Curacao Marriott and diving questions

[Drip Dry]

After 19 years of saying no to invitations my wife now wants to come with me on my next scuba trip this spring, the problem for me being she doesn't dive and wants us to stay at a 'nice, safe place' that has things for her to do. Ugh, why did I ask! On Caribbean scuba trips I and the group I dive with typically stay at bare bones places, we care more about what's below than what's topside or on the dinner plate, but that won't cut it for this trip (it will just be the two of us, no group).

The last time she came with me on a Caribbean scuba trip was year 2005, we stayed at the Curacao Marriott and she liked it, the accommodations met her standards and she said that she felt safe on Curacao. At the Curacao Marriott there were morning activities such as exercise and yoga classes she could attend while I did a two tank boat dive, after which we'd meet up for a late lunch and spend the rest of the day and evening together. As such I'm thinking of going to the Curacao Marriott again, but have a few questions on which others on this forum might be able to provide up to date information.

1. The Marriott Curacao has been renovated since our visit in 2005. Back then it was what I would call upscale resort but it was still diver-friendly, no issue with me bringing my wetsuit back to the room and drying it out on the porch. Anyone know if that is still the case?

2. Caribbean Sea Sports was the on-site dive operation, I enjoyed diving with them. CSS had a nice jet drive dive boat (no props!), and their on-site shop had gear rinse tanks and equipment lockers. It appears CSS has gone out of business and has been replaced by Goby Divers as the on-site dive operation. Anyone know if Goby Divers obtained the jet drive dive boat CSS had used, and if the rinse tanks and equipment lockers are still available?

3. For anyone with Goby Divers experience, do they conduct two tank boat dives every morning? What is your opinion of their operation?

4. Any suggestions for a possible alternative to the Curacao Marriott which would offer a similar level of accommodation and convenience (i.e. on-site dive operation offering morning boat dives)?

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

2. Caribbean Sea Sports was the on-site dive operation, I enjoyed diving with them. CSS had a nice jet drive dive boat (no props!), and their on-site shop had gear rinse tanks and equipment lockers. It appears CSS has gone out of business and has been replaced by Goby Divers as the on-site dive operation. Anyone know if Goby Divers obtained the jet drive dive boat CSS had used, and if the rinse tanks and equipment lockers are still available?

3. For anyone with Goby Divers experience, do they conduct two tank boat dives every morning? What is your opinion of their operation?

My non diving wife & I stayed on Curacao in Oct 2023 and I dove with Goby Divers.
1. They do not have a jet drive boat
2. They have rinse tanks and will store a rinse your gear for you. I did 2 tank boat dives every morning except for one day when there were only 2 of us diving, so we did 2 shore dives.

Homepage - Goby Divers Curaçao

Dit is de homepage

www.goby-divers.com

 

[CycleCat]

My wife and I stayed at LionsDive on Curacao a few months ago. It's a 4 star resort. Ocean Encounters is the onsite dive op and offers two-tank morning boat dives and one-tank afternoon. Free tanks to shore dive on your dive days. We were totally happy with the hotel and dive op.

The hotel has four restaurants and offers yoga, massage, guided hikes and drink service on their private sandy beach.

 

[lexvil]

After 19 years of saying no to invitations my wife now wants to come with me on my next scuba trip this spring, the problem for me being she doesn't dive and wants us to stay at a 'nice, safe place' that has things for her to do. Ugh, why did I ask! On Caribbean scuba trips I and the group I dive with typically stay at bare bones places, we care more about what's below than what's topside or on the dinner plate, but that won't cut it for this trip (it will just be the two of us, no group).

The last time she came with me on a Caribbean scuba trip was year 2005, we stayed at the Curacao Marriott and she liked it, the accommodations met her standards and she said that she felt safe on Curacao. At the Curacao Marriott there were morning activities such as exercise and yoga classes she could attend while I did a two tank boat dive, after which we'd meet up for a late lunch and spend the rest of the day and evening together. As such I'm thinking of going to the Curacao Marriott again, but have a few questions on which others on this forum might be able to provide up to date information.

