I'm a DM on Curacao with over 2,000 dives on the island, having dived probably most if not all the sites on Curacao, I can say without doubt, the best diving regarding reef condition and marine life diversity, is at "East Point" !!!
The only downside to East Point is that it can only be dived by boat, the following operators currently do trips there:
- Dive Charter Curacao (the one I worked for) "http://www.divechartercuracao.com/"
- Scuba Do (based in Jan Theil beach) "http://www.divecenterscubado.com/sofena/k/acs_center_/impressum,acs_cura,0,folder.html?language=english"
- Ocean Encounters (based in Lion Dive) "http://www.oceanencounters.com/"
Which one you choose depends on your skill level and comfort requirements. Dive Charter Curacao, who run a rib (max 8 divers), offer the best chance of getting to and even around the tip of East Point, especially in rough sea conditions, and the further east you can get the better the reefs are, but the trip can be bumpy and you need to be able to backward roll of the boat and climb back on. Scuba Do and Ocean Encounters run larger standard like dive boats, which in good weather can also reach the east end of the island, but in rough conditions you may have to dive sites not so far out.
Watamula comes in a close second to East Point being the last dive site to the west end of the island, its generally a very easy drift dive (about 1 hr.) from one end of the reef to the other. This dive is best done by boat due to the unpredictable currents, the boat can drop you at either end of the reef so you can use the prevailing current to help you along the dive.
I would use GoWest Diving https://www.gowestdiving.com/, as they operate a boat from "Playa Kalki" (aka Alice in Wonderland) only five minutes boat ride from Watamula. You can then also do Alice in Wonderland once or twice as a shore dive, either before or after Watamula, follow that up with food a Sunshines "Sol Food" this makes for a great days diving.
For shore diving you have great sites both quite local, and also up to the west end of the island, the following are some of my favorites:
Local to you in Chogogo (east side of Willemstad)
- Directors Bay, this is a great wall dive in both directions, there are no onsite facilities, and don't leave valuables in your vehicle (a guide is useful)
- The Tug Boat, wall and tug boat to the left, and under the pier to the right, there are no onsite facilities, and don't leave valuables in your vehicle (a guide is useful)
- Marie Pompoen (Pierbaii, close to Breezes and The Dive Bus) a great diverse shore dive with good onsite facilities at The Dive Bus.
Close but to the west of Willemstad, over the bridge
- "Superior Producer" best ship wreck in Curacao (+/- 100ft. deep, near the cruise ship terminal, can only be done when no cruise ship is docked) I would highly recommend a dive guide of this dive!
- Blue Bay wall (Blue Bay resort) quite a long swim out to the wall but a great dive, beware of the current, you have to pay for access to the beach.
- Snake Bay (Boca Sami) the water can get a bit choppy if the wind is up, to the left is the better dive.
- Vaersen Bay (just past Boca Sami), great normal dive, but if you are deep dive certified there is an excellent "Car Pile" here, but it starts at 100ft. and some of the best stuff is at around 130ft. only do this dive with a guide!
Now further out of town towards the West
- Porto Marie (great double some would say triple reef system) great onsite facilities, but best done during the week, to avoid crowds. To get the best from this site I would recommend a guide.
- Lagoon (quite a long swim out to the reef, but if you are good on air you can go out under water along by the rocks)
- Jeremi, Klein Knip, Grote Knip, these are three small beaches which offer good diving, but be aware there are no onsite facilities, and don't leave valuables in your vehicle!
- Playa Largu, this is a fisherman's port, which offers great diving, including a good chance of seeing turtles, there are no onsite facilities, and don't leave valuables in your vehicle!
- Playa Kalki, (aka. Alice in Wonderland) great dive site with good dives to both the left and right, good on site facilities and security, they now have a guard in the car park during the week.
There are of course many other great sites on the island and I'm sure everyone has their own favorites, usually because they saw something great there, I hope this helps.
As always, most of these sites you can dive without a guide (except where I recommended otherwise), but some times having a guide that knows the reef and knows at what the best sort of depth to be at during any give part of the dive can really make a difference!!!
All the best and enjoy you vacation!!!
Nivek
