser.” With
“Saba” in bold on the front cover, the four-color, 10-page spread
entitled “Caribbean Queen” extols the attractiveness of Saba as the
destination for the dive tourist. Saba
is also featured on the magazine’s extensive web site at www.underwasser.de.
“Unterwasser” is a monthly publication of Olympia Publications with
editorial offices in Nuremberg, Germany. Writer/photographer team Alex Kassler and Sandra Lönnig respectively visited the island in February, staying at El Momo Cottages. The first impression of the island reminded them of Jurassic Park, and they considered Saba t be one of the last natural paradises in the Caribbean. The enjoyed the lack of ostentation, and enjoyed the peace, relaxation, friendly islanders, and unique nature. The
article features a photo of Trail Guide James “Crocodile” Johnson, who
took the couple on the All Too Far trail, and many underwater shots taken
by local diver and photographer Michael Chammaa. The couple comments that
the many facets of the landscape are reflected in the population melting
pot. They found the population very outgoing, and ready to chat, even from
car window to car window when stopping for a quick catch-up on The Road. Saba’s restaurants also come in for a good report. Several of the island’s spectacular dive sites are described as well as background information on how to get to Saba and what to expect on the island. Photographer Lönnig was so impressed she returned to Saba several weeks ago and is helping out at Scout’s Place and getting to know the island even better. lick to read the full article in Unterwasser on-line version of the magazine (in German). Watch for the update on July 2006 article about Saba in magazine as well! It's
not too late for a Summer Getaway!
A great way to bring home your best summer memories at a great price...Book now and enjoy the Sea Saba Sweet Summer Special for 2006. $899 includes 6 nights, 9 dives, 3 dinners @ Tropics, daily breakfast, airport and daily transfers, tanks and weights, hotel tax and hotel service charge, free upgrade to an ocean view room AND WAIT, THERE'S MORE...your choice of a 3-day digital camera rental OR a PADI Enriched Air/Nitrox Course, OR unlimited nitrox tanks. Sea Saba's underwater 5-megapixel digital camera system offers you 200 high resolution photos per day (provided you don't play with the camera too much between dives and wear down the batteries!) or you can even do up to 20 minutes of video! Based on availability and some normal restrictions apply...contact us or your favorite travel specialist to book. This offer valid only through September 30, 2006; based on double occupancy; contact us for single supplement pricing. Not
Just a Photo Section
What's a dive center website without photos of what you should expect to see? Well, uninspiring to start. Since inception of this website, we've had a Photo Gallery...but quite honestly, we've neglected updating the original photo area of this site for sometime--instead we expanded other areas of our website so that you will find photos of Saba and its diving all over this site (don't miss the Nature News page for starters) In April 2006, Lynn found the time and a new inspiration for revamping while on a trip to Costa Rica. Long hours on planes and buses afforded the time to put the new concept together. Saba Images and Beyond was born of our love and concern for nature and the planet. The result is something a little different. Sure, we have great photos of Saba. But you'll find the sample photos link to larger images, more information from scientific facts, interesting stories and even photo tips. AND, this section of the website is really a mini-website within this site. You'll find it also links to other examples of creatures found on our travels, together with more interesting tidbits and tales. We hope you enjoy it and appreciate your feedback. Sea
Saba's Newest Faces
One of the best compliments we receive from our many return clients is "gee, there's always some new faces but somehow you continue to employ top-notch staff". As you can guess, the dive industry often attracts employees who by their nature and choice of careers have a zest for travel which equates to short-term employment. We're proud of our long-term employees (Sue now with us 10 years, Bruno is on his second term now almost 4 years, Alex and Carolyn 2 years and Gersh now in his second year but a homeowner :-) but also recognize that 'fresh blood' is often times invigorating for all of us as well as our customers. Vivi & Travis actually arrived on Saba in late February. They're now official--go to the "Meet the Sea Saba Crew" page of this site for their bios and look forward to diving with our newest talent. Need a daily
dose of Saba?
Believe it or not, about 50% of our clients ask about buying Saba real estate. Most whisper it to me on about day 3 apparently thinking they were the first to imagine living on this beautiful Caribbean gem and that I must know of a hot (read:cheap) little Saba cottage to buy. Well, wrong on both counts...wrong about being first and wrong about the great deals on properties. But, not wrong to think it's a great place to live. Many of Sea Saba's diving clients have bought homes here (most of the rental cottages on our Dive Packages page are owned by these clients who live here part time or own the property as a future retirement destination). But Joel and Heather not only bought a home (Daphne Cottage), they changed their lives by moving to Saba--just for the winter so far. Joel actually 'home offices' with his northeast job from Daphne Cottage. But wife Heather is busy building her new business of 'lifestyle coaching'. Live.YourCaribbeanDream.Com is their blog (daily journal) which gives you a realistic look at what it's like for two thirty something Americans to make the transition from living in the rat race to live in paradise. From their new perspective on shopping and banking to dive site reviews, the blog is well written, insightful and perhaps even addictive. Always
Better for Diving
Sea Saba's muck diving area is where our boats are moored each evening. As there are a number of vessels in this area, it often attracts yachts which either pick up private moorings or worse, anchor. The addition of yellow yacht moorings makes the area more convenient for visiting yachts which translates in to a positive economic situation for the island but also a welcomed protection for this fragile environment. SABA—Four
new yacht moorings will be added to the south side of the island in the
next few weeks. Harbor Master Bruce Zagers said that the project was a
joint venture between island government and the Saba National Marine Park. Public works has already poured the giant mooring blocks and they are currently curing at the end of the container park at Fort Bay. When they are ready, Marine Park Ranger Stan Peterson will assist in attaching chains, ropes and buoys, before the blocks are loaded onto a barge to take them to the east of the current dive boat moorings. When appropriated positioned, the blocks will be pushed off the barge, and only a checkout dive will be necessary. Peterson said that the blocks are the standard size, to accommodate a 50-foot yacht. Two of the moorings will be in 40 feet of water and two others at a depth of 60 feet. Peterson said that since the beginning of the year there had been an abundance of northerly swells which made difficult the seven yacht moorings to the west of Fort Bay, especially when the yachts tendered into the harbour. With the Fort Bay environment how in top shape, with the new breakwater and other improvements, it is anticipated that yacht traffic will increase. There has been a marked increase in small cruisers stopping several times a week during this season. “This way the yachts have an option and are much closer to landfall-it is more convenient for them,” Peterson explained. He added that the cooperation with island government had been seamless, with everyone benefiting from the project. David DaCosta's
New
York, NY--April 2, 2005--Digital Oceans, the underwater photography New Eco Diver Program The Proffessional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and National Geographic have joined forces to bring adventure and environmental awareness to the armchair traveler. Monitor this website to find out how new divers can learn more than just the basics of scuba diving. Sea Saba has always supported the protection of the environment so it's only natural that we will embrace this new program. Read more about the program on our Nature News page.
Daphne Cottage
Can you imagine a two-week vacation that truly changes your life? Tired of 'the rat race', Joel and Heather came to Saba at Christmas time 2003...learned to dive, fell in love with Saba and within 60 days of their returned, purchased Daphne Cottage. In addition to some small improvements, the new owners want more divers to enjoy Saba and their charming authentic Saba Cottage. Revised rates make Daphne very affordable: $783 per person, double occupancy...or bring a friend for $740 p/p triple occupancy rate. Pricing includes 7 nights, 5 days diving, airport and daily transfers, hotel tax.
Ecolodge Rendezvous
SABA—The Ecolodge has added a first for the island: an authentic Indian sweat lodge with hot- and cold-water tubs and an outdoor shower. Owner/operator Helen Cornet said that it had taken many months to order all the materials for the outdoor spa but only two weeks to put everything together. A “spa area” has been created near the top of the rise near the last cottages on the property. The clearing gives a wonderful view of the night sky, an additional treat for bathers. The hot and cold-water tubs are actually plastic Rubbermaid stock feeders, which accommodate two people. The hot tub is fed by a small Japanese oven called a “Chofu” which was ordered from Canada. It takes several hours to heat the water to about 108 degrees. The oven is fed by dried wood found on the property. The sweat lodge will handle about four to six people. The lodge was constructed by putting a plastic tarp over a frame of bent PVC pipe, which was then covered in large leather pieces cut in the form of a turtle, and stitched together in an overlapping pattern like the back of a turtle. Cornet said that she had purchased the leather from remnants left over from the old leather factory and bought by Ruth Buchanan years ago. The thick belt leather was in prefect condition. The lodge is warmed by volcanic rooks from Well’s Bay. These almost spherical rocks are heated over several hours to glowing in another wood fire, brought into the lodge in a metal bucket, and put into a pit in the middle of the lodge. Water is thrown on the hot rocks to produce the steam, and stingy thyme adds a mild, but pungent odor. In the spirit of Ecolodge principles, the water from the tubs can be recycled in the garden., since no harmful chemicals are added. The cabin nearest the spa will be used as a changing room, and will also offer massage services. If you've been an active diver in the past 15 years or even flip through one dive magazine per year, you've heard the recreational diving industry's opinion on nitrox go from taboo to a reasonable acceptance. Nitrox was once considered technical diving requiring expensive equipment upgrades and intense training with multi-bracketed algebraic equations to make your brain swell... Welcome 2004 and three options from PADI including a "Dive Today" nitrox mini course which allows you to take a dive with a nitrox tank on your back with little more than a briefing. To be properly certified still takes about five hours of 'off boat time' and a bit of homework but a much easier course--see the Training and Courses page of our website for full details on the 3 options of nitrox certification now offered. The new standards also allow a nitrox training dive as one of your electives in an Advance Open Water course. Want to know more about nitrox and why it's becoming 'the norm' rather than the exception? Go to the Nitrox, Encriched Air page of this site for an easy to understand explanation which diffuses the 'wives tales' and outlines the benefits. The new PADI Enriched Air course that grants you full certification has been updated with a new manual and a more streamlined approach to becoming nitrox certified. Although the course assures you understand the concept of dive tables for different gas mixes, more focus is put on utilizing nitrox computers which we feel is more realistic. As Sea Saba promotes nitrox certification to increase diving safety, we are pleased with the new course outline and hopeful more divers will take advantage of the benefits of nitrox. If you truly prefer to learn as much as possible about nitrox usage and/or are interested in the technical side of diving, advanced nitrox training is still available.
Saba Goes Green
“Everything on Saba ends up in the Marine Park,” says Tamara Storm van Leeuwen-Croes, environmental expert with the Dutch Caribbean Management Consultancy in Curacao. When one looks at the steep-sided profile of this five-square mile dormant volcano, it easy to see that water runoff will eventually take all waste products into the sea. Waste production is on the increase, provoking the concern that the “unspoiled queen” could eventually be polluted enough to become an undesirable destination. Van Leeuwen-Croes just spent a week giving a one-day workshop for hotels and then spending a half-day “environmental walk-through” with each of the nine hotel operators. This session included a checklist, a tour of the premises, and advice on how to operate in a more environmentally friendly fashion.
