boat dives

[SayNo2Snow]

This is our first trip to Curacao and as l've discovered much of the diving is shore diving, do diving with dive operators by boat typically take customers to less popular locations that offer a betterdiving experience?

thanks
Ann & Lorne

 

[diversteve]

There's some dives that are only boat accessible. Watamula is west of Westpunt so that's about the only way to get there. It may be the best boat dive on Curacao. Same with one of the other signature dives - the Mushroom Forest. Many operators dive it then move in close so you can snorkel the Blue Cave during your SI. We did Lost Anchor from a boat - there's about 4 vertical, rickety looking flights of steps to get to it from shore. Most operators dive the Superior Producer from a boat. You need a boat to get out to Klein Curacao also. Some of the sites east in the Marine Park also - one is East Point.

Other sites are shore accessible. I saw somebody's boat moored at Varsenbaai after we'd dove it from shore.

As an example I'm fairly certain only 4 of these sites are readily shore accessible: Curacao Dive Sites | Ocean Encounters Diving Curacao (Snake Bay, Directors Bay, Jan Thiel, Tugboat)

 

[irie1029]

Ann and Lorne, I dive Curacao 2 weeks every year for the past 6 years and only took a boat on 3 or 4 occasions. Steve is spot on regarding the OE sites though I am not familiar with some of the names OE uses for some of the sites. You will enjoy either way. Directors Bay and Tugboat reef are shore dives East End and my favorites. I use dive company CURious2DIVE as they choose the shore dive site based on conditions at the moment. Depending on where you are staying can determine best opportunity and even mix up each end of the island. Have a great time!

 

[SayNo2Snow]

thanks Steve & Irie for the info, Watamula and the Mushroom forest are among spots I've been making notes to be sure to dive. We are staying near Wespunt at Marzul Resort . I will be adding the other location to our plans

 

[diversteve]

It changes a little diving from the Westpunt Area - Curacao is a long island so the operators east/near Willemstad don't typically go as far west and vice/versa. So unless you want to drive back to town to board an OE boat (or others) your closest option would be Go West Diving - in Westpunt. https://www.gowestdiving.com/boat-schedule.html

I'm not familiar with all their sites but Elvin's Plane wreck might be one to add to your list. We dove Lagun and Jeremi from shore but there may be a reason to boat dive there - IDK. Ask [user]bryan.[/user] - he's their GM.