1. The Marriott Curacao has been renovated since our visit in 2005. Back then it was what I would call upscale resort but it was still diver-friendly, no issue with me bringing my wetsuit back to the room and drying it out on the porch. Anyone know if that is still the case?

2. Caribbean Sea Sports was the on-site dive operation, I enjoyed diving with them. CSS had a nice jet drive dive boat (no props!), and their on-site shop had gear rinse tanks and equipment lockers. It appears CSS has gone out of business and has been replaced by Goby Divers as the on-site dive operation. Anyone know if Goby Divers obtained the jet drive dive boat CSS had used, and if the rinse tanks and equipment lockers are still available?

3. For anyone with Goby Divers experience, do they conduct two tank boat dives every morning? What is your opinion of their operation?

4. Any suggestions for a possible alternative to the Curacao Marriott which would offer a similar level of accommodation and convenience (i.e. on-site dive operation offering morning boat dives)?

So you want to take her to a first class place so she will always want to go with you?

 

[Drip Dry]

So you want to take her to a first class place so she will always want to go with you?

Not exactly, I'm willing to indulge ($$$$) her on this trip in hopes of me in the future getting another 19 or so years of my-style ($) Caribbean dive trips without her.

 

[lexvil]

Not exactly, I'm willing to indulge ($$$$) her on this trip in hopes of me in the future getting another 19 or so years of my-style ($) Caribbean dive trips without her.

Nothing like a wonderful experience to make people want to not do it again.

 

[Drip Dry]

Nothing like a wonderful experience to make people want to not do it again.

It worked last time (in year 2005), I'm hoping it works again this time.

But to your point, perhaps I should start working up a stories about dangers she might encounter while on Curacao ... vampire flamingos and poisonous iguanas perhaps.

 

[Jaan]

Here is my wife Nathalie’s write up from our trip in 2022 that includes more about Goby divers and some of the sites we did.

I believe there are TWO marriotts, we stayed at the beach resort

Scuba Diving Vacation at the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort

Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort scuba diving vacation review. Boat trip and shore diving with Curaçao Goby Divers. Scuba diving trip in Curaçao

freedomtourtravel.com

We had a good time with Goby divers. They were right there on the beach. They also operate a van for some of the more popular beach dives that they take you to and guide you (and provide rinse bins and all in the van)

We enjoyed it (both divers) and there is plenty to occupy non divers at the large resort. I would suggest you ‘up it’ for a good view room. They had some rooms that oversaw the buffet area etc. We were lucky to get an upgrade

Jaan

 

[lexvil]

It worked last time (in year 2005), I'm hoping it works again this time.

But to your point, perhaps I should start working up a stories about dangers she might encounter while on Curacao ... vampire flamingos and poisonous iguanas perhaps.

No, take her and show her a good time, it’s a cool island with a lot to see and do.

 

[Drip Dry]

Here is my wife Nathalie’s write up from our trip in 2022 that includes more about Goby divers and some of the sites we did.

I believe there are TWO marriotts, we stayed at the beach resort

... cut rest

Great write ups on the Curacao Marriott beach resort and Curacao diving, thanks.

Yes, we're planning to stay at the Curacao Marriott beach resort in Piscadera, not the Renaissance Wind Creek place in downtown Willemstad.

In the beach resort write up there is a picture of wetsuits and boots hanging in the room to dry, that answers my question about the acceptability of bringing them back to the room. One of the room pictures shows a balcony, I'm curious to know why the wetsuits and boots were hung in the room to dry instead of being hung in a shaded area of the balcony? The ABC islands' climate is dry and there always seems to be a breeze so I think gear would dry better outside. If this is because there is no good place on the balcony to attach a hanger would a small collapsible drying rack would fit/work? I'll only need to be drying one 3mm wetsuit and a pair of boots.