Angelika Hartleib of El Momo’s Cottages was the Saba contact for the event, which was sponsored by the Netherlands Antilles Department of Environment, Public Health, and Hygiene and put together by the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST). Saba island government supplied a vehicle for the consultant. Every participant paid a $35 fee, and many hotels provided complementary accommodations, meals, and meeting space. “Tourists expect paradise, and we must offer it to them,” van Leeuwen-Croes pointed out to the hotels attending the workshop. If Saba is used up, if the National Marine Park has nothing to offer because bleaching products and other pollutants have killed the fish, then tourists will have no reason to come to Saba. It is good business to put measures in place to make tourism sustainable and Van Leeuwen-Croes was impressed that 100% of Saba’s hotels participated in the week’s program. Workshop participants discussed ways to conserve resources, starting with that precious commodity, water. Saba’s hotels, like its homes, rely on rainwater captured in cisterns. Gray water can of course be recycled, but water usage can also be reduced by supplying hotel linens only when the tourist requests replacements, by installing water saving devices on faucets, showerheads, and toilets, etc. Energy use--a hot topic because of a recent increase in fuel price--brought about a discussion of solar panels, solar showers, energy conserving light bulbs, effective use of timing devices, hybrid generators, appropriate isolation around refrigerators, etc. There was an animated debate on cleaning products, as Van Leeuwen-Croes declared household bleach to be the number one offender, a very toxic chemical. Hoteliers told of trying to educate staff members not to use bleach, and found that they would bring it from home anyway, convinced that nothing worked as well. This behavior was identified as the “if it doesn’t smell like chorine, it’s not clean” syndrome and very difficult to eradicate. Van Leeuwen-Croes pointed to superb marketing efforts as the culprit in convincing people to purchase highly touted, but environmentally unfriendly, products. She said that it takes time to convince the current generation that there are new and effective products on the market that do the job AND do not pollute. She recommends common natural products like baking soda and vinegar as highly effective. In addition to instructing staff, hotels need the cooperation of their clients. Tourists can be educated to cooperate as willing participants by appropriate information at check-in and reminders placed in their rooms.Keeping the momentum The seminar also functioned as a forum to exchange ideas. The group shared their creative ways to recycle and reuse. Forming a purchasing alliance was proposed, so that environmentally friendly products, which might have to be especially ordered, could be purchased in bulk to make them affordable to small business operators. Van Leeuwen-Croes noted that all hotels are interested in environmental issues if it means saving money. “True believers” take it a step further and lobbying in their communities for issues such as total waste management, which will mean ordinances and legislation. Saba’s landfill is already bursting, but there is no articulated plan to educate the public or control what it uses for packaging and how it disposes of its consumables. The environmental walk-throughs will result in individual reports for each hotel and final documentation sent to organizer Hartleib and to Lt. Governor Antoine Solagnier. The group plans to meet after the holidays to compare notes and to determine the next step now that common ground has been established. Education and certification have been mentioned as possibilities. Start at the schools,” cautioned Leeuwen-Croes. The education process, which she called “reach and teach,” cannot begin too early: Proper disposal of containers, more prudent use of chemicals, increasing awareness of the impact of even small environmental gestures: “It all adds up,” she says. The next step would be island legislation to support environmental concerns. Leeuwen-Croes cited a program on Bonaire, which charges a refundable bottle deposit, underscoring the principle that it is the consumer who pays for environmental impact. This includes the idea that disposable bottles are not welcome. Many tourists now carry their own water bottle and refill as needed. "Being green” can just reflect the philosophical persuasion of the establishment OR it can be used as hotel promotion to attract tourists. Promotion usually includes some sort of recognizable “stamp” or certification process, indicating that the establishment conducts business in an environmentally friendly fashion. The most well known certificate is ISO 14000, with criteria established by the International Standardization Organization in Switzerland. The Caribbean Hotel Association also has a certificate, the “Green Globe,” but it is still unfamiliar to tourists. At any rate, most of these processes are lengthy and costly--and possibly out of the reach of small Saban hotels. There was talk at the seminar of banding together to see if a “Green Area” award, encompassing the entire island, would be possible. Another suggestion was to create a local award or recognition program perhaps administered by a hotel association or the tourist office. The program would create criteria that hotels would need to observe in order to declare themselves “green on Saba.” Hartleib said the hotels were very pleased with the value of the workshop and walk-throughs, and are excited to interest restaurants and other entities in a comprehensive environmental protection program of sustainable tourism on Saba. |
February 2010
Links to News Stories
Saba Government
SABA—Commissioner Bruce Zagers signed Tuesday afternoon an agreement with Bakker Recycling of St. Maarten, which will rid the island of over 1,500 metric tons of metal. This coming weekend a barge will bring the necessary heavy equipment to Saba: two excavators and a crusher. One of the excavators will remain in the Fort Bay area and the other and the crusher will be located near the landfill. Three expert technicians with the company will come to Saba to operate the equipment and oversee the operation, which should take about a month. The metal objects go into the crusher and then the compressed results are cut into manageable size. The final results returned to Bakker will be the volume equivalent of about 68 20-foot containers and should make up one load on the barge returning to St. Maarten. Jean James, Bakker Recycling Managing Director, said that it had taken time since his first visit last June for both parties to be prepared to sign an agreement. The cost of the operation to Saba Government is approximately NAf 68,400, which includes room/board for the Bakker crew, shipping of materials to and from Saba, fuel to run the equipment, and trucking on Saba by Big Rock Engineering. All proceeds from the sale of the metal will go to Bakker. Commissioner Zagers said that he had met with stakeholders from the Planning Bureau, Public Works, and Big Rock Engineering. In addition, the government will reach out to the population to help gather any metal items that might still be on private property. Zagers said that government would organize the pick up and let the villages know in advance. Zagers said that once the landfill is cleared of metal objects, metal would be separated out and collected in one spot in the landfill. He said that the new waste management program, earmarked for NAf 400,000, is one of the SEI initiatives. The plan is that there will be no more landfill burning, but refuse will be buried. More ways to get to
Saba... PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten-- St. Maarten's Commissioner of Tourism Roy Marlin confirmed today the Caribbean island of St. Maarten has reached an agreement with Jet Blue Airways for air service from New York com- mencing January 17, 2008. In making the announcement, Commissioner Marlin said, "On behalf of The Island Territory of St. Maarten, I am pleased to welcome Jet Blue Airways as the newest travel partner serving the Little Caribbean Alliance which includes Anguilla, St. Barths, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten/St. Martin. I am sure the many Jet Blue passengers will soon discover that St. Maarten is the best leisure destination in the region, offering 37 beaches, over 400 restau- rants with Gold Award Winning Chefs, exceptional entertainment and nightlife as well as a myriad of accommodations to fit any lifestyle, all in a safe, friendly, cosmopolitan environment." Commissioner Marlin pointed out that Jet Blue's lower cost structure for service to St. Maarten will provide very competitive air fares, which will be a tremendous boost for tourism as well as its resident population. Commissioner Marlin stated that the net result of the new Jet Blue service will be increased travel through Princess Juliana Airport. "This is good for us and good for our travel partners," he stated. The start of Jet Blue's service to St. Maarten coincides with the launch of its new marketing initiative. The new theme, "St. Maarten. Bring Your Appetite For Life." which is scheduled to appear in national consumer and trade magazine advertisements within North America. "Our national public relations effort has already begun to bring this message to millions of travelers across the country. And, the response from all accounts has been extremely positive," he said. "I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Daniel Gibbs, Vice President of Tourism of the Collectivity of St. Martin, Mr. Victor Banks, Minister of Tourism of Anguilla, President of the Collectivity of St.Barths, Mr. Bruno Magras, as well as the Economic Recovery Fund of St.Maarten, The St. Maarten Hotel Association (SHTA), the Westin Resort and the Sonesta Beach Resorts for their participation in the joint marketing effort that will take place in concert with Jet Blue," he said. About St. Maarten St. Maarten, known as "the culinary capital of the Caribbean", is the smallest island in the world shared between two nations, France and the Netherlands. Here guest are welcome to discover the islands 37 spectacular beaches, more than 350 restaurants, duty-free shopping, num- erous activities and attractions and the island's unparalleled nightlife. Whether staying in a luxury villa or spending the night in the casinos, guests will experience the only Caribbean island with grand sophistication and European flair. For more information on St. Maarten's growing tourism industry, please visit the website at http://www.st-maarten.com.
Sea Saba's Iron Dick This news item is brought to us via Paula Litzel, Dick's wife...we await a photo!
Dick had a
great day in Hawaii. This was his fifth Hawaii race and his highest finish
in his age group yet! Out of 23 competitors he was 6th in the WORLD in the
65-69 age group at age 67! Out of ten US competitors,he was the second US
competitor in the age group!! His official time was 13 hours and 40
minutes. This put him in the top 26%,can I call that the top quarter? Yes I
can!
And any diver who has the pleasure of diving with him from late December to early April each year agrees--an amazingly wonderful human being--the Ironman part is just icing on the cake!
The “Saba Bank” is not a financial institution but actually the third-largest atoll in the world. The bank is located just 6 miles from the Caribbean island of Saba and covers an area of more than 850 square miles or 2,200 square kilometers. For centuries, islanders have depended on this prolific area for fishing for its high production of regionally important commercial species such as snapper, lobster and conch. Equally as important, The Saba Bank is a source of fish and coral larvae, supporting the coral reefs of islands in the region. Conservation International (“CI”) recognizes the Saba Bank as an environmental hot spot. Last year’s preliminary research found new species of seaweed and even a new species of goby. As the atoll is as shallow as 50’ (16 meters), it has unfortunately also served as an anchorage area for fuel tankers that offload on a nearby island. From July-December of 2007, CI, in cooperation with the Saba Conservation Foundation, is back on Saba doing a full 6-month study. One goal of CI’s work is to protect this delicate area under international maritime law. The Saba Bank Project is just one of the topics that will be covered at the annual Sea & Learn on Saba program throughout the month of October. Project Manager, Ms. Shelley Lundvall, will conduct a presentation about the program during this year's event. Watch for more photos and updates on the News page of Sea & Learn website. Link here to last summer's story of the finding of the wreck on the Bank. German
Photojournalists Spend
SABA—The
“three-S” islands will be featured in the German language dive
magazine Tauchen in an article written by visiting journalists
Barbara and Helmut Corneli. The monthly magazine reaches over 45,000
people, and is also available in Holland and Russia. The Corneli's, who are well traveled throughout the Caribbean, were on Saba for the first time. They have been writing and photographing dive and travel locations for more than 20 years, and have logged over 9,000 dives each. “This is not your typical Caribbean,” they said about Saba. They added that to get to know the island they were willing to spend two weeks on island to experience its different aspects. They divided their time between El Momo’s cottages, diving with Sea Saba, and the following week at Scout’s Place, diving with Saba Divers. They commented that the diving is among the very best in the Caribbean and were very enthusiastic about the diversity of the underwater world they got to know on about 20 dives. They also appreciated that most dive sites are a short boat ride away. Their favorite site was “Close Encounter” where they got to hear to whales sing, a common occurrence at this time of year. They also commented on how colorful Saba’s Marine Park is: “The elephant Ear sponges add strong color contrasts that photograph magnificently,” Corneli commented. The
couple also spent time topside, investigating the summit of Mt. Scenery,
Sandy Cruz, and the Ladder. They were impressed that the local handiwork,
Saba Lace, can still be purchased and at what they considered descent
prices. They also spotted by the Agricultural Station to talk to Rudolph
Johnson about the guppy program which keeps Saba’s private cistern’s
free of disease carrying mosquitoes. The couple expects their article to appear in Tauchen’s mid year edition. Another
reason to come to Saba...
