Curacao Aug 21-26

[doctock993]

Headed to Curacao Aug 21-26 and looking for a dive buddy/ friendly ScubaBoard folks.

I will be staying at the Marriott Resort and diving with the "house shop" Caribbean Sea Sports.
While I'm doing my AOW with them, I'd be happy to find a dive buddy for the afternoon "house reef" dives as long as you don't mind hanging with someone wanting to do a long & shallow photo-dive (I'll be shooting natural light only - no strobes). Also, I'm already scheduled for a Mushroom Forest 2-tank with Carribean Sea Sports for Wednesday Aug 25.
I'm a moderately "experienced" (starting the trip at dive #70) diver who will be EAN for the afternoon shallow dives.

As an aside, anyone know if the grocery/ market near the Marriott is walking distance (I prefer to breakfast & lunch without dealing with a restaurant)?

Seperately/ additionally, looking for others to dinner with (and swap diving stories/ friendly conversation) the whole trip as I'm traveling solo. (Sorry Sunshine Curacao, I need gluten free dining and unless you can make a meal as such, you are off the menu )

 

[diversteve]

If you mean Centrum market, it's about 2-2.5 miles north of the Marriott. You'll pass it on the ride from the airport. It's on the right at Weg naar Bullebaai (2nd?? stop light) There's a white water tank on the corner, it's the building to the right. Pretty far to walk and quite a bit uphill from PB. They did sell cheap used styro boxes for transporting food.

For an inexpensive lunch with a view, walk over to Hooks Hut. http://www.hookshut.com/eng/index.html

Since you're buddyless, you might also check into shore dives with the Dive Bus, afaik they pickup at the Marriott.

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

It's too bad you're not staying in Westpunt, we have many gluten free items....
I'd be careful of the French fries (anywhere) as there is a lot of breaded chicken, fish and things like bittenbals or frickendels fried as well.

 

[doctock993]

That's great to know for the future re: your gluten-free menu and yes, after many (>40) years of dealing with this diet, I well know to avoid anything coming out of a fry-basket!
It's also the reason for my interest in finding a grocery/ market near the Marriott.

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

We're technically not a gluten free restaurant; there are a couple of side dishes and things grilled. I'd suggest you go to Vruegdenhil supermarket. It has quite a selection of packaged GF items. From the ring road, turn at MCD and KFC, at the small rotary go to 11:00. This will be Caracasbaai Weg. Drive through 2 sets of lights and take a right between Budget Marine and Orange Estate apartments.
There are a number of Indonesian places but it would be hard to tell about the vinegars even if they showed you the labels or if they used soy sauce. The language communication is good but not always completely understood.
After 40 years, you must have an idea of foods that are usually safer.
Enjoy your trip!