Curacao-December 9th

[DivingBiker]

Heading down in a week, staying at the Breezes Curacao. Looking forward to getting as many dives as possible. Are there any "must see" dive sites, and does anyone use nitrox on the island?

 

[Damselfish]

Mushroom Forest is heavily promoted as a must do, I'd say it was once but not anymore though it's nice (I think a storm wiped aout a lot there and maybe divers?) Watamula down at the western tip is a very good boat dive. If you are diving with Ocean Frontiers they will run a bus down there 1-2 times a week and dive those 2 sites from their boat there, expect a crowded boat though.

We generally dive Nitrox there. I think pretty much every shop has it.

 

[diversteve]

If you're shorediving, sites I really liked were Varsenbaai, Habitat's house reef (Nos Kas?) and Playa Kalki at Kura Hulanda. All are within 20-40 mins drive from Breezes.

At Varsenbaai dive south to the pontoon boat wreck (80') then drift back in along the reef. If you head into the sand flats about 200 yds. from the dive shop there should be turtles feeding on the sea grass - real shallow like 6' or so. They're almost tame, I filmed them and only once got an annoyed look.

Also there were about 100 squid just off the dock and there's a pair of seahorses near the base of the ball in about 40'. Ask the owner how to find them.

We really liked Habitat's reef. Saw lots of eels, flounder, a barracuda and other interesting stuff. Last April there was a big octopus living just off their beach, his burrow is marked by a pile of rocks.

I think Playa Kalki/Alice in Wonderland was one of the best dives off Curacao. Long drive out from Breezes but worth it. OE West is the diveshop there so it's probably included with your package.

An instructor friend on Curacao also recommends Snake Bay but we didn't make it out there. Closer to Breezes the Tugboat is a good dive. The better part of the dive is the wall out past the tugboat though. Also you may want to shoredive with the Dive Bus - next door to Breezes.

We also did Caracasbaai/Lost Anchor (by boat) it was a pretty nice drift dive.

 

[scubawife]

If you're shorediving, sites I really liked were Varsenbaai, Habitat's house reef (Nos Kas?) and Playa Kalki at Kura Hulanda. All are within 20-40 mins drive from Breezes.

At Varsenbaai dive south to the pontoon boat wreck (80') then drift back in along the reef. If you head into the sand flats about 200 yds. from the dive shop there should be turtles feeding on the sea grass - real shallow like 6' or so. They're almost tame, I filmed them and only once got an annoyed look.

Also there were about 100 squid just off the dock and there's a pair of seahorses near the base of the ball in about 40'. Ask the owner how to find them.

We really liked Habitat's reef. Saw lots of eels, flounder, a barracuda and other interesting stuff. Last April there was a big octopus living just off their beach, his burrow is marked by a pile of rocks.

I think Playa Kalki/Alice in Wonderland was one of the best dives off Curacao. Long drive out from Breezes but worth it. OE West is the diveshop there so it's probably included with your package.

An instructor friend on Curacao also recommends Snake Bay but we didn't make it out there. Closer to Breezes the Tugboat is a good dive. The better part of the dive is the wall out past the tugboat though. Also you may want to shoredive with the Dive Bus - next door to Breezes.

We also did Caracasbaai/Lost Anchor (by boat) it was a pretty nice drift dive.

You could start up at Playa Kalki, then drive down to Porto Marie and do another dive and have lunch. It's just few minutes from there to Habitat.

I stayed at Habitat, primarily because we'd heard such good things about the house reef and it was a spawning week. Their set-up makes night diving very easy. Very nice house reef. Well worth several dives day and night.

 

[jeepguy]

Heading down in a week, staying at the Breezes Curacao. . Are there any "must see" dive sites,

Our favorites, are Porto Marie, Tugboat, Versenbaii, Car Pile and Superior Producer. We have stayed at Breezes 4 times and although you can access Car Pile from Breezes dock, we choose to dive it from the Dive Hut at Pierbaii. A definite must is to stop and talk to Suzy, Mark & Holly at the Dive Bus!!! We also enjoyed the dune buggy trip.:14:
Tom & Isabelle

 

[Tom Smedley]

I will be in Curacao the week of 9 to 16 December. I am going down Sunday on Air Jamaica and staying at Lions Dive.

 

[CheddarChick]

I will be in Curacao the week of 9 to 16 December. I am going down Sunday on Air Jamaica and staying at Lions Dive.

Hey Tom, make sure you write a dive report or pm me on The Lion's Dive resort? We are staying there in Feb, and would love more details on the resort itself....

We love Port Marie, and Habitat...

 

[gustele]

Living in Curacao and doing a lot of shore diving here my personal shore dive favorites are Porto Marie (Double Reef), the Car Pile in front of the Breezes (day and night), Baya Beach with the Tugboat and even more special the pier, Superior Producer (be careful with your car).
For an almost complete list of shore dive sites check also my website (non commercial) at Welcome to the Curacao Diving Paradise - Curacao Diving Paradise.
And if you want something very special don't forget to dive the historical wreck (1884) of The Mediator in the harbor entrance.

Have fun

John

 

[Tennessee Slim]

Add Mushroom Forest to gustele's list and it is pretty much the same as mine.

Here's another decent Curacao shore diving web site.

EDIT:
Sorry, the meds just kicked in. Unless you're Johnny Weismuller, I don't think Mushroom is a shore dive. We now return to our regular programming.

Edit II (I'm having an "oh-fer" day):
This is the link I meant to post.

 

[kmcneer]

porto marie is one of my fav dives. Huge with a great doubble reef, be sure to look in the sand and out past the second reef in the deep water.