Now here's a different way to plan a dive trip...Imagine a 366' luxury sailing yacht--not a typical cruise ship but an intimate adventure with just 170 guests traveling to the lesser known islands of the Caribbean: Cooper Island, Anegada, St. Barths, Nevis AND Saba. Snorkel, kayak, windsurf and of course scuba diving...what could be better?
Let's add a favorite band from the early 90's who will play for you at exclusive beach performances. Sound like fun? You bet! Tall Ship, Small Islands, Big Music and Great People The trip is scheduled for March 18-25 2006 and there's still availability. Big Head Todd and the Monsters will be on board--will you? Contact Kevin Clark of Local Knowledge Yacht Charters (Phone 303697-0399) or just fantasize by looking at the website: www. BHTMcruise.com Rates start at $1,563 per person including meals and watersports--and a day with Sea Saba is in the plan for just a small group of special divers. Sea
& Learn 2005
What's the noise about?! Where to start? How 'bout the world's foremost experts on Southern stingrays, octopus camouflage monitoring and fish parasites. And that's just some of our marine experts. We also have nature experts in fields ranging from bats and Tropicsbirds to fungi and cloud forests. If you're a diver or even just a natue lover, you owe it to yourself to check out this unique program offered in the month of October only on Saba. 2005 marks the third annual event. Go to www.seaandlearn.org to have a look at the fabulous events, field projects and "hands on" research done during this year.
Join the Fun Celebrate the Earth and all it offers! Join the Sea Saba dive team when they host the diving events on Saba during the annual international Earth Day celebration. In cooperation with The Saba National Marine Park and Sea & Learn on Saba, Sea Saba's dive vessels will be used for the diving portion of the days' events. A Reef Chek survey will be done on each boat--so not just doing a dive, but making a difference. Reef Chek is an international organization that provides the platform for dive destinations to monitor the health of their local reefs. Working with tourists or local interested divers can be beneficial in a multitude of ways...hence, the program is designed so that the lay person can work with a local scientist or team to regularly monitor coral reefs. A briefing will be conducted the evening prior so that divers understand what is necessary to achieve good data collecting. The dive will be done on a shallow reef with a de-briefing and refreshments later in the day. Want to join the fun? Email Lynn to say you're interested.
Saba Scores 93.3%
Scuba
Diving Magazine's has just released the results of its Reader Rater
for the "World's Healthiest Marine Environments". Saba placed in the
top ten with a score of 93.3% Watch for more details once the December
issue is on the newsstands.
Saba Wins Rodale's
Awards!
SNMP Volunteer Creates
SABA—Sarah Gotheil (26) from Lausanne, Switzerland, just finished a three-month volunteer internship working on the turtle awareness program with the Saba National Marine Park. Gotheil, a recent university graduate in social and political sciences, wanted to work in the field of environment and thought that an international internship would give her an idea of what this entails. A new public awareness program on sea turtles had just started up when she arrived and she plunged into producing materials to support the program. She created a large four-part, two sided folding screen which will be used as a teaching tool for schoolchildren and as a traveling exhibit. Each panel has its own subject, such as evolution, biology, species, life cycle, threats, conservation, and the underwater world. She used book, publications, and the Internet to find appropriate text and graphics to make the eight storyboards attractive and educational. All that is left to complete the panel is a protective plastic coating. She said she had worked closely with Dominique Vissenberg, who is coordinator of the Turtle Awareness Program on St. Maarten. She said that turtles were among the first dinosaurs and had actually not changed all that much. “They were very contemporary looking, 150 million years ago,” she joked. Gotheil also produced a replica of the Program Mascot, who is nicknamed Scout. There are only seven sea turtles, and all of them are on the endangered species list. Gotheil, who finished her scuba training while on Saba, was able to see Hawksbill turtles while diving the island’s famous dive sites. Other sea turtles found in the region are green, loggerhead, and leatherback turtles. Sarah will leave Saba soon to continue traveling through the Caribbean area on a sailboat.
Carl & Rudolf of YIIK
Restaurant
After 5 years of grand success, Carl and Rudolf of YIIK Restaurant will change from servicing their many return customers of the restaurant to focusing on an expanding family business. But fear not; Willem is ready to fill the shoes as owner with Vic as his chef. Willem's wife Sonya will join him by February. Look forward to newly inspired menu, larger seating capacity and other improvements. Still conveniently located at Lambee's Place on the main corner in Windwardside, above Sea Saba Dive Center--perfect for a Diver's Down or Hiker's Up afternoon burger! Making
the Most
Mondays--A dive shop that truly believes a great dive trip is about more than just diving, just took this philosophy to the next level. Sea Saba dive center provides an excellent photographic presentation every Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the Brigadoon Restaurant. And, it's on a big screen! It's happy hour, so enjoy your favorite cocktail and sit back and enjoy a bit of light learning in a casual setting. Who were the first inhabitants? How do you tell a black tip shark from a reef shark? Where and when am I most likely to find seahorses? Whether you're a non-diver or a jaded photographer, the show is certain to intrigue travelers and locals of all levels.
SABA—A new art gallery, “The Peanut Gallery,” opened November 28th in Windwardside in the previous Breadfruit space. Gallery owner/operator Judy Stewart had a soft opening on Wednesday night for invited guests with refreshments from YIIK and pan music supplied by Karel Sorton. “We received very positive feedback and are excited about anchoring Saba’s only art gallery,” Stewart said. Stewart, who previously owned a similar shop in the United States for many years, said that the gallery’s focus would be Caribbean art. She is currently exhibiting works from Saban painters Barbara Joyce, Patsy Johnson, Sara Muender, Suzy Mendenhall, and Helene Cornet. The driftwood sculptures of Steve Giles and the handmade banjos of Buck Caines are also featured in the Saba section. St. Maarten and Anquillan artists are represented, along with some folk art from the United States. Prices vary enough to make a souvenir possible for any pocket book. There is also a card section. Stewart is also showing art projects done by the residents at the Every Home for the Aged, which were framed at the Saba Comprehensive School. The Gallery will donate a percentage of the sales of these items back to the Home and to the school. Seneca's
Got Company
Well who wouldn't be in love with little Kane? Kane is the new arrival at Juliana's Hotel. With the amount of business shared between Juliana's and Sea Saba, we thought it would be a good idea that Seneca and Kane got along...So Seneca looks forward to her morning tumbles with Kane whilst John refills his coffee cup and checks on the guests at Tropcis Cafe. But he won't be a little butter ball puppy for long! True Seneca Only Fans can continue to watch her progress on her very own webpage--top that Kane! Sea Saba Produces
Thinking about bringing a group to Saba? Sea Saba's interactive c.d. is the perfect tool to convince your divers that Saba should be at the top of the Group Calendar. Different than our website, but like it--loaded with photography, video and great information. Email Lynn for group policy. Let us know the airport you depart from and Dive Saba Travel will send you a sample itinerary and complete package quote including airfare. Summer rates can be as low as $1279 from 5 major US cities (May-October 2004) including air!
Sea Saba Customer
New York--Looking for that Saba fix but you're stuck in the City? Enjoy one of the East Village's best Italian restaurants: Col Legno (231 East 9th Street) and fantasize about your next Saba trip. More than 20 fantastic, large-scale prints of Saba's underwater world are on display for your enjoyment. Sea Saba's regular customers (sometimes 3x per year!) David DaCosta and wife Francoise Giaccalone have been visiting Saba since 1987. During this time, David's photographic passion has continued to grow. He now shoots a Nikon's top of the digital line D1X in a Seacam housing. He loves the immediate results and knowing he'll never run out of film! See the rare blenny shots just in from his late August trip to Saba! And tell Chris at Col Legno, not to worry...not all divers from Saba have an appetite like Lynn!
All cool cats (and dogs and divers) now wear the Sea Saba Dive Tag showing you've been fortunate to dive our waters and that you also help support The Saba Marine Park. Although Seneca chose to wear hers around her collar, we hope you'll sport yours on your BC. Already been to Saba and missed getting your tag? Just email us with your snail mail address and we'll be glad to send some your way! And if you'd like to see what else Seneca has been up to, check out her page for more photos and stories.
Familiar and New Faces Bruno's back, Leda's got dreads and there's a sweet 'new' Guy. Seneca's got some real competition; Manny's resting but his son's behind the wheel and Dick, well, you know he won again. Check out all the latest on the "Meet the Sea Saba Crew" page of this site. best airfares,
start @
This
page last updated
02/03/2010 |
December 31, 2009 Jessica Marnor contacted us to arrange a vacation so that she could learn to dive and her boyfriend Taylor could refresh his diving skills and conduct a photography course. Upon arrival, we realized she worked for The Wall Street Journal...On December 30, 2009, we found out she not only published the on-line article about Saba and Sea Saba, but we were also in the paper the following day. What a way to celebrate Old Year's Night--as they say on Saba.
Saba starts the
New Year with a mention in The Wall Street Journal SABA—Several business on Saba were surprised to hear that they had been mentioned on the last day of 2009 in the prestigious American financial newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, both printed and online versions. The immediate happy fall-out from the article is that one of the businesses, The Cottage Club Hotel, has already received many inquires about visiting the island, and at least 20 solid bookings in the short time since publication on December 31. “It’s the best Christmas we could have,” said Cottage Club manager Sophie, who is now over 90% booked for January. Sea Saba Dive Center Lynn Costenaro said that she had arranged the trip of Jessica Marmor at the end of November. The young woman said that she worked for the WSJ, but had not asked for journalistic privileges, so Costenaro was surprised to learn of the article about the young woman’s trip. It appeared in a rubric known as “Off The Beaten Track” in the “Life & Style section. The printed version shows a picture of the Windwardside restaurant, The Brigadoon, while online there are also pictures of an aerial view of the island, trail signs near the Mt. Scenery summit, and a slide show including the streets of Windwardside, the Winair Twin Otter, Queen’s Garden Resort, The Cottage Club, and Cove Bay. Costenaro pointed out that this type of advertising for the island is often more successful that any other. “The happy experience on the island of one person relayed to many through the newspaper can have a huge impact,” she said. Saba is
one of the
INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE OF SABA THIS MONTH: From Los Angeles to Saba to experience an earthquake Travel With a Purpose Blog highlights Saba's Sea & Learn Sea Saba and Saba covered by UK's Daily Mail and Rinse Tank World Record Set on Saba!
