WOW.... what a thread! Starting with a discussion about Watamula... then a comparison between Curaçao and Bonaire, finally ending at this point anyways with Eastpoint! Being honest, this year alone.... Curaçao so far (aside from the pristine reefs along 80% of the southwestern coastline) has witnessed Whalesharks, Tiger Sharks, Hammerheads, numerous pods of dolphins (mostly spinners), pilot whales plus the usual assortment of eagle rays, manta rays and southern stingrays! Largely, with regard to Whalesharks, Hammerheads, etc... are chance encounters and does not happen regularly. But these encounters have increased in annual frequency which speaks to the overall health of the fringing reef systems.
I will never draw a comparision between other Caribbean destinations with regard to our underwater world that we are so lucky to have here on Curaçao. But I will say, on Curaçao you can find reefs that have remained unchanged for more than 50 years. Such reefs are found in the remote areas of the island, such as
Eastpoint (Oostpunt),
Watamula or
Shipwreck Point (Bapor Kibra) to name only a few because there are many more.
These sites are all
located along the southeastern side of the island or at certain locations along the wave-impacted north side of the island. Large coral colonies and coral species currently listed as threatened in the wider Caribbean can still be found in large numbers at these remote locations.
I totally agree with what one person said here about having an expectation of what it should be because of where you have already been... my honest advice is to "explore and discover Curaçao" for yourself! With more than
70 wonderful dive sites formally mapped and more than 100 available, there will be no shortage of variety or experiences for any level of diver be it: underwater photographer/videographer, tech diver, conservation diver, fun diver, etc... Bottom line really is to dive in without an expectation (whether it is Curacao or not) and discover what lies below the waterline with open eyes.
Here is a quick video clip of Curaçao - Above and Below the Waterline - that we are very proud of and had the pleasure to help produce for the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance. Coincidentally,
@AndrewBoyd78 's company also assisted with this as well for our Eastpoint trips!
If you would like more information about Curaçao, please do not hesitate to PM or email me. Always happy to assist in any way without bias... except when it pertains to safety, quality and sustainability! Hope to see you on Curaçao sooner than later! Enjoy the clip!