Sint Eustatius snorkeling - fun and relax for you and your family
Snorkeling is a popular pastime for those visiting Statia. While many of the coral reefs are only accessible by diving, there are a number available to snorkelers. In Oranje Bay, you can get a snorkelers introduction to the history of Statia with a view of many cannons, anchors, submerged sea walls, crumbling warehouses, and the remains of old piers. Entry points include Oranje Bay beach, Golden Era Hotel pier, and the harbour beach. There are also 3 snorkel sites available by boat (Blind Shoal and Twelve Guns in the Southern Reserve and Inner Jenkings Bay in the Northern Reserve). There are moorings available at these three sites. Snorkelers wishing to use the Marine Park moorings are required to purchase a dive tag: $3 for a single dive or $15 for an annual pass (proceeds go towards mooring maintenance). Corals themselves are very delicate structures made up of tiny animals called polyps. A coral polyp consists mostly of a soft stomach, stinging tentacles, and a mouth surrounded by a hard limestone skeleton. The formation of a large reef is a long and arduous process. Colonies of thousands of coral polyps can take hundreds of years to form massive reefs. The structure of each reef is developed through growth of new colonies over older skeletons. Coral reefs around the world are under threat resulting in the possible loss of the most highly productive and diverse ecosystem. Coral reefs support thousands of species, provide food to millions of people, and act as barriers against floods and coastal erosion. Factors Currently Threatening Coral Reefs in the Caribbean: Natural events such as hurricanes and diseases can destroy entire reefs. Physical impacts from anchors, boat groundings, and divers have an adverse affect on reefs. Climate change, leading to increased water temperatures, causes coral bleaching (coral turns white as it loses the algae upon which it depends for food). Prolonged bleaching may cause death. The Statia Marine Park was established in 1996 with the objective of conserving and managing the marine resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the people and future generations. The park surrounds the island (encompassing the entire coast) and extends from the high water mark out to a depth of 30 metres (100 ft). The total area of the park is 27.5 km2. Within the Marine Park, there are two actively managed reserves where anchoring and fishing are not permitted in order to protect pristine coral reef.
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