Bonaire again? Looking for recommendations for new dive destination.

[lthomas132]

There's a new place out on Turneffe Atoll called Belize Dive Haven (Home - Belize Dive Haven). They are doing an introductory 1/2 off this fall. It's way out there but Turneffe is incredible! It's AI and all diving is included. Check it out. Cheap flights to BZE right now too. I just returned from Caye Caulker and Fla. Keys but it's tempting just to try it out.

 

[Silty Sam]

I've never been to Curacao, but it's my impression that it's always been described here on SB as "Bonaire with nightlife?"

 

[tkaelin]

On the West Side Lodge Kura Hulanda in Westpunt is as nice as it looks.

If CUR is in your mix, I would heartily endorse but would raise a caution on Kura Hulanda. They have had management issues over the years and I am not sure they have quite "gotten it together" yet. There are other more reliable places stay nearby that will give you easy access to the house reef at KH.

 

[tkaelin]

Having re-read your original post and following on the heals of another poster from Houston about CUR if you the flights from Houston to CUR meet your criteria I would highly recommend CUR with a stay in the Westpunt area. We are also a big fans of Capt Don's, at least for the diving. We always stayed at Coral Paradise just next door. Westpunt is quiet, no cruisers and great house reefs comparable to Capt. Dons. Nos Krusero is right across the street from Gowest Diving which is at the house reef at KH which is probably the best shore dive in all of CUR. You have lockers where you can leave your gear, showers, rinse tanks, boat and shore diving set up much like Capt Dons. There are other locations nearby with similar set ups: Allwest Apt, Marazul, Bahia at Lagun and Lagun Blou. Have fun exploring options and researching for your next trip.

 

[AdivingBel]

+1 for Westpunt Curacao. We rent a condo at Marazul. We've used GoWest & Dive'n Curacao for tanks when diving the house reef and unimproved shore diving sites. We'll rent tanks onsite when we're diving beach sites with facilities. Lots of info online. Enjoy the search and enjoy Curacao if you happen to go that way.

 

[swimbody]

We stayed at Blue Bay in CUR and rented a van for our day shore diving jaunts. Fly SWA to Aruba then Divi-Divi to CUR. Saturdays SWA flies a non-stopper to Aruba so you don't have to spend 2.5 hours doing the FLL shuffle.

One in our group isn't a diver but wanted to do a disco scuba dive and Blue Bay filmed it. She had a GREAT camera. This was the house reef off of Blue Bay's fantastic beach.

 

[diversteve]

I've never been to Curacao, but it's my impression that it's always been described here on SB as "Bonaire with nightlife?"

Add bigger and more industrial (at least in Willemstad) and that's pretty accurate. There's an old Shell refinery off one of the bays near town and the deepwater port for the region is there. Plus the regional medical center for the Lesser Antilles. Bigger cruise port just off the north side of downtown so it's pretty congested on those days.The old downtown with the brightly colored shops is on the south side so there's shuttles plus the famous swinging bridge you can walk over.
There's about a dozen casinos - one at the Renaissance (next to the cruise port) is Reno sized the others are smaller. When we were there there were pickup dance clubs in the Salinja area but I understand from my friends wife (native) that they've moved on. Mambo Beach Club is a pretty good time.
Some nice restaurants also - both Landhuis's (Daniel and Misje) are popular. Lots of shopping. the old downtown, the flea market behind it, Renaissance Mall at Rif Fort. The week we were there McD's had their grand opening. We also eat at Denny's in P-Bay since it was done the street from our condo.

Once you leave town though it gets quiet fast. If you stay out west most property owners will suggest stopping for food in town b4 you drive out. Centrum Market is near the airport and set up for it, they sell cheap styro coolers and IIRC - dry ice. Cost-U-Less is in the same general area.

 

[sgandza]

If you are looking at Curacao, consider an Airbnb and a rental car. Loads of places will rent unlimited tanks and most of the shore dives are easy to find with a guide book.
We rented a place right on the water - did multiple dive there and then drove to other locations.

 

[dmaziuk]

I've never been to Curacao, but it's my impression that it's always been described here on SB as "Bonaire with nightlife?"

It's a bit far from Westpunt to nightlife. Also there's more driving between the sites and there's surface swims even, in places.

 

[robint]

CocoView Roatan.... hands down. Quaint little place with ONLY divers, no kids, just dive dive dive, eat right there, shore diving heaven..