The Netherlands Antilles consist of two group of islands, that while belonging to Holland administratively speaking, each island has its own local government.
The two island groups of which the Netherlands Antilles consists are:
- the "Leeward Islands": along with Aruba, they create the ABC islands: Bonaire and Curaçao.
- the "Windward Islands", composed of Saba, Saint Eustatius and Saint Maarten (only the southern half of the island Saint Martin, as the northern half, Saint-Martin, is an overseas collectivity of France).
The island of Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles until 1986, when it was granted status aparte, becoming yet another part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as a separate country within the kingdom.
In 2004, a commission of the governments of the Netherlands Antilles and the Netherlands reported on a future status for the Netherlands Antilles. The commission advised a revision of the Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in order to dissolve the Netherlands Antilles.
The Netherlands Antilles are scheduled to be dissolved as a unified political entity on 10 October 2010, so that the five constituent islands will each attain a new constitutional status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
You can find the information regarding Dive Centers of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao clicking on the following links: diving Aruba, diving Bonaire, and diving Curaçao.
Featured Dive Centers
Octopus Diving
Dive Center
Scuba dive and snorkel in the beautiful waters of St. Martin / Sint Maarten with Octopus Diving.
6 divers max on the boat
Exclusive dive spots
Full range of PADI courses with 2 students per instructor
Over 30 of the best French and Dutch sites
$99 two tank dive trips, all equipment…
Caribbean Dive College
Dive Center Dive Shop Dive Club
The PADI IDC Resort "Caribbean Dive College" is your one stop for all your diving needs on St. Maarten. Your holiday fun dives as well as your PADI, National Geographic, DAN, DSAT or HSA (dive) course, from your very first try dive all the way to PADI Master Instructor, are organised and supervised…