SABA—Paddler Susan Chaplin (64) was met on Saba at 1pm by her older brother Gordon, and well wishers from the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), dive shops, and even Police Chief Inspector Wendell Thode. Champagne bottles were soon opened to celebrate with the exhausted Chaplin, who had left St. Eustatius at 7 am. She was accompanied by Statian Captain Walter Blair, who had agreed to provide escort services with his boat and took along Chaplin’s son Eli Sternberg. Captain Blair, whose mother was born on Saba, was going to make a quick visit to his Aunt Joyce Lake before returning Thursday afternoon. The Saba Marine Park boat had gone out to meet the small flotilla about noon and was accompanied by Sue and Rob Hurrell in their kayaks. Everybody arrived at Fort Bay around 1pm. Chaplin said that it had been relatively easy trip, since the seas were calm, and it was altogether a wonderful day for her to complete the last leg of her journey. “You think you are never going to get across the channel,” she said, but she enjoyed the view of Saba’s cliffs as it drew nearer and nearer. Chaplin has participated in many paddleboard races. The special board looks somewhat like a surfboard, but the athlete stretches out full length and only paddles with his/her arms. Chaplin said that her longest trip was when she paddled for 18.5 hours travelling from St. Vincent to St. Lucia. A current had driven her out of the channel into the Caribbean, and she ended up travelling 40 miles rather than the 26 she expected. Starting 10 years ago Chaplin, who resides in Tortola, started paddling her way through the Windward and Leeward islands, a bit at a time. She said she looked at a map and decided “to connect the dots.” Now that all the dots are connected, she hopes to spend a few days on Saba with her family. Now available only at
Order ahead or discuss with the local potter upon arrival--but be sure to take home an original piece of artwork to continue to remind you of your dive tip on Saba. Judy Stewart runs Saba's Peanut Gallery located right next to Sea Saba. She will be happy to work with you to create a personal and memorable piece of artwork--starting at just $20.
Sea & Learn 2009
(photos tomorrow!) Last Week Highlights: Sea Saba's divers took full advantage of Sea & Learn diving with shark expert Mark Marks. Some even joined Marks to learn more about shark anatomy one evening with "hands on learning". Marks explained much about sharks from digestion to their amazing dual-use jaws as he dissected a juvenile nurse shark, unfortunately caught in a local fisherman's trap. As the week went on, Sea Saba's dive guides absorbed more and more from "fish geek" Lisa Mithcell, former Executive Director of REEF. Participating in surveys of our reefs, Kat and Marcus obtained their Level 4 Identification credentials with Ellie passing Level 3. Following an eye-opening presentation by Lisa Mitchell about the inevitability of Lionfish invading our waters in the future, many vowed to work with the local community to address this situation head on--more about this in a subsequent piece soon. Jeff George's talk on Friday included alarming video footage of sea turtle nesting as it used to be. The scary data proves the near plight of these fabulous animals but everyone left feeling positive as George regained our hope with recent statistics proving conservation efforts make a difference. Follow all the news of the event on the 2009 News page of www.seaandlearn.org. Now this is important!
Specially designed by Big Hed, the makers of our famous Pirhanna and Chill T's, your fur child can easily slide in to fashion! We'll mail them to you for just $2.00 additional. From Princess Tiara's Extra Small to Fat Kat's small's to Seneca whole-lot-to-love XL's.
Get Better At It!
As divers, we all love looking at fabulous photos. With the digital age, more divers are getting decent photos with their point-and-shoot cameras. But why do those images you see in a book or a special website look so much better? For starters, they are using SLR cameras...and then, of course, there is technique. If you have graduated to an SLR camera but are not yet producing the images you visualize, get professional help. With the money you have tied up in your investment, the little bit more you spend to hone your skills will reward you with great satisfaction.
Our long-time friend, Mauricio Handler of Handler Photo will be conducting a photographic workshop on Saba: July 3-12 '09. Mauricio Handler is one of the industry’s leading underwater photography instructors and a respected expedition leader. He is also a National Geographic underwater photography team member.For the past ten years, Handler has been teaching underwater photography to students from all over the world through his SLR housed systems workshops which are held in exotic land based destinations as well as aboard the finest diving vessels worldwide. This year, he has chosen his favorite Caribbean island, Saba, to host his summer 2009 program. Handler’s goal is to
increase each student’s knowledge of photography by sharing his unique
vision that he attributes to his many years in the field. You will be
empowered with new tools to create individual and fresh images. For more information, visit www.handlerphoto.com. Local Saba News: Hurricane Omar is a quicky but leaves a wake Holy Bat Study! See what researchers are finding out about Saba's only endemic mammal.
There's just too much to write! The first week has been amazing with a well received opening evening, sold out Sharkwater film night; and record-breaking participation for a night hike for mist netting and more...check the calendar for the latest announcements on presentations, field projects and more! Check the News page of www.seaandlearn.org for great photos and stories Sea
Saba Annual Boat Maintenance
Back on Saba and one more week of being 'not so busy' means we had time to do some of those 'other projects'. With the help of Fred and Kelly and a long hot week at the Fort Bay harbor, John fabricated a new bow railing for Giant Stride. The railing is made out of 1" aluminum schedule 40 pipe, completely handcrafted at our workshop. Remember those geometry classes? Calculating each curve and angle and welding them in place, the project also served as the Fort Bay entertainment last week. No more melting marker boards!
As Saba is not exactly a booming metropolis conveniently located near
Home Depots and Walmarts, finding things like dry erase boards is a
chore. As most are made with press board or even cardboard
backing, their lifetime on our boats has been limited. We've
created a more permanent board out of white Plexiglas and a proper frame
and have hung it in a central place--doing justice to those great crew
dive briefings!
In order to keep our boats not only looking great but properly maintained to ensure they run smoothly and without problems throughout the year, we do annual 'haulouts' on both boats. From August 15-September 30, we run one boat while the other is taken to St. Maarten with a work list. Taking a boat out of the water each year is critical to be able to assess any wear and tear and address things you can't in the water. So the boats get 'their beauty rest' they need, but there's certainly no rest at this time for John and his regular boatyard assistant, Tony Gomez, a Saban by birth who lives in St. Maarten. Long hot days at Bobby's Marina are spent cleaning, sanding and painting the hull and decks. But in addition to the pretty part that you see, we also took the engines out of the boats, replaced engine mounts and engine beds, painted the bilge changed out fuel injection pumps, re-plumbed the head on Giant Stride, installed new exhaust systems, and of course stripped and painted the engines. After 15 days, Giant Stride is proudly back on Saba where we will take advantage of one last slow week when John, with the help of the crew, will fabricate a new bow railing for Giant Stride. We're now ready for the high season!
Saba Airport
Celebrates 45 Safe Years
©Photo and story courtesy Suzanne
Nielsen, SABA—Young and old gathered at the Saba Airport Terminal Thursday afternoon to raise a class to celebrate 45 years of air service to Saba and to honour one of the pioneers who made it all happen, Jose “Pipe” Dormoy, who would have been 83 on Thursday. Dormoy passed away last year. The honoured guest was Elizabeth “Elly” Delien, who helped Acting Lt. Governor Roy Smith unveil a framed narrative of some of Dormoy’s exciting life. Another exhibit uncovered by Commissioner Chris Johnson and Terrance Rey of Air StMaarten was the well- known photograph of Dormoy descending from the cockpit with his ubiquitous pipe in place. Delien has created a Foundation “Aviation Pioneers of the Caribbean” which honours the region’s flying heroes. Rey is working closely with Delien to remember these men of foresight and daring. Delien has information dating back to the mid 1940s and hopes to get a permanent exhibit hall or museum for her collection of artefacts. The Foundation has also discussed with the postal service a series of stamps commemorating these early heroes and a video project is in the works. Delien appealed to any one who has mementoes or artefacts to contact her, with the promise that all original documentation will be scanned and returned to its owner. Commissioner Johnson said that one of the important things about air traffic was that it had brought people back to the island and encouraged the younger generations to make their home on Saba, which became open to the world because of courage men like Pipe. Safe air traffic to and from the island opened up the island’s potential, and this potential continues today, Johnson said. Acting Lt. Governor Roy Smith called many old timers to the microphone, each with their own remembrances of the colourful “Pipe.” Also present at the gathering were former employees of the airport such as its first manager Leo Hassell and long time employee Thomas Johnson, both retired. Retired Winair pilot Henky Rivers, who at age 12 was already at the controls of Pipe’s airplane, had joined the group from St. Eustatius. Many of the Sabans present, such as former Lt. Governor Sydney Sorton, recalled helping to clear Flat Point of bush and rocks for that first landing 45 years ago. The reception closed with refreshments and entertainment by the Occassionals String Band.
More Weight Restrictions On Winair
Following the lead of the major carriers, Windward Island Airways now has instituted tougher weight restrictions for both checked and carry on bags. Link to the Travel Tips page of our website for information on this point as well as other great stuff to know before, during and after your Saba trip. Fathoms Magazine Article Coming in Next Months
Renowned photographer Mauricio Handler was on Saba in late May conducting a photography workshop for his clients as well as capturing images for Fathoms magazine. Considered the top quality diving/nature magazine in North American, the publisher of Fathoms promises a full feature loaded with fantastic images. Not intended as a typical travel magazine production, the article will focus on Saba's conservation efforts and its unique nature.
Mauricio Hanlder is a freelance photojournalist who runs photography clinics, has a regular column in Diving Adventure magazine, has worked on 8 assignments for National Geographic, has several books to his credit and is even a nice guy. His wife Julia assists him as his underwater model as well as the administrative side of his work. Mauricio has also been a Sea & Learn guest lecturer on two occasions. His website www.handlerphoto.com offers photography tips, expeditions to accompany him on and workshops to attend in addition to selling his work.
©Photo courtesy Suzanne
Nielsen, John (of Sea Saba) and Mauricio go back a long way...they worked together on M/V Tropic Bird in the British Virgin Islands in the 1980's. Their mutual passion for photography was just one source of their friendly rivalry but Mauricio agrees that a turning point in his photographic career was when John showed him "Within a Rainbowed Sea", the quintessential coffee table book by Chris Newbert that was unmatched for some time. Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende Discusses Nature & The Environment on Saba
Lunchtime included discussions on tourism and nature preservation. From left, Sea Saba dive shop owner Lynn Costenaro, Director of Tourism Glenn Holm, and Prime Minister Balkenende. Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende on SabaSABA—Beautiful weather greeted Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende and his large entourage when they touched down on Saba yesterday, Monday, morning. Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles Emily de Jongh-Elhage and Dutch State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld accompanied Balkenende. Balkenende told The Daily Herald that the visit had been very fruitful. He continued that Saba has a very special character and he knew that Sabans cherish their natural environment and are aware it needs protection. He touched on the need for waste management and said that 80% of waste is recycled in Holland, with a goal of raising this to 100% by 2020. “Saba has the opportunity to take advantage of a transfer of knowledge from Dutch environmental experts,” he added. Balkenende met with community members involved in tourism, nature, and the environment over lunch at the Queen’s Garden on Troy Hill. These included representatives from all three dive shops, the Saba Conservation Foundation, and Director of Tourism Glenn Holm. Transported in Saba’s bright yellow school busses, the large Dutch contingent of 18 had first met with government in the Administration building. Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs Chris Johnson said that the Dutch delegation voiced their appreciation that Saba was the first island to present its budget and have it approved. Johnson said that all parties agreed that the first five years would definitely be a transition period as the island would explore and adapt best practices for its size and capacities. As education is a crucial topic, the group then toured Saba schools and the Innovations Bureau at St. John’s. At Sacred Heart Elementary School, seven classrooms were visited. All children had been prepped to greet the Prime Minister by name, and he responded by engaging individual youngsters in conversation. At Saba Comprehensive School, the group visited the well-furnished kitchen and the technical room since vocational subjects are to be expanded in the near future.
©Photo and story courtesy Suzanne
Nielsen, Circa 1989: : The royal family on Saba: From left, Prins Klaus, Crown Prins Willem-Alexcander, unidentified Winair co-pilot, José “Pipe” Dormoy, and Queen Beatrix.
