Saba
The island of Saba forms a craggy volcanic peak dominated by rare primary and secondary tropical rainforests which cloak the highest mountain in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mount Scenery (870m). This dripping cloud filled world culminates in Elfin Forest, an ecosystem unique within the Caribbean which is dominated by magnificent mountain mahogany trees some of which are over 200 years old. The mahogany trees are smothered in epiphytes which hang from the branches and act like sponges, soaking up moisture from the clouds and rain and feeding the forest and all the vegetation down slope with a constant trickle of life sustaining water. The forest is dominated by bromeliads, bugs and birds and comes alive in the night time resonating with the pulsating whistle of the island’s tiny native tree frogs.

Saba Bank
As if this were not enough the windward islands also boast the Saba Bank. Considered by Conservation International (CI) to be a ‘hot spot’ of biodiversity in the Caribbean this huge underwater bank lies just 11km south west of Saba. In additional to well developed reefs, the Saba Bank is home to a number of commercially important species including lobster, grouper and the globally threatened Queen Conch (Strombus gigas). Each island has its own underwater park to protect the island’s marine resources and efforts are now underway to declare the Saba Bank a ‘particularly sensitive sea area’ and to regulate and control fishing effort and ship traffic there.

Rare species
Amongst the rare and endangered species which find a home on these lush tropical islands are red bellied racer snakes, which are found only on Statia and Saba, an endemic sub species of fruit eating bat and the endemic Saban anolis lizard. Remnant populations of the endangered Lesser Antillean iguana have found a last refuge on six Caribbean islands including Saba and Statia. These iguana have been hunted to the brink of extinction for their meat. Rare flora include over 22 species of orchid on Saba – one of which is thought to be endemic - and 16 species on Statia including the very rare pink orchid (Psychillis kraenzlinii), and the rare and endemic Statia Morning Glory which until recently was thought to be extinct.

Birds
The islands are home to a wealth of birds especially seabirds and waders. The uninhabited islands off St Maarten are important nesting sites for the endangered Audubon’s Shearwater and Brown Pelican – the island’s national bird - and roosting sites for the endangered Magnificent Frigate Bird. Because of the abundance of steep, undeveloped coastal cliffs and lack of predators, Saba has become the major nesting site of the Red Billed Tropic bird. These magnificent seabirds spend over four years at sea, flying continuously, before returning to nest on the island from which they emerged as fledglings.

Marine environment
Underwater these tiny islands are no less dramatic. Hurricanes and ground swells from Atlantic storms mean that their coral reefs are less species diverse than those of the leeward islands but they are nevertheless teeming with life. Statia’s network of beautiful patch reefs are one of the undiscovered natural wonders the Windward islands with exceptionally well preserved reefs, abundant stands of rare black coral, large numbers of fish as well as lobster and turtles, they are truly an underwater paradise.

Saba is surrounded by gigantic underwater pinnacles which rise out of the depths of the ocean to within 30m (100’) of the surface. The pinnacles are incredible oases of life. Smothered in corals and brightly coloured sponges, they attract huge numbers of fish including pelagic sharks, tuna and jacks and foraging sea turtles. Unlike most other islands in the Caribbean, timely conservation has meant that Saba’s waters are not over fished and the presence large predatory grouper, snapper and grunts alongside all of the more cryptic reef creatures is quite normal and make it a prime destination for discerning divers.