Curacao or stay with Bonaire?

[Ray and Pam]

Been to Bonaire about 14 times, mainly stay at Capt Dons or Buddy Dive.
Really like the setup at both, easy access to great house reef and boat diving. Sometimes don't rent a truck just dive the house reef and do boat dives. Always get at least a uwave and minifridge, Buddy Dive studios are perfect with full kitchens, bring lots of food with us and walk to local eateries, grocery stores in evenings.
If we do Curacao it would be for about 2 weeks and we would rent a truck for at least a week to explore.
Is there anything like that on Curacao?
Thanks

 

[Ray and Pam]

We have been to Bonaire couple of times. Capt.'s Don Habitat and Plaza Beach & Dive Resort, both great with their own perks. We will be in Curacao in two weeks at Lions Den and will let you know how they compare.

That would be great, comparing the house reefs shore diving for Capt Dons and Lions Den.

 

[tkaelin]

That would be great, comparing the house reefs shore diving for Capt Dons and Lions Den.

I don’t think there can be much comparison between the two house reefs. I have been to both properties and while I haven’t dove the house reef at lions dive it appears to be a sand entry and swim into a boat channel and through a man made breakwater. I believe the house reef is on the outer side of the breakwater but could be wrong.

As far as the resorts lions dive is beautiful with a long man made beach and swim area that is inside a breakwater.

We enjoy staying at lions dive after spending time staying and diving in westpunt

 

[rhwestfall]

Playa Porto Marie is just about the ideal shore dive. Beautiful beach, full service restaurant/bar, clear warm water, pretty fish and coral, interesting reef structure..

and with pigs!!!

 

[davecampbell]

we always stay at Sunscape (5 minute walk west, and an Ocean Encounters satellite location) as we vastly prefer the shore dive setup there, as opposed to over @ Lion's dive. We carry tanks 20 ft, gear up on the dock, walk 3ft, and giant stride. Couldn't be easier. Also, since Ocean Encounters picks up @ Sunscape first for the morning boat dives, we get our choice of spots on the boat. We're always up early anyway, and the short ride over to Lion's dive gives us ample time to get our gear squared away before the boat gets busier. Sunscape as a resort is not as nice as Lion's, but we prefer it.

 

[Ray and Pam]

and with pigs!!!

View attachment 899159

That does it, I'm in!

 

[Ray and Pam]

we always stay at Sunscape (5 minute walk west, and an Ocean Encounters satellite location) as we vastly prefer the shore dive setup there, as opposed to over @ Lion's dive. We carry tanks 20 ft, gear up on the dock, walk 3ft, and giant stride. Couldn't be easier. Also, since Ocean Encounters picks up @ Sunscape first for the morning boat dives, we get our choice of spots on the boat. We're always up early anyway, and the short ride over to Lion's dive gives us ample time to get our gear squared away before the boat gets busier. Sunscape as a resort is not as nice as Lion's, but we prefer it.

Thanks. How is the diving at that satellite location, would you dive it once or twice a day for a week?
Are there lockers to store your gear?
What time is boat pickup there?

 

[davecampbell]

we've stayed for a total of 4 weeks, over 4 trips. we always do the morning 2 tank boat charter, have lunch, do an afternoon shore dive, relax and have dinner, do an evening or night shore dive. Rinse and repeat. There is a gear room to store your stuff, and you get a key, if you're wanting to access after hours. Rinse tanks are on the dock. Boat pickup is probably 8 or 830...I'd have to check. We grab breakfast at 7 when the buffet opens, and have plenty of time.

 

[bshonesy]

We stayed at Lions Dive on Curacao, and there were non divers with us, and it worked out wonderfully. There is an on site dive shop and there are lockers to store your gear. Very convenient to wake up, walk to the shop and lockers, and get right on the boat. You can shore dive at Lions Dive, as well. We could also walk to the Dive Bus, and numerous restaurants.

We did have a rental car and went exploring as well.

2nd this! We just got back two weeks ago from LionsDive. I am an experienced (sometimes solo) diver and my wife and daughter are still in their first 30 dives and this was great for both of us. We also drove up to the West side as far as Playa Kalki and loved doing that as well. Highly recommend LionsDive and driving around the island. The staff at Oceans was great as well, very helpful when needed, but let you do your thing and don’t make you feel like you’re being managed.

 

[diverswifey]

I am so very glad to hear the great reports on Lions Dive as hubby (the diver) and I (non diving trip planner) are going there for 8 nights in November- plan to spend 3 nights at LD (with either 2 or 3 mornings of boat diving) then renting a car and driving to Westpunt to stay at Marazul and dive with Go West for 4 days. We look forward to exploring a new island- thanks so much for the feedback. Any additional trips would be greatly appreciated (places you ate at or near Lions Dive, places you especially enjoyed sightseeing, etc). We are staying in an oceanview deluxe room very near the dive shop.
Thanks all!!

 

[rhwestfall]

Throw all caution (read: money) to the wind, and have dinner at - El Gaucho

Rooi Santu, 620 620 Kaminda Duvert Boy Nicolina, Willemstad, Curaçao

The most wonderful steakhouse.....

It won't be cheap, but it will be worth it.

And the view....