Curacao Recommendations

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LStewart

Contributor
Messages
76
Reaction score
15
Location
Knoxville, TN
# of dives
100 - 199
We have a group that may range from 7-12 and are looking for recommendations for lodging/dive shop in Curacao. I was looking at Go West but All West seems to be booked for the time we're looking at. Which BTW is Feb 2020. We could go a couple weeks earlier or later though. We aren't looking to stay in the center of town and aren't needing an all inclusive. We'd prefer a smaller shop that is highly recommended that will take us to different sites each boat dive and has unlimited shore dives and Nitrox. We would need several vehicles for this big of a group and would like to have some days or afternoons to see more of the island including downtown and the park. An AirBNB type place might be an option as well. Anyone have any recommendations? Any other info you'd need to give a better recommendation?

Thanks for any help!

Larry
 
I hope @tkaelin sees this soon. Months ago I was researching western Curacao diving online after enjoying the east coast out of Sunscapes Curacao last January. From the notes I was working on, this is my reconstructed understanding of a compare and contrast between All West Apartments and Nos Krusero. If you were interested in All West but they lack availability, would Nos Krusero serve your purposes?

Apologies if I got any of this wrong. Trying to dig out the differences in details between places I haven't eye balled in person can be tough.

"Go West has a gear room at All West Apartments, but it’s about a 2-minute drive to the main Go West dive shop, where you boat their boat for boat dives. That dive shop is at another property, Nos Krusero, and Go West offers dive/stay packages at both All West and Nos Krusero with similar pricing, and both sites have a praised shore diving site. So, how to choose? TKaelin stayed at both and thought Nos Krusero was less expensive, but specials might change that. Nos Krusero has a pool area; All West Apartments does not.

Nos Krusero packages by Go West don’t include a rental vehicle; I was told by a Go West representative the trucks and cars at All West Apartments are all reserved for their guests. I was told Nos Krusero is across the street from (about 1-minute walk) the dive shop (where you can store your dive gear), which has both air and nitrox tanks. TKaelin noted his apartment was basic and mosquitos problematic despite screens; he liked the sweeping views of the ocean and hills of Christoffel Park, and said their 3rd floor apartment has a great porch and view, and the location and price were unbeatable.
The onsite shore dive is Playa Kalki (a.k.a. Alice in Wonderland). TKaelin preferred it to Playa Piscado (more interesting reef, shorter swim out, less boat traffic), and said diving it was very easy without small boat traffic, and with a line from dock-to-reef, navigation was a snap. Tkaelin noted Go West has a nice setup with tanks, benches, shade, showers, lockers, storage and a retail store, coffee for their divers and a small beach bar serving food starting around noon. Unlike at All West tanks are not available 24/7 – Go West hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (as is your tank & gear access); you can get your gear and some tanks out during business hours if you plan to dive outside them."
 
he "other" GoWest shop property is Lodge Kura Hulanda but it's quite a bit more upscale than AllWest. They do have some larger villas with kitchens, maybe your group could share 2-3.

Not in town with an onsite boat op is going to be tougher, I think Goby Divers is still at the Veneto and they may have some larger accommodations - IDK the quality of their shore dive but there is one. Goby has a smaller boat - IDK the capacity.

It's in Piscadera Bay north of the cruise congestion but quieter since they go south to town. But you'd have quick access to the north side of the harbor once they're gone. Also the only Denny's we ever found is there,,lol

Lions Dive east of town (seems south) could be another option. The main Ocean Encounters shop and most of their boats are 50' away, they have some larger accommodations as well. Average shore dive but some of your group might also like the Dolphin dive - but it's $200 plus. If some of your group wanted to split off and go shore diving, the Dive Bus picks up there afaik. Right across from the Sea Aquarium and Mambo Beach Blvd. is within walking. About 10 mins to downtown from there.

There's shops to the west at Blue Bay, Varsenbaai, Porto Mari, Cas Aou, the old Habitat resort site (now condos) and 2 at Playa Lagun but I don't think any of them have a boat. All good shore dives though.

Contact Caribbean Sea Sports also, they were at the Marriott and the Hilton in Piscadera Bay (next to each other) until the Marrioot closed for remodeling. Now it's re-opened and the Hilton just closed so maybe they moved back. 2 nice boats - one's a jet drive - and they used to do a shore dive around 6pm nightly but the reef there is a decent swim out. Marriott should be nice, it was b4 they closed. Nice pool, beach, casino, a couple restaurants plus there's about 1/2 dozen more in the area - several you can walk to.

Note I'm not talking about the Marriott Renaissance, that's closer totown and adjacent to the cruise port - no shore dive or beach. CSS used to shuttle divers from there.

hth, I haven't been there in a while.
 
We’ve taken groups to Curaçao a number of times and have enjoyed personal trips there over the years, as well. We’ve stayed at Kura Hulanda and All West Apts, but recently we enjoyed Oasis Coral Reef Estates.
The shore diving at their house reef is excellent.
It’s an easy drive to Playa Kalki and Playa Piscado for additional excellent shore dives.
It’s about 20 minutes away from the airport or the supermarket.

Oasis Coral Reef has a great pool, 2 excellent restaurants, a fun bar, a great bread/coffee shop, beautiful views, clean, modern and comfortable rooms, organized and convenient dive op. Dive packages are offered, but I would recommend staying away from too many boat dives with the onsite op, unless the group is pretty much all new divers. Our very experienced group found that we enjoyed diving with Go West

Go West Diving still offers the best boat diving on the island with Watamula and other nearby sites. It is easy enough to drive over to their shop and enjoy a 2 tank dive with them.
Feel free to PM me for more info and ideas for shore diving days, or anything else
 
Is that the ex-Habitat resort in Wilbrodjus (sp), Inside the gate at what used to be Coral Estates?

They sure cleaned that up nice. And apparently got rid of all those stairs...lol

We really liked their shore dive.
 
Can you give us more info on what you are looking for as far as diving? Are you looking to do just a couple boat dives with mostly shore diving or a week of two tank am boat diving with afternoon shore diving? More detail will help with a recommendation. Thanks. TK
 
Also, on Allwest, did you check availability directly with them or on a booking site? Last time I checked, Allwest was not putting all their rooms on booking websites such as booking.com. If you were looking at Allwest for a group of up to twelve, take a look at Nos Krusero. I quick look sat-sat in Feb showed multiple rooms available in different configurations. It would be extremely convenient location wise to dive with Go-West for the week.
 
Is that the ex-Habitat resort in Wilbrodjus (sp), Inside the gate at what used to be Coral Estates?

They sure cleaned that up nice. And apparently got rid of all those stairs...lol

We really liked their shore dive.
Yes, that is the place. I’ll definitely go back and stay there again
 
We have stayed in Coral Estates. Rented a house from https://www.vanengelenburg.co
They have houses to rent. Rented a small truck (for the three divers) and either dove the house reef at Coral Divers Curacao
or drove to other sites on the same side of the island. Would certainly go back.
 
Can you give us more info on what you are looking for as far as diving? Are you looking to do just a couple boat dives with mostly shore diving or a week of two tank am boat diving with afternoon shore diving? More detail will help with a recommendation. Thanks. TK
AS for diving we'd be looking at 1 or 2 tank morning dives and probably shore diving in the afternoons. Some/most? days may only be shore dives.
 

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