Cur: Best dive spots? Bring corks for Lionfish? Local car rental companies? Breakins?

[oregondiver]

We are heading to Curacao for the first time in October (15-21) and hope the folks here could provide some insight (and feel free to throw in things I am not even asking about)

We are staying at AllWest and getting unlimited Nitrox there. Are there any dive sites that are a MUST? We are only doing 1 boat dive due to the cost but plan on tons of shore diving. We are skilled divers and don't typically use dive guides.

Mushroom forest and?????

I have been saving my corks to tag lionfish sitings (for our second Bonaire trip coming up in Feb)...but should I bring them to Curacao. Been drinking lots of wine to get the corks, but someone has to do the dirty work right?

Any good local car companies to rent from (we would prefer to work with local company vs a national chain just to support local economy)....We were talking to 1 vendor and by the time we said book it...price went up $150 with a bunch of extra fees (getting in late, leaving early, fees, fees, fees). Can't remember who...but willing to check out more local companies.

We were warned about breakins in Bonaire. Didn't have a problem (windows down, nothing in truck). Is it the same thing/concern in Curacao or just normal caution that any traveler should take?

We want to get the Curacao dive guide in advance so we can drool over the photos and dream of being underwater (and have a slight plan of attack) but haven't found it in the US. Anyone bringing extras over from their trip?
What else am I not asking that I should? We are really looking forward to trying out Curacao for repeat trips!

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

Hi contact Louis at All West. They have trucks. You might be able to get it as a package deal.
Boat dives I'd recommend: Watamula, Redhio or Paradise.
Shore dives: Alice In Wonderland at Kalki/Ocean Encounters West
In front of All West Apartments,
Porto Marie
Playa Largu
and Playa Hundu for starters
Email me at curacaosunshine@gmail.com and I'll send you my notes about the west end of Curacao above the waterline.
Best Fishes,

 

[chauncy19]

stayed at all west last November and vehicle was included. great spot. we loved all west. the dive out back or front was best. although visibility was better other places. Sunshine is the oracle all things curacao

 

[oregondiver]

I can't believe I have confused locations. We DID get the allwest dive and drive package. DOH! Our local car rental issue where the prices were jacked up at time of booking is with our trip back to Bonaire in Feb 2012 (so feel free to recommend someone in Bonaire).

Thanks for the info. Sunshine...we will be emailing you as it gets closer (hopefully we can get our hands on a dive book and then map it out with the informaiton you provide)

 

[msudiver]

I'll add to the list of questions that my lovely wife started since I've been spending my lunch looking into the topic :daydreaming:... where's the best place to get groceries on Curacao? We arrive at 2:45pm and All West now does a shuttle from the airport to All West where our car is waiting... Looks like a few places are open until 8ish, so we should have time to get our car and head back into town to grab some groceries so we can devote Sunday to diving :bounce4:

Also, trying to get a feel for how difficult it is to get around Curacoa... Bonaire is, well, pretty easy. Curacao is, obviously, much larger and potentially more difficult to navigate... thoughts, horror stories, etc?

Thanks in advance for the info!

jim

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

Hi Jim,
Stop and get groceries before heading to Westpunt.
Exit right from the airport, go 1/2 way around the rotary. If you take a left at the first set of lights (Ford dealership), at the next set of lights L'Esperamos a local store will be on your left and Cost U Less a weak Sam's Club style grocery store will be on your right. If you drive to the 2nd set of lights from the rotary, take a right and Centrum will be on your left. It will feel more like a US supermarket.
For others arriving after 8pm, there is a "New Minimarket" (really that is the name, I am waiting to see if it changes in 5 years LOL) in Tera Cora about 10 miles from the rotary. It is on the left just before the gas station. It's not much but will get you a beer and snacks to enjoy either in the parking lot or on the balcony in Westpunt. Look for the large church in Barber. Later, when you come from Westpunt, you can take the road across the street and at the top of the hill is a good size market (not the small one at the bottom of the hill).

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

Ask the shuttle guy to stop at the store. They'll understand....

 

[msudiver]

Ask the shuttle guy to stop at the store. They'll understand....

Sweet... thanks for the info!!! My wife and I are really looking forward to our trip!

-jim

 

[aquajon]

heading there in sept,, our 2nd trip. getting around is easy, some dive spots are not marked well but that makes it part of the fun trying to find them. the diving is great.. i have a copy of the 2nd dive guide that i can pass on to someone... info you find online is sometimes better then the guide. the drive and guide map is also a pretty good investment since it has all the dive spots and is a good road map for the island.

 

[msudiver]

heading there in sept,, our 2nd trip. getting around is easy, some dive spots are not marked well but that makes it part of the fun trying to find them. the diving is great.. i have a copy of the 2nd dive guide that i can pass on to someone... info you find online is sometimes better then the guide. the drive and guide map is also a pretty good investment since it has all the dive spots and is a good road map for the island.

Thanks... we're staying at All West in Westpunt and they said their dive op has the Drive and Dive Map... we'll definitely grab on of those. Really looking forward to the trip... I'd love to hear how the diving is just before we head out.