Some Saba
History has the story of Captain Pipe, Saba's beloved pilot, a legend
not to be forgotten, and more Saban lore.
October Specials
Book a trip now for October and save! 2007 marks the 5th annual award winning Sea & Learn on Saba event. Enjoy night-time presentations in the casual learning environment of different bars and restaurants. Nature experts from around the globe share their passion with you with interesting and entertaining presentations. These same nature experts also offer field projects for 'hands on' learning. Do a night dive with a bioluminescence expert; assist with a Caribbean conch research study; hike with a snake scientist--participate in as many or as few activities as you like. Each expert also works with our community school and extracurricular programs to ensure Saba's nature is understood and protected for the future. Sea & Learn on Saba--it's fun; it's free and it's for everyone!
New
Saba Publication
SABA—A new publication about Saba, entitled “Folk Remedies on a Caribbean Island: The Story of Bush Medicine on Saba,” will make its public début at this year’s St. Maarten Book fair.
The book just came off the press at Drukkerij Haarmans in Beverwijk, the Netherlands, in time for the St. Maarten event, said author and Saba resident Suzanne Nielsen. Nielsen has invited other Saba authors to join her so that Saba could be amply represented at the fair for the first time. Children’s books from Franklin Wilson and Janice Johnson, health observations by Elmira Sorton, poetry by Menno van der Velde, and anthropologist Julia Crane’s works will be available.
The new book, “Folk Remedies,” explores Saba’s agricultural history, land use, and ecology and explains local uses of medicinal plants. The book, which has more than 150 colour photographs, contains a field guide of 85 plants, put together by Peter Schnabel, PhD, former Professor of Pharmacology at Saba University School of Medicine. Nielsen said that the book told many stories of the resourcefulness of Saba islanders, and the book was only possible with their generous willingness to share and to illustrate their use of plants with personal experiences.
The book will be available on Saba at Sea Saba and other shops. You can also order it on line and have it shipped directly to you, no matter where you live in the world--see Local News story.
“Folk Remedies” was financed in part by the Prins Bernard Cultuurfonds Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, Saba University, and the Dutch Representation in the Windward Islands. Nielsen, who also designed and produced the book layout, thanked her colleagues at The Daily Herald, Mark Martelly and Steven de Windt, for their support with software assistance.
Folk Remedies on a Caribbean Island, the Story of Bush Medicine on Saba” was published in Holland earlier this year and is now available on Saba for $30. The book can now be purchased on the Internet at eBay, with shipping possibilities within the USA ($4.60), to Canada ($9.00), and to Caribbean/Europe ($11.00.) The eBay sales price is $30, which includes all handling. Payment is via PayPal. The URL which takes you directly to the book on eBay is: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120139618106. The book can also be found by searching eBay on the item number, 120139618106 or by entering “Folk Remedies” in the search category. Dutch
Dig Team at it Again What were the Amerindian Indians doing on Saba and where else did they travel to? Find our the full story and more on the Local News page of this site. Sea Saba Fan Club Tom and Jen Daly couldn't resist taking advantage of Florida's vanity plate option:
And check out their handsome pets, Saba Lace and Saba Spice! These handsome felines appear to be members of the "Big Cat Club" but are a domesticated breed called Bengals.
Saba Park Budgets Slashed by The Saba Conservation Foundation ("SCF") is the entity in charge of protecting Saba's nature, both above and below. The Saba National Marine Park ("SNMP"), including Saba's Hyperbaric Chamber, is under the auspices of the SCF. The maintenance of Saba's varied trail network is also a responsibility of the SCF. In addition, the park carries out educational programs as well as assisting researchers in their work. Early this year, SCF Manager Jan den Dulk received notice of a major funding cut which essentially translates to a 33% cut in the SCF's already scant budget. Immediate action is required to maintain Saba's park facilities--hence, two new fees are proposed and outlined by the park management in the paragraphs below.
The Saba Hyperbaric Facility (SHF) is managed by the SNMP. This Facility, in conjunction with hyperbaric physicians at the A.M. Edwards Medical Centre, provides emergency services to divers suffering from decompression sickness (DCS) 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. The SHF is the only Divers Alert Network (DAN) approved facility in the northeast Caribbean. Due to the exceptional professionalism of local dive shops and the increased level of diver awareness and education, incidents of DCS have continued to decrease in recent years. While this is excellent news for recreational divers, it has led to reduced revenue for the SHF from DCS treatments. However, the chamber still requires a minimum of US $25,000.00 per year to maintain critical equipment and staff preparedness. Unfortunately, outside funding to cover these costs is currently not available.
The SHF, in cooperation with the local dive shops and live-aboards, has invoked a US $1.00 per dive Hyperbaric Fee. We pledge that 100% of this money will be put toward:
This Fee will ensure that the SHF remains operational and that the best service can be provided to you in the event that treatment for DCS is needed. Any voluntary donations in excess of these costs will be put into a fund specifically allocated to the Facility. Please feel free to ask your local dive shop about arranging for a tour of the SHF and stop by the Saba National Marine Park office at Fort Bay for the latest news concerning the chamber and the park.
The Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF) In order to protect and enhance our local environment, the SCF has undertaken numerous on-going projects. These include:
These projects are funded by your voluntary donation of US $1.00 per person, per day for the duration of your stay. We are thankful that your support ensures your next visit to Saba is even more spectacular. Please feel free to explore our island and stop by the Trail Shop (Windwardside) or the Marine Park office (Fort Bay harbour) to tell us of your discoveries.
Hotel Updates
Read the inside island scoop about "what's new" for the coming season--and other good stuff--on the Local News page of this site. More orchids at Orchid Cottage (Juliana's Hotel; luscious cuisine by Lotte (Queen's Gardens) and Tricia the Trip is back @ The Brig. "September
to Remember" Special
For many, September memories are of "back to school" and the changing of the leaves. But now you can have a wonderful September to Remember with your friends or family. Sea Saba has partnered with Juliana's Hotel and El Momo Cottages for special pricing in the month of September only. 4 persons can dive and enjoy Saba for the price of 3. So whether it's for one day of diving or a one-week stay and multiple days of diving...book 4 and just pay for 3. Simple. The package is, of course, subject to availability and cannot be used in combination with any other offers. Book now and enjoy the great summer diving--see the Nature News page of our website for fabulous recent marine encounters. Look for a similar special to be offered in 2007 for the time frame of Aug 15-Sep 30. See you then! New
Director for
SABA—“It’s a community job,” states new Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF) Manager Jan den Dulk. He emphasizes that the island’s conservation efforts, both in the National Marine Park (SNMP) and over its network of trails, will only be successful if the community agrees with and supports the effort. On August 1st, Den Dulk took over the helm of the SCF and the SNMP after the positions were combined when they both became available at the beginning of the year. A big help in the huge task will be the fact that the Canadian native speaks both Dutch and Spanish, being of Dutch/Chilean extraction. SCF Board President Johanna van’t Hof said, "The board and staff are very pleased with the new appointment of Jan as manager, we are sure that his qualifications and experience the future of the SCF and the SNMP are in good hands." With only a few days on the job, Den Dulk is getting to know daily operations and activities of the Foundation and well as his five staff members and various volunteers. He has already identified that a major task will be to create a Management Plan for the organization. He brings
a unique package of qualifications to the job: lots of field work and
hands-on job experience coupled with expertise in more complex management
situations in which the interests of ecologists need to be balanced
against development ambitions. Den Dulk
graduated from the University of Guelph (near Toronto) in 1989 with a
degree in Fisheries Biology and stayed on as a research technician in
fresh and salt-water fish. Two years later he established his own
environmental consulting company. He opened the fourth office of the
growing company in Vancouver in 1995, but sold out to his partner a year
later to work for the British Colombia government. He focused on concerns
with the destruction of salmon spawning grounds and the restoration of
this habitat. In 2001,
he switched gears and went to work for a very large environmental
consulting company that was working with the oil/gas industry in the
Edmonton area. Den Dulk and his wife Shelley Lundvall, who is a marine biologist, then decided to refocus their lifestyle/career towards something that might be more personally rewarding. About this time they ran across the SCF advertisement on the Internet. The couple has spent much of their careers in remote areas working in situations where the reconciliation of traditional views with progressive ecological concerns is a challenge. Den Dulk advocates an open door policy and will be reaching out to the community for ideas on best procedures to sustain Saba’s natural environment. Dutch
Navy Surveys
©Article
and Images courtesy Suzanne Nielsen
While the
“mother ship,” the HMS Snellius, crisscrosses the Saba Bank, the huge
underwater atoll west of Saba, two smaller craft have been dispatched one
each to the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands. These boats survey
from the shoreline to a depth of 200 meters in areas chosen because of
heavy marine traffic. It is a mandatory task. Holland, as a signatory of the International Convention for The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is obligated to make sure that the oceanic regions under its jurisdiction are safe for marine traffic. The Dutch Navy undertakes the Caribbean survey every 10 years with the main objective to determine if there are any obstacles that endanger ships. Imminent dangers are immediately reported; the rest of the data is fine tuned and used to update charts profiling the seabed.
The routine work can bring its surprises: The survey ship HMS Snellius already has issued one “Notice to Mariners” when 20 nautical miles SW from Saba the ship’s High Speed High Resolution Side Scan Sonar (H4S) picked up an undocumented wreck on the bottom with its mast sticking up only 10 meters beneath the surface. The H4S – which looks like a slender torpedo - is nicknamed a “fish” because it is dragged behind the ship. The Snellius fish did its job in locating the wreck, but was itself torn loose from its line when snagged by the protruding mast. HMS Snellius divers salvaged the important piece of equipment, and put it back into service after minor repairs.
This is a sonar reading of an “obstacle” on the Saba Bank seabed, found by the “fish” of the HMS Snellius. The white vertical stripe is the area directly underneath the ship.
The
information gathered by the ship’s scientific instrumentation will be
adjusted for tidal differences and spikes from the ship’s movement. The
scrubbed data will then go to the Dutch Hydrographic Department and will
eventually make its way to the British Admiralty. The British Admiralty has been charting the world’s oceans for more than 200 years. The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) now has over 3,300 Standard Navigational Charts in its portfolio. The charts are available in different scales (from 1:500,000 to 1:10,000) on paper or CD-ROM depending on the intended use. The Electronic Navigational Charts greatly simplify traditional navigation processes such as route planning by automation through use of satellite positioning devices. Dutch Navy Hydrographer Lt. Jelle Douma said that most mariners get their maps from the British Admiralty since they might not know the individual country laying claim to the water they wish to sail. With all data feeding into the Admiralty, the navigator is assured of getting the most updated information. On BoardThe interior of the small Navy survey craft captained by Lt. Douma is tight and hot. A tropical climate is the enemy of electronic equipment, and the crew scrambled on St. Maarten to improve the situation. The solution was a freestanding unit borrowed from the Coast Guard’s Puma, which brought down both temperature/humidity from 36°C/80% to 30°C/60% -- enough to ensure the equipment functioned properly and made it mildly more comfortable for the crew. Two laptop computers are constantly logging the information gathered by the H4S behind the boat and the multi-beamed echo sounder underneath. Gray areas on the monitor show exactly what has been missed in the back/forth path of the boat. With global positioning, the ship tracks over these spots with pinpoint accuracy to collect the data to fill in the blanks. This positioning is continuously corrected to within two-meter accuracy by two GPS antennas temporarily erected on St. Johns, Saba.
