Coming to Curacao

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kona74

Registered
Messages
42
Reaction score
1
Location
Garland, TX
# of dives
100 - 199
Hi All,
My buddy(wife) and I will be coming to Curacao on September 11th through 18th. We are excited - wahooooo!

We will be staying at the Scuba Lodge and at this time are just planning on shore diving. Any comments on dive sites, sightseeing, and restaurants will be greatly appreciated.
 
We like Jack Jackson's shore diving guide to the ABC islands. Curacao Actief has a great link with a list of dive sites Curaçao Actief Mark and Suzy pick up at the Scuba Lodge for guided shore dives. The Dive Bus - HOME
A recent guest (thanks, Martin) just put my many pages of notes on the West end of Curacao on our web page as well as a long list of links of the island. BEACHES AND SITES AROUND WESTPUNT
I have a few unorganized pages of restaurant notes I can send you if you email me. curacaosunshine@gmail.com but, near the SL you can walk to Moon and Mundo Bizarro, both a bit higher than moderately priced. The old market is only 2 blocks from MB and serves local food for lunch. A few blocks away from town there is a very high end place called Lanoevo. If you go up the hill towards the ring road, past the colored buildings you will come to a set of lights (a left brings you to the ring) go straight and the Alaska Snack will be on your right. They have our second favorite loempia on the island - giant chicken spring rolls. There are dozens of really wonderful places in Punda and Otrabanda in all price ranges and within a mile from the SL.
In town you'll also find the Synagogue, Slave Museum, and have the whole floating bridge with huge bridge overhead and passing cargo boats experience.
Eric's ATV is another different and fun way to spend a morning. Lots of fun to be found on Curacao
 
Thanks Sunshine, email sent.

All,
I believe we are close to the timing for the coral spawn - any recommendations for an easy night dive?
 
If you try the Superior Producer be sure to have good booties/boots, the entry is medium size rocks and can be rough.
 
If you have a car you should do some of the dives out west. Playa Kalki/Alice in Wonderland was about the best we dove but it's out at Kura Hulanda in West Punt (45min. drive from town)

We dove Habitat Curacao's house reef at night but I just read the dive dock itself was destroyed last year. The diveshop closes around 5 so I'd recommend an afternoon dive to familiarize yourself with the reef first. The divetank/locker area is open all night and well lit. We were there in 07. there was a big octopus hunting just off the "beach" at night. For reference you'd have the lights of the resort on top of the hill to guide you back in.

My friends dove Playa Lagun the first night we were there. They had no difficulty finding the beach. It's in a cove but there's houses on the hills surrounding it. Discover Dive is at the turn-off but they close early so bring tanks.

Another good day dive for us was Varsenbaai. In one dive we saw seahorses, a big pontoon boat/barge wreck in 80' and turtles eating in 6' of water coming back in. The next dive there were 200 squid 50' off the dock.

A friend's wife is a native. She took us to a local place that might've been called Surf&Turf - it's on the water right next to the Dive Bus hut. Really casual setting and slow service but we had huge fresh lobster for not a lot of money. I might've seen someone from the kitchen getting the lobster from a pen by the water but I'm not sure.

The Ribs Factory - Oude Caracasbaaiweg 54, Willemstad had really good food and service.

Hooks Hut in Piscadera Bay is worth a stop. It's a popular beach bar and restaurant with diving on-site. If you want to eat at one of the tables in the sand you'll need to reserve in advance. Even if you're already sitting there, you'll be asked to move if there's a prior reservation.

Curacao Travel- Caribbean, Netherlands Antilles- Curacao, Dutch Caribbean if you haven't seen it already...
 
Thanks Sunshine, email sent.

All,
I believe we are close to the timing for the coral spawn - any recommendations for an easy night dive?

Hi kona74,

If you are looking for a good night dive opportunity at coral spawning time, we might have exactly the right thing for you - check out this SB post:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ab...9-ocean-encounters-west-westpunt-curacao.html

If you like, come and spend the whole day with us, shore diving Alice in Wonderland, or maybe even going to Watamula with our boat.

For more information, contact us anytime.
info@oceanencounterswest.com

Greetings from sunny Curacao

Andreas
..:: All West Curacao ::..
..:: Ocean Encounters West ::..
 
Kona, If you want to plan to spend the day in Westpunt or around the West end, then consider a night dive with OEW. They have a special on Thursday the 10th. lecture, pizza and all, you'll miss it but there is a few days window. If you decide not to make the night time drive back, the Dive Bus is also running nightly spawning dives. (Suzy, if you read this, tell Barry that's a great shot) Their location is an easy entrance and exit. I'll also agree with Andreas, the Watamula dive site is pretty special.
 
If you like, come and spend the whole day with us, shore diving Alice in Wonderland, or maybe even going to Watamula with our boat.

For more information, contact us anytime.
info@oceanencounterswest.com

Greetings from sunny Curacao

Couldn't agree more with this recommendation!

Just returned from a week in Curacao and did have the chance to spend a day at Playa Kalki (the beach where Ocean Encounters West is located) and had a great time. Did two shore dives right there at Alice in Wonderland - one to the right of the dock, one to the left of the dock - and they were great dives. Hung out on the beach with my non-diving family for a while and had a nice lunch at the restaurant right there. Then did an afternoon boat dive with Andreas and Toni from OEW - drift dive of Watamula. The OEW folks are incredibly friendly to ScubaBoarders (and everyone else too, I'm sure) and you will have a great day diving with them.

Be sure to head up that way on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and the visit Sunshine's "Sol Food" restaurant for dinner after a day of diving! You will not be disappointed...
 
I am planning (hoping) to catch several dives out West. I am trying to figure out how to dive Watamula, Mushroom, and Alice but have not yet.

Thanks to everyone for the responses and ideas.
 
I am planning (hoping) to catch several dives out West. I am trying to figure out how to dive Watamula, Mushroom, and Alice but have not yet.

Thanks to everyone for the responses and ideas.
Kona,
You might be able to do those all in one day with OEW (Ocean Encounters West). Find a day that they are going to Mushroom in the AM, if they don't have a PM boat booked up yet, request Watamula for the PM boat. After you get back forom Watamula, dive the reef in front of their dock (Alice in Wonderland). Then of course have dinner at Sunshine's.
Heck.. why not do a night dive at Alice in Wonderland after dinner .. only a few blocks away. Bring tanks for the night dive though.
 

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