DonWinchester
Registered
Just finished 10 days on the MS Zuiderdam and on January 8, Willemstad, Curacao was on the itinerary. After researching through ScubaBoard and Undercurrent, my wife and I (both in our late 50s) scheduled a hopefully leisurely two-tank dive through The-Dive-Bus.com. After a bit of email tag we received confirmation the morning we boarded. The price was right, at $130 US cash for both of us to do two tanks. (Use of a credit card incurs a 7-percent surcharge.) We brought our own gear except I used their shorty wet suit, adding a $10 rental fee.
I was a little worried as the ship was docking relatively late in the morning (08:30) and though they advertised that they would work with cruise ship passengers, you never know how you will be received. So as soon as the ship docked, we charged off, grabbed a $20 taxi from the Mega-ship Pier (not the pier downtown) to The Dive Buss shop across the street from Pierbaii Beach in a quiet section of town called Marie Pampoen, near Breezes hotel.
Our worries were unfounded as our arrival met a warm greeting and got things started. It turned out another diver was shortly to arrive from the ship, in addition to the two other fellows from abroad already present. Our 80s were set out and they were able to fill my wifes request for a 60, which would help in the short, but fully-geared-up hike across the street to the entry point. As we prepped, they were very attentive to our requests, ready and willing to help in any way, even voluntarily carrying our weights on the trek.
After the first dive briefing, illustrated on a chalk board at the shop, our 7-person rubber-clad group waddled over like a strange flight of penguins and waded into the water for our second. The route was carefully planned and explained along with signals, air limits, depths and what to be looking for. Pierbaii Reef was our first tank and we found a layer of silt covering some stuff, especially near the entry point apparently from a recent, unusually extended streak of hard rains.
No big deal, though, as we followed the bottom down to about 80 feet past corals and sponges of every type. Vis seemed about 60 to 80 feet with water temp at 81 F. The divemaster alertly pointed out the harder-to-spot creatures as we cruised along like the pair of spider shrimp in a crevice. But you didnt need too much direction. Over here was a brain coral. Look at the tube sponges! Theres some elkhorn. Ooh, ooh, is that a grunt hiding in that barrel sponge? Oops, watch out for the rope coral. And plate coral and anemones and blennies, oh, my! Unfortunately, one of the early findings was the dreaded Lionfish hiding between a couple of outcrops. And I got a quick look at a spotted moray eel lurking about, diving beneath one rock then to a hole under another. Then to another.
As air quantities began to diminish, the two divemasters divided the group in two and those with more air remaining were allowed extra time as we headed back. That was the best part as far as I was concerned as we returned via the top of the reef taking our time as our ascent continued in relationship with the bottom. Shallower meant more light and our slow progress allowed entertainment by stuff everywhere as all the colors began to pop. Safety stops were easily built in, accomplished as we swam virtually horizontally while continuing our search.
Surface interval was accomplished while waddling back across the road to the shop and the leisurely, friendly pace continued as we lolled in the shade talking about the previous dive and anything else that came into anybody's head. After gearing back up and waddling again to the beach, we re-entered 1:24 later for the second tank, already divvied up into our two groups. Unfortunately, as we were to begin I realized I left my little camera back in the rinse tank @#$*&^&%!
This go-around we spent more time covering ground in the shallows before we descended toward the Car Pile, a collection of stuff deposited around 80 feet many years ago by Marines looking to add interest to diving in the area. (Not enough of that already?) On the way, in addition to more of the above-mentioned stuff, we spotted a school of eight sizable tarpon just hanging out, watching the reef to see if anything moved. And though we didn't get to spend much time there, the Car Pile was pretty impressive and worth another look.
Again, return was across the top of the reef. Nothing like casually swimming along at 10 to 15 feet as the sunlight plays across eye-fulls and eye-fulls.
Enjoyed our dives a great deal. Nothing but good things to say about the operation. Everything and everyone worked at a leisurely, friendly, attentive pace. I look forward to coming back to Curacao and diving with this bunch again, and more extensively next time.
I was a little worried as the ship was docking relatively late in the morning (08:30) and though they advertised that they would work with cruise ship passengers, you never know how you will be received. So as soon as the ship docked, we charged off, grabbed a $20 taxi from the Mega-ship Pier (not the pier downtown) to The Dive Buss shop across the street from Pierbaii Beach in a quiet section of town called Marie Pampoen, near Breezes hotel.
Our worries were unfounded as our arrival met a warm greeting and got things started. It turned out another diver was shortly to arrive from the ship, in addition to the two other fellows from abroad already present. Our 80s were set out and they were able to fill my wifes request for a 60, which would help in the short, but fully-geared-up hike across the street to the entry point. As we prepped, they were very attentive to our requests, ready and willing to help in any way, even voluntarily carrying our weights on the trek.
After the first dive briefing, illustrated on a chalk board at the shop, our 7-person rubber-clad group waddled over like a strange flight of penguins and waded into the water for our second. The route was carefully planned and explained along with signals, air limits, depths and what to be looking for. Pierbaii Reef was our first tank and we found a layer of silt covering some stuff, especially near the entry point apparently from a recent, unusually extended streak of hard rains.
No big deal, though, as we followed the bottom down to about 80 feet past corals and sponges of every type. Vis seemed about 60 to 80 feet with water temp at 81 F. The divemaster alertly pointed out the harder-to-spot creatures as we cruised along like the pair of spider shrimp in a crevice. But you didnt need too much direction. Over here was a brain coral. Look at the tube sponges! Theres some elkhorn. Ooh, ooh, is that a grunt hiding in that barrel sponge? Oops, watch out for the rope coral. And plate coral and anemones and blennies, oh, my! Unfortunately, one of the early findings was the dreaded Lionfish hiding between a couple of outcrops. And I got a quick look at a spotted moray eel lurking about, diving beneath one rock then to a hole under another. Then to another.
As air quantities began to diminish, the two divemasters divided the group in two and those with more air remaining were allowed extra time as we headed back. That was the best part as far as I was concerned as we returned via the top of the reef taking our time as our ascent continued in relationship with the bottom. Shallower meant more light and our slow progress allowed entertainment by stuff everywhere as all the colors began to pop. Safety stops were easily built in, accomplished as we swam virtually horizontally while continuing our search.
Surface interval was accomplished while waddling back across the road to the shop and the leisurely, friendly pace continued as we lolled in the shade talking about the previous dive and anything else that came into anybody's head. After gearing back up and waddling again to the beach, we re-entered 1:24 later for the second tank, already divvied up into our two groups. Unfortunately, as we were to begin I realized I left my little camera back in the rinse tank @#$*&^&%!
This go-around we spent more time covering ground in the shallows before we descended toward the Car Pile, a collection of stuff deposited around 80 feet many years ago by Marines looking to add interest to diving in the area. (Not enough of that already?) On the way, in addition to more of the above-mentioned stuff, we spotted a school of eight sizable tarpon just hanging out, watching the reef to see if anything moved. And though we didn't get to spend much time there, the Car Pile was pretty impressive and worth another look.
Again, return was across the top of the reef. Nothing like casually swimming along at 10 to 15 feet as the sunlight plays across eye-fulls and eye-fulls.
Enjoyed our dives a great deal. Nothing but good things to say about the operation. Everything and everyone worked at a leisurely, friendly, attentive pace. I look forward to coming back to Curacao and diving with this bunch again, and more extensively next time.