The small
survey boat took two weeks to do its work off Saba, which included set-up
and tear down, making island contacts, and buffer time for poor weather.
The survey tackled areas with the most traffic-- the south and west
sides—basically the harbor, the dive sites, and yacht moorings. Saba’s
steep terrain continues its precipitous angle underwater and the small
scientific craft hugged the shoreline, in some cases only out about ½
mile out and yet over 200 meters of water. The Dutch
hydrographers paid courtesy visits to Lt. Governor Sydney Sorton and also
the Saba National Marine Park Office. There, staff member Sue Hurrell took
Capt. Floor de Haan, Hydrographer of the Netherlands and Lt. Douma on a
tour of the hyperbaric chamber, which was donated in by the Dutch Navy in
1989. The chamber is a German-built Dräger T7570, taken from a
decommissioned Dutch Navy minesweeper. The Marine Park asked the Navy for information on the compressed air storage tanks outside the chamber room, which have never been serviced since they were installed in 1989. Capt. de Haan promised to make the appropriate inquires at the Navy and inform the Marine Park. New
Archaeological Find
SABA—A
team of archeologists from Leiden University, Holland, spent the New Year
at the Plum Piece property on Troy Hill, the oldest site of habitation on
Saba. The site is unusual for the Caribbean because it is located away
from the seashore at approximately 400 meters altitude. Local
farmer Carl Zagers found an axe head that he recognized to be an artifact
and made the discovery of the ancient location several years ago. The
Leiden group did their first exploratory dig at Plum Piece in 2002 and has
returned several times since. According to archeologists Dr. Menno
Hoogland and Dr. Corinne Hofman, radiocarbon dating indicates that the
site was occupied about 3,500 years ago. The
specific mission this time was to look for signs of dwellings. The
evidence of these is discolored dirt, which indicates that a wooden
support or pole was once planted there, supporting some kind of structure,
such as a lean-to. When a different color soil is observed, very careful
dimensions are taken and the actual color of the soil is compared to an
authoritative chart, called a Munsell Soil color chart, which is
internationally recognized. A group of professors from The Saba School of Medicine visited the site and Hofman and Hoogland explained how they and they two graduate students were carrying out the work. The site had grown over once again, and had to be cleared before quadrants were drawn and the careful removal of the topsoil could begin. All disturbed dirt is sifted for eventual artifacts. Over 30 stone and conch shell tools were found, as well as refuse remains. Flint samples were also found and these are particularly interesting since flint is not found on Saba. The flint is thought to come from Antigua. The site was totally restored before the archeologists left. They samples that they removed will be further examined in proper scientific conditions in Holland. The group left Saba for St. Eustatius, where they will visit will resident archeologist Grant Gilmore. Aaron is the
New Face & Voice
SABA—Aaron
Soares, a native son several generations removed, has stepped in with lots
of enthusiasm to be the new manager of the Cottage Club Hotel in
Windwardside. The
energetic Soares, born 26 years ago on Anagada of Saban ancestry, is
bringing innovative ideas and marketing notions to the organization. He
intends to make a difference at the eleven- year-old establishment in
everything from its exterior landscaping to room arrangements and lodging
packages. Soares went to school at Southwestern Oregon Community College in the States to study manufacturing technology. He joked that although he has never worked in manufacturing, learning the importance of attention to detail has been a benefit on any job that he has encountered. His hotel training came from within his own family on Anagada. “My family had a fishing-restaurant-hotel business,” he explained. It was also faster paced: The area where he grew up would encounter in one week the amount of tourists Saba has annually. “I enjoy the relaxed environment here, which allows more time to be with hotel guests and meet their needs on Saba,” he pointed out. To meet these needs, The Cottage Club has set up excellent relationships with local businesses to help any customer benefit fully from what the island has to offer, whether it be a cost-effective dive package, to spa treatments and yoga lessons. Soares said that the Cottage Club has traditionally been a destination for regional business people and for this reason the Club offers long-term rates. Business people appreciate that the Club is centrally located, at the same time it is away from the thoroughfare, ensuring a guaranteed quiet night’s sleep. Soares will be focusing on increasing traffic with the US and Europe by strategic partnerships with chosen travel agents. He has already developed exclusive packages for Saba medical students and their families, honeymooners, Antilleans, and to honor special events, like the upcoming Antillean Day in October. The
Cottage Club is made up of ten Saba-style cottages, each with an ocean
view. Every apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, cable television, and
very comfortable sleeping arrangements: three units have one Queen-sized
bed, and seven have two Queen-sized beds. Soares said that all kitchens
are scheduled to be remodeled starting later this year to create a
breakfast bar eating counter. This redesign will open up this space and
made it more practical. There is of course a Hotel pool just steps away
with its own magnificent lookout over the Caribbean Sea. Landscaping
at the entrance to the property will also be redone and the interior of
the quaint plantation-style reception building will soon reflect the
modern tourist’s needs for constant communication: an Internet Café for
guests. Along
with overseeing the physical changes to the property, Soares will be
working on improving marketing documentation, from a new brochure to an
interactive web site where guests can make and confirm their reservations. Soares commitment to Saba goes much further than his concentration on upgrading the Cottage Club—next May Soares and fiancée Desirée Johnson of the Saba Tourist Bureau will wed and establish married life on the Unspoiled Queen. Take
Home Saba Memories
actual first time
results. Just in
Time for Sea & Learn on Saba Caribbean Fall Sale on American Airlines for travel between August 22, 2005 and December 16, 2005 were announced in July 2005. But great new fares continue. The latest is a regular Continental flight that departs Newark daily just before 10 a.m. The direct 4.5 hour flight lands in St. Maarten at 2:18 p.m. And the best part, just $554. For more details and a quotation, contact Beth Jansen of Dive Saba Travel: 1-800-883-SABA or divesaba@comcast.net For all inclusive packages, check her website: www.divesaba.com Beth is a travel specialist who works only on travel to the islands of Saba and Statia. No
More Dust! Lt. Governor Antoinne Solignier announced in early May the completion of Saba's harbor project. In 1999, Hurricane Lenny's storm surge caused severe structural damage to the island's only pier located at the Fort Bay. The planning and funding took almost two years to orchestrate and even longer to implement. The pier is less than 100' (30m) and is utilized by numerous diving, fishing and freight vessels as well as visiting passenger ferries. As the island's only means for sea traffic, the construction was conducted while the pier continued to function slowing both the construction process and frustrating all the users. But the work is finally complete. Although far from a glamorous marina, the harbor area is clean, has public toilet facilities and continues to be a local swimming and sun bathing area. The Fort Bay continues to house the Saba's Hyberbaric Facility and the Saba National Marine Park's center as well as the island's only gas station and the GEBE deisel generating station.
New Saba Coffee Table Book
Move over kitty and make space on that coffee table! Author and filmmakers Dos and Bertie Winkel have now published their second book on Saba. This one, Eye on St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius, is one in a series of books by Winkel about special places he has visited in the world. The book signing took place on Thursday, October 21, 2004 at Tropics Cafe as part of the month-long Sea & Learn event. After the book signing, the Winkel's documentary on Bonaire and Saba was shown.
A New Rental in Booby Hill
Garden Cottage has been one of Saba's most enjoyed properties for many years...so much so that owners Tom and Lynn Franzson retired early and enjoy their home full time. For those who are not lucky enough to book Garden Cottage the few weeks per year it is still rented, you can enjoy the next best thing...Garden Studio is now available for renting. Located below the main house of Garden Cottage, the studio offers the peace and quiet of Booby Hill with a wonderful view to the west, yes sunsets AND one of the only properties offering a private hot tub (pictured above). Ideal for a single or a couple, the studio offers a fully equipped kitchen, double bed, air conditioning, indoor and outdoor dining area, barbeque grill, color tv with cable, cd player stereo and a romantic swing with awning to be enjoyed in the sun or shade. And, a sweet price. 7 nights and 5 days diving package including airport and daily transfers, local hotel tax, tanks and weights: $715 p/p based on double occupancy. Contact Lynn regarding availability or more information. See our Dive Package w/Hotels and Cottages for more information and links as well as other properties available.
The Latest About St. Maarten's Diving Recognizing that many of our divers either add Saba to their itinerary because they will be in St. Maarten, or add St. Maarten to their itinerary for beaches and shopping...we now present "Cousin Vinny Knows". On the Visiting St. Maarten page of this website, link to a news page for the latest information about what is happening on St. Maarten's diving scene. Sea &
Learn '04 If you thought the first year of Sea & Learn (October 2003) was impressive, wait until you see this year's list of experts--more than double the amount of guest speakers, more variety and intriguing field projects. Continue to monitor www.seaandlearn.org for weekly updates before the kickoff October 1. Sea &
Learn Program See the picture, read the story and understand what great things happen in October on Saba...see the Sea & Learn webpage of this site for all the scoop and watch for www.sea&learn.org coming soon!
Saba's Harbor
SABA—Capital Signals, contractor for the Fort Bay project, drove in this week four of 22 tubular steel piles at the head of the main pier, as the first step in creating the new pier end. The piles, with a diameter of 700mm (28") and a length of 17meters (60 ft), are hammered 30 feet into the sea bottom. The piles together with 50 steel sheet piles will be placed in a semi-circle, which will be filled with concrete to form the new pier head. The four piles were driven in to test the operation, which was successful. The crew then continued with the underwater excavation of the pier head. When this excavation is completed, the excavator will move over to work on the breakwater, while simultaneously work will resume on driving the piles and completing the pier head. The concrete Accropodes for the breakwater are 94% completed. Work is temporarily stalled with the crew waiting on a replacement part for the pump on for Big Rock Engineering’s cement truck. The part is being flown to St. Maarten, and concrete work is expected to resume next week.
Family Summer Dive Trip Spurs Morris, Illinois--Twelve-year old David Greenway is one of Immaculate Conception School's 2004 winners of its annual science fair. David and nine other students will now travel to regional competition to be held at St. Francis school in Plainfield, Illinois. David chose an unusual subject for the fair, though one which he has practical experience and understanding: Boyle's Law. The idea for the project arose last summer when David and brother Alex became Sea Saba's youngest PADI Advanced Open water divers.
Introduction to Boyle's Law normally occurs in a high school physics class--unless you're a diver. The pressure, volume and density relationships proven by 17th century physicist (also chemist and theologian) are the fundamental laws governing scuba diving--from a one-day introductory course to more advanced and mixed gas diving. Sound complicated? Well, under the right teaching environment, even kids in grade school can grasp physics laws.
