LAWRENCE TULISSI
1 RUNWAY SHOW You’ll either sweat the landing or love it, eyeing the pilot to gauge if he’s seasoned enough to guide the plane onto the seems-too-short runway. (fly-winair.com)
2 ADVANCED OPTIONS Sites far off the west coast such as Twilight Zone, Outer Limits and Third Encounter cater to advanced divers: They’re deep, the current can be strong, and pelagic species often swing by for a visit. (Seasaba.com)
3 SMALL-TOWN VIBE What’s perhaps most surprising about the charming, red-roof cottages for rent through Juliana’s Hotel isn’t the dramatic views that stretch to St. Maarten — it’s that none comes with a key. No crime on-island means no need. (Julianas-hotel.com)
4 A TASTE OF THE GOOD LIFE Stay for dinner — or the night. For a high-end retreat, head to Queen’s Gardens Resort, nestled just above the sea-level town known as the Bottom, for Old World glamour and New World flavors. (Queensaba.com)
5 PINNACLE EXPERIENCE To spy the Caribbean reef sharks cruising by, be among the first of your dive group to drop in at Eye of the Needle, a coral-covered seamount 95 feet deep. (Seasaba.com)
6 COLOR OVERLOAD Twin pinnacles in 70 feet of water comprise the site Man O’ War Shoals. Weave figure-eight patterns between the two, nosing among butterfly, black dragon, trumpetfish and all manner of reef dwellers. (Seasaba.com)
7 HEART OF THE GAME If the doughnut cloud disappears from Mt. Scenery, hike to the top of the volcano for views. Otherwise, the more-leisurely walk along the Sandy Cruz trail offers all the sights, smells and sounds of the Saba rainforest.
8 WORK ALL THE ANGLES It’s admirable to search on your own, but there’s no shame in letting the guides nudge you toward where the frogfish dwell. Tent Reef and Diamond Rock tend to be flush with the oddities in colors ranging from lava-rock gray to Post-it yellow.
9 OCTOBERFEST During all of October, Sea Saba brings in experts on topics such as dolphin communication, bioluminescence, orchids and more to give talks several nights a week. These scientists also lead dives, nature walks and other experiences pertaining to their fields of study. (Seanadlearn.org)
10 PLAY WITH FIRE Bead-making might sound wimpy until you realize you’re twisting rods of glass through a blowtorch flame. Local artist and teacher Jo Bean favors shapes like fish and turtles. (Jobeanglassart.com)
Read Saba, The Undiscovered Queen for more reasons to scuba dive this awesome island.