One of the required training dives for an Advanced Certification is a "deep dive". A deep dive for training purposes is not about how deep you go but understanding the changes that occur at depth and the physiological effects to your body. Boyle's Law simply stated is 'when you double the pressure on an airspace you halve its volume, thereby increasing density.' This physics law explains the effect on our body's airspaces (ears, sinuses, mask and lungs) while diving. To exhibit this, David and Alex brought an empty water bottle on a dive (with its cap on). When taken to a depth of 70', the bottle was crushed from the ambient pressure. This problem was easily remedied with the boys taking air from their alternate air source to bring the water bottle's volume back to 100%. However, once back on the boat, the bottle nearly exploded when the pressure was released at the surface without being vented during ascent. Hence, a fairly complicated physics law of P1 * V1 = P2 * V2 is reduced to a concept that is understandable and very real. David used his dive equipment and actual underwater photos of the experiment in his exhibition. His classmates had equally intriguing experiments from soil's effect on sunflower germination to phonology and solar power. Science teacher Mrs. Janelle Aldrich was pleased with the enthusiasm and level of knowledge of the participants Tom Greenway, David and Alex's father, attended the same high school as Lynn of Sea Saba. Tom was a scuba diver in high school as well as a rival of Lynn's in geometry and chemistry classes. When Lynn saw him at their 20-year class reunion it was fun to tell him she was now an owner of a Caribbean dive shop. Tom and wife Teresa decided a family trip to Saba could be fun and interesting. Tom re-certified with his sons to be sure he was 'up-to-date' with equipment and industry standards. They keep their skills current by diving the quarries of Illinois with Visibility Unlimited where they all became nitrox certified. The Greenway Family returned to Saba in 2003 for their second dive trip and already have reservations for summer 2004. Can kids truly understand the risks
of scuba diving? This was a concern of scuba professionals
when agencies controlling the industry regulations lowered the age for scuba
diving to just 10 years. Kids tend to be 'naturals' in the water but the concern is
when judgment is needed. The 'Greenway Path' of advanced
training is not for everyone but, of course, more knowledge and experience
are the best tools to address a sport with inherent risks.
Read more about Kids' programs and Sea
Saba's approach to training on this site.
Saba's First Annual Triathalon
Yet another reason to visit Saba...Join the fun with Saba's "off the beaten path" first annual triathalon race: The Hell's Gate Challenge. Here's the course:
...here's the winner Hell’s Gate Challenge
Triathlon
SABA—The island’s first triathlon had perfect weather - cool and overcast- for the grueling contest: In a time of 1:52:09, Jesse Vozia of St. Maarten took first, Saba medical student Kris Stanton second with 1:57:05, and, at 2:03:38, St. Maarten’s Gary Hawkins was third. Just after 7am, swimmers went gingerly into the swell at Well’s Bay, rounded two buoys, and took up their bikes for the ride through The Bottom over Windwardside and up the Mountain Road to Rendez-vous, where their running shoes awaited them for the race from Rendez-vous to Troy Hill and back over Sandy Cruz to the finish line at the Hell’s Gate Catholic church. Many athletes pushed bikes part of the way up the steep sections of the Well’s Bay road, and some said that the trails were slippery from the morning dew. The event took place without serious incident although one competitor fell, wrenching her knee, and was assisted off the trail and to medical attention at the finish line. The first team to cross the Hell’s Gate finish line was S&R from St. Maarten at 2:37:55. Saba’s Trail Blazers, (Peter Johnson, Luke Hassell, and Guillermo Hassell, all under the age of 16), were in fourth position with a time of 2:22:35. The Saba National Marine Park boat helped with the swimming portion, Saba Police officers had a chase vehicle for the bike ride, and the Conservation Foundation had made sure that trails were in top condition. The Red Cross and the Medical School supplied first aid assistance. Most of the athletes were from St. Maarten’s Friendly Island Triathlon Association (FITA), whose members had laid out the course several weeks ago. Participants judged the course an “Xterra,”, since it was non-traditional, but still one of the most difficult they have attempted. They praised coordinators Johanna van t’Hof and Wim Schutten of Juliana’s for race organization and hospitality. The FITA stages about five triathlons a year and hopes to see the Hell’s Gate Challenge become an annual event. Race Director Allan MacDonald from the FITA said that competitor’s ages went from 13 to 65, with 11 individual male entries, 2 individual females, and 9 teams, with team members performing in just one segment of the race. MacDonald brought $4,000 worth of battery-operated timing equipment with him. Split times will be calculated and posted on the FITA web site. A kid’s mini-marathon took place at Fort Bay in a light afternoon rain with under 12 winner Kenji Hassell and for the over 12s, Tim van der Velde. Photos of the morning’s triathlon taken by the Daily Herald and the Marine Park were ready for viewing in the Marine Park Offices as the contestants waited for transportation back to St. Maarten. Register for the 2004 race by contacting Johanna @ Ecolodge Rendezvous: info@ecolodge-saba.com - 599-416-3888. All proceeds benefit the Saba Conservation Foundation. |
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Nearby
Statia is Wrecked!
The Sinking of M/V Charlie Brown
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photo courtesy of ScubAqua Dive Center on Statia |
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Excuse to visit Saba #33: The nearby island of Statia (St. Eustatius) has long been planning the sinking of M/V Charles L. Brown, more commonly referred to on Satia as The Charlie Brown. The 300' (100m) cable ship acquired for purposes of an artificial wreck has now met its final resting spot. On its own, the ship sunk a day ahead of press time but to the delight of locals, exactly as hoped: the forward section in approximately 45' (15m) and the stern in approximately 105' (32m). Charlie Brown is the second artificial reef created on Statia. The first was the STENAPA project, now known as "Wreck City". "Double Wreck" and "Triple Wreck" are dive sites with multiple natural shipwrecks. Additionally, there's inaccessible wreckage that is located outside the park's limits in heavily trafficked shipping lanes. Divers looking for authentic treasure can experience the thrill of finding real treasure. Original "blue beads", glass beads used in slave trading in earlier centuries, are still abundant. The beads are found on shallow shore dives--but, if you can't find one and can't live without one, a few are for sale on the island. Contact Beth of Dive Saba - Statia Travel to plan a combination trip. Statia is only an 8-minute direct Winair flight from Saba! Find out more about our neighbor.
courtesy of Chef Michael, "The
Brigadoon"
Been to Saba before and think you've "been there and done that"? Well, you have another excuse to 'climb the mountain', Mt. Scenery, the tallest point in the Dutch Kingdom. Crocodile James and The Bruce Trail Club have once again improved Saba's Trail system. One of this year's achievements is the addition of the "off shoots" in to the elfin forest and a trek that overlooks the northern cliff of the mountain. Accessing the real part of the elfin rainforest used to be a 'local secret' experienced only by those truly seeking the unusual and willing to sink knee deep in mud. Not exactly paved but an obvious trail, enter under the natural canopy of mahogany trees in to a unique eco-system that has a 'prehistoric feeling' to it. The new path ends in a bit of mud and even requires you to duck through a final cave before declaring you have really been to the top. Caution, those with a fear of heights should beware! Wow, the view below is worth it! Sign posted as a 90-minute hike, you'll want to plan more time at this special spot.
M/V's
Sea Dragon & Giant Stride
Return from St. Maarten
A warm welcome awaited John
and Dai when they pulled in to the Fort Bay with Sea Dragon after
a 14-day haulout in late March and early May. John and Dai had a
feeling of deja vu a few weeks later when they returned with Giant
Stride. Both vessels had scheduled preventative
maintenance completed by our staff in St. Maarten--work that requires the
vessel is taken out of the water. This work also allows us to have
an out-of-water survey completed....all part of Sea Saba's maintenance
program, an integral part of our service, assuring our boats are ready to
serve you.
Christmas Eve 2002--10-year taxi driver
for Sea Saba, Emmanuel
"Manny" Lynch is now cruisin' in style. The freight
boat pulled in to the Fort Bay Harbor late on Christmas Eve with Manny's
brand new van: a 14-passenger Toyota Hiace complete with airco. No
worries, slow drivin', always on time, Manny is still the dependable driver
you remember...ready with the latest story and a suitcase full of lotto
tickets.
Juliana's--The Place You Know--But some nice changes...
Franklin and Juliana Johnson designed, built and operated Juliana's. After 12 years they remain on Saba and even tend to Juliana's beloved hibiscus --but have brought in Wim and Johanna Schutten to help long-time office extraordinaire Vanessa with the day-to-day operations. Johanna is the daughter of famed local artist Heleen Cornet. She met Wim while studying at Webster University in Holland. Wim is Dutch but has lived in the U.S. for five years and France for ten years. As soon as Wim visited Saba, he knew this was the place they should begin their new life together. The Schutten's have enhanced the standard rooms of Juliana's with a "reasonably priced" mini bar, convenient for late arrivals. Plans for a 'computer station' in the rec room are in the works so that hotel guests can check their email but also have a work station to download digital images, even burn a cd. Flossie's Cottage is next in line for upgrades--stay tuned!
Tropicbird Returns to the Nest -- Mandy's Hypothesis Proven?
Read about this news item and the ongoing 5-year+ research project on Tropicbirds being conducted on Saba on our Birding page. The normally cliff-dwelling seabird is more easily studied in an area of Saba, just north of our harbor.
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Dec 2002 |
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| Sep 2002 |
Green Themes: Tropics Goes Veggie; Eco Lodge Opens |
| Aug 2002 | |
| Jun 2002 | USAir & Winair Pact |
| Apr 2002 | Fish Doc is Back! |
| Mar 2002 | More Trail Improvements |
| Jan 2002 | SS Wins Award |
| Dec 2001 | QG New Managment |
| Nov 2001 | Steve Takes A Break |
| Oct 2001 | Dick #8 in World, Again |
| Sep 2001 | Gate House reopens |
| Aug 2001 | Dick aces Lake Placid |
| Jul 2001 | Pregnant Seahorses |
| Jul 2001 | Ft Bay Improvements |
| Jun 2001 | Newest Hiking Trail |
Saba Gets Greener...
"Tropics, The Natural Cafe"...even fresher for 2003 Season
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Steve & Caroline, Proprietors |
the new pineapple doors |
guests enjoying the cozy corner |
Not just plenty of rain this year on Saba, but even more eco and health minded...An exciting new look is coming to Tropics Cafe, the on-site restaurant of Juliana's Hotel. After 3 years as proprietor of the Cafe, rather than leaving, Caroline has decided to take Tropics forward as her new business venture.
Following refurbishment through September, Tropics--The Natural Cafe will reopen in October with a completely fresh look and new focus on all things natural and healthy. The menu will reflect the concept of "you are what you eat". So get ready for your dive day with fresh and nutritious whole foods as well as mouth-watering fresh fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies Also on offer will be tempting breads, homemade desserts and muffins, specialty coffees and herbal teas to complement the delicious lunch specials. Of course, the bar will still be serving the best mango daiquiris. Opening hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with food available throughout this time, satisfying the divers' need for an afternoon snack to carry them through to dinner time.
and...
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Tree Frog Cottage |
Tree Frog Interior |
Barnt & Angelique, Managers |
Heleen the Artist |
After more than three years of construction, most of it done by hand, Saba's new eco-friendly lodge is open. Located on the Crispeen Trail, a 15-minute hike up the Mt. Scenery steps, Ecolodge Rendez-Vous offers an alternative way to enjoy Saba. Not just a hotel, a lifestyle as well as a philosophy...
Proprietors Tom van t'Hof and Heleen Cornet, long time residents of Saba made their dream of bringing tourists closer to nature a reality. Tom is a world renowned designer of marine parks (including Saba's) and Heleen a prolific artist. Each cottage is colorfully decorated as per its name...treefrog, blue tang, hummingbird, etc.--12 cottages in all! The property will be managed by Heleen's son Barnt, a trained chef and Angelique Smeur, formerly of the Saba Tourist Office. The Rainforest Cafe will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to guests as well as other visitors. The organic garden right next to the restaurant provides vegetables and herbs for their menu. Their website explains how the facility was built, materials used and how it will be run in an environmentally friendly way. You can even sign up to be a volunteer...
Dr. Pichler Explains Hot Springs Importance
SABA—The
chain of volcanic activity in the Lesser Antilles is a focal point for
scientific study. Geologist
Dr. Thomas Pichler recently spent several days on Saba, prospecting for
scientific sites for future exploration. Dr. Pichler explained his
work and his findings from diving Saba's Hot Springs dive site at
Sea
Saba's weekly Marine Environment presentation held every Monday night at
The Brigadoon restaurant. To read details about Dr. Pichler, his
work and his opinions on Saba's activity, click
here. In short, no worries...though Saba is considered a
dormant volcano, his findings confirm we can enjoy the hot sand spots
without any concern for many hundreds of years.
USAir Makes Winair an Associate Airline
USAirways
has announced a new cooperation and marketing initiative with Caribbean
regional carriers Caribbean Star Airlines, Nevis Express and Windward
Island Airways ("Winair"). Code sharing will make
traveling to Saba easier: better flight connections, lower prices, easier ticketing
and an interline baggage agreement (check your bags through from your
gateway U.S. city straight to Saba!).
Fish
Doc Returns to Saba
Good news about more sharks
FORT BAY, SABA --- Dr. Callum Roberts and Julie Hawkins are back on Saba for 4 weeks conducting their annual fish and coral survey. Dr. Roberts is well respected throughout the world and considered to be an expert in the field of marine reserve design. His wife Julie is also a marine biologist, and together they hold posts as a professor and research associate at York University in the United Kingdom.
After
their arrival on Saba, we asked Dr. Roberts whether the increase of shark
activity not only at our pinnacles but also at shallower dive sites is
cause for concern. "No, it's cause for celebration!"
He explained that it's only another
indication of increased fish population--the sharks with a larger food
source, and the sharks themselves not being hunted. We hope Dr. Roberts
and Ms. Hawkins will have more conclusive information regarding shark
activity on Saba once they complete this year's survey. However, the main
emphasis of their study lies in the comparison of the fish stock in our
protected areas versus those of the fished or multi-purpose zones.
As explained by Dr. Roberts, the long term effects of reef protection become more visible each year. Most reef fish are territorial and display a tendency to stay put in the areas of their birth. The volume of fish in a given area greatly depends not only on the number of fish inhabiting the reef, but also their size. Through sustained reef protection efforts such as those of the Saba Marine Park, fish grow larger. In turn, larger fish produce exponentially more eggs insuring a greater survival of the species. For example, one 10 kilogram snapper produces more than 200 times the eggs than a 1 kilogram snapper will --- so much for the argument against putting all your eggs in one basket!
John and Lynn
met Callum and Julie on one of their first assignments in the Red Sea in
1987. They have been studying Saba's fish stock since 1991 and
consistently find Saba’s reefs increasing in the number of fish, larger
sizes and more species each year. "Saba’s fish populations are now
among the largest in the Caribbean, and a reflection of the protection
afforded by the Saba Marine Park." St.
Maarten's Daily Herald also wrote a nice piece of the work of
Roberts/Hawkins.
Since 1996 The Bruce Trail Club based in Toronto Canada has traveled to Saba to work with Crocodile James and the Saba Conservation Foundation to expand and restore the hiking trails around the island.
This
year, three different groups of 6-7 enthusiastic Canadians came to Saba
during January and February 2002. Their accomplishments include the
widening of All Too Far Trail and the clearing of the Sulphur Mine
entrance but perhaps most exciting is the expansion of the Mt. Scenery
Trail (Saba's highest peak at 3,000'). The trail's new route takes
you 600'
(200m) further to the north overlooking the village of Hell's Gate with
a breathtaking vantage point to Saba's airport, the smallest international
runway in the world.
Ecolodge
Rendez-vous, located along the Crispeen Trail, provided 2
cottages for the trail workers. The Ecolodge is in its third year of
construction with 12 cottages to be completed in time for the rumored opening
date of August 2002. Saba restaurants provided a few
complimentary meals during the workers 2-week stint but for the most part, the
volunteers donate not just their hard work but the expenses of coming to Saba
including their airfare and meals. Workers begin their day at 7:30 a.m.
and finish in the early afternoon, taking advantage of cooler
mornings. Sea Saba provided a complimentary snorkel trip and
around-the-island tour as a small token of our appreciation for the hard work
done by the Bruce Trail Club.
Sea
Saba Wins Prestigious Tauchen Award
January 27, 2002--The subscribers of the TAUCHEN magazine voted SEA SABA dive center for the 2nd best dive center in the entire Caribbean. The award was presented (24.01.02) at the annual international BOOT 2002 from 19.01 – 27.01.2002 in Düsseldorf. Over 800 industry members and guests attended the ceremony held at the Congress Center. The prestigious award was presented by the owner of the Gunar & Jahr Verlag publishing house, one of the largest in Europe.
Former Sea Saba instructor and boat captain Peter Aulinger accepted the award on behalf of Sea Saba. Peter Aulinger is now the managing director of Sub Aqua, a large German tour operator in Germany. Sub Aqua arranges dive travel for clients but also owns several dive centers throughout the world.
Sea Saba Welcomes
New Managers of Queen's Gardens
Hans & Chantal de Kruif
December 3, 2001--Queen's Gardens Resort is under new management. Hans and Chantal de Kruiff have just arrived from Holland. They are new to Saba but not new to the Tourism and Hotel Industry. They were most recently in Venice, Italy where they ran a destination management company. They have also developed and organized soft adventure tours in South Africa.
"We
love tourism, because it's a dynamic industry where you can meet different
people and have a direct influence on the success of their vacation.
Our philosophy is that a good vacation is not good enough; we will try to
exceed the guests' expectations. We are convinced that we can do
that in such a lovely and beautiful place as Queen's Gardens Resort of
Saba. We look forward to welcoming you to the resort and serving you
with the greatest of care."
Captain Steve Takes a
Break
note Steve has made use of that Sea Saba
shirt!
November 30, 2001--After 21/2 years of dedicated service, the Sea Saba team bid a farewell to Steve Giles. In the plans for 6 months, Steve decided he wanted to take a break from the diving routine and spend more time with gal pal Caroline who runs Tropics Cafe, part of Juliana's Hotel. So not a goodbye to Saba, but a new beginning for Steve. Steve Giles is well known in the Saba diving community having lived and dived the waters of Saba since 1997. He began as a divemaster at Saba Deep. He became an instructor and ventured on to the Caribbean Explorer, a liveaboard vessel, where he met Caroline Willcock, the chef. They are proud new homeowners in Upper Hell's Gate and looking forward to spending more time together. We wish him the best of luck in his new endeavors.
Dick #8 in the World!
Dick is #1 at Lake Placid;
#8 in World Championships Hawaii 2nd year in a row!
Dick Litzel may be Sea
Saba's senior staff member but he has more energy than most 20-year
olds. Last year he amazed us by finishing #2 at Lake Placid and
going on to compete in the World Ironman competition in Hawaii to place #8
in the world. After an injury to his hamstring this winter, we
worried he may not compete this summer. But, Iron Dick, has not only
competed again, but this time he finished #1 in his age group at Lake
Placid, again qualifying him for the international event in Hawaii where
he again finished #8 (October 6, 2001--update soon!).
For those of you who are not familiar with ironman competitions, the clock
in the photo indicates Dick's time at Lake Placid after a 2.4 mile swim, followed by 112 miles
on his bike, and a full marathon run of 26.2 miles in the unbelievable time of
just over 12 hours. Come to Saba and be inspired (no autographs,
please)--Dick and his wife Paula will
be again wintering on Saba from just after Christmas until April 2002.
Saba's Harbor Beautification Project Continues
with More Fort Bay Improvements
The people of Saba together with the
Saba Government are looking forward to
an eventual improved harbor facility. Funding and planning are still
"in the
works" for the major undertakings to restore the breakwater,
re-design the
small pier area and repair the end of the large pier.
In the meantime, divers can be assured that their daily routines continue
with little to no disruptions. Sea Saba took the slower weeks of
early June 2001 to improve our Fort Bay Facility. After adding our membrane
nitrox system in January, space became an issue so we turned our open
balcony into a gear storage area with the pop-up shutters adding
additional protection in case of storm. The new desalination plant has been in
place
since October 2000, and is again providing Sea Saba with fresh water for
our
boats. Both Sea Saba's vessels Sea
Dragon and
Giant Stride boast a freshwater shower to freshen your face and rinse gear
after diving. There is an additional fresh water rinse bin at the
workshop
facility. Sea Saba promotes 3 night dives each week so that during
the
course of your stay you can also enjoy the spectacular nocturnal
underwater
activities seen at Tent Reef and in Ladder Bay.
The roads and parking facilities as well as all plumbing and lighting in
the
Fort Bay Harbor area have been repaired. Due for its regulated
inspection,
the Hyperbaric Facility had a brief service disruption (December '99) but
has
since had a total facelift. TV monitors, oxygen sensors, a new airco
unit
and improvements to the outside building have been an ongoing process with
the final building improvements nearing completion at the time of this
writing. Additional storm protection has been integrated in many
areas. The
extensive concrete work is just the beginning of the long term plans of
the
Saba Harbor Beautification Project.
Watch our NEWS update for more information on the progress of
Saba's Harbor Beautification project.
If you're a frequent visitor to Saba and trying to keep tabs on your
favorite Caribbean dive destination, look no further. Simply bookmark this
page and check back in on a regular basis where you'll find the latest
copy of our online publication, Surface
Intervals (list of archived issues is listed below).
So pull up a chair, grab a hot cup of coffee, pop open a cold bottle of Heineken or sip a little bit of that Saba Spice you still have left. Sit back, relax and stay in touch with Saba and Sea Saba between visits and if you miss any issues they'll still be available for some time to come!
No longer can we simply dial 5 numbers to reach out and touch a fellow
Saban. Though it seems a bit of a nuisance now, the additional
pre-fix will allow Sabans to make on-line purchases now that we will
have the same setup as many American-based businesses...
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March 2000 |
On January 14 after an 8 hour
journey from St. Thomas, Captains John Magor and Rob Hurrell docked
Sea Saba's new custom dive boat, the M/V Giant Stride, in Fort Bay
marking the start of a new era and the new millennium for Sea Saba...
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October 1999
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On October 9 and 10, the
4th annual Action Sports and Adventure Travel Expo was held at the
Cobb Galleria Convention Center in Atlanta...
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July 1999 |
Scheduled
for completion during the week of July 18, Monte Michel is Saba's
newest dive site. This fifth pinnacle site will then be added to
our renowned Third Encounter, Outer Limits, Twilight Zone and Shark
Shoals sites...
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March 1999 |
Each year, the months between January and March
bring us a number of repeat visitors from northern climates. While divers and hikers make
their annual southern migration to escape the cold, others flock south for more practical
reasons and this year has been no exception.. |
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November 1998 |
Despite being remembered as the worst
hurricane in recent memory, Saba has quickly recovered from Hurricane Georges with recent
visitors commenting that unless they were aware of it they wouldn't know a major hurricane
hit...
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| April 1998 |
Dr. Callum
Roberts and Julie Hawkins are on Saba for 3 weeks conducting their annual fish and coral
survey. Dr. Roberts is well respected throughout the world and considered to be an
expert ...
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