O'Malley
Contributor
Yeah, here we are...back in the "Windy City," a momentary sigh. Well, my wife and I just returned a few weeks ago from Curacao where stayed at the Marriott, January 7th through the 14th. However, I made the drive up west to Sunset Divers for my six days of diving.
We flew Air Jamaica, departing from Chicago O'Hare and contrary to all I had read of recent experiences (delays, cancellations, etc.), we were pleasantly suprised. We arrived in Curacao, following a connection in Montego Bay, on-time and with all our checked luggage. Yeah, were off to a good start.
Upon arrival at the Marriott Resort, a ten minute drive the Curacao International Airport, I was content with our decision. The Marriott is very, very nice with immaculate landscaping, a quaint beach never too crowded and a very attentive staff. This was all very appealing for my wife who does not dive and as long as the sun kept shinning bright, I didn't feel as guilt-stricken making three, four dives daily.
During the three months leading up to our trip, Sunset Divers at the Sunset Waters Beach Resort was unanimously chosen for my dives. Sure, Caribbean Sea Sports, the Marriott's on-site dive shop, would have certainly been the more convenient option but I was looking to dive the more coveted west end of the island, the sites Caribbean Sea Sports will not, according to thier website, dive logistically. Well, in the weeks leading up to our arrival, I must have been emailing Lynn and the gang every few days it seemed. Yeah, I was getting pretty darn anxious to leave this damp, cold weather behind and I think Lynn, a Colorado native, must have felt my pain or perhaps thought, "OK, this guy's a head case." But she always responded.
Traveling up west was approximately a 25-30 minute drive and not once did I find myself asking, "is this really worth it?" Lynn, Kurt, Carlos, Steve and the gang are a hoot and run an excellent operation. Sunset Divers allows you to "dive your own profile," not requiring buddy teams but maintaining yourself within eyesight of the group. Both boats, Day Dreamer and Day Tripper, are equipped with DAN O2 kits and the staff were thorough in thier safety briefings. And quite humorous, I might add.
The diving was easy...against the current for approximately 20-25 minutes or 1500 PSI, turn around and drift back to the boat. After 40 mintes, the DM surfaces but allows the group to stay down for 60 minutes maximum and usually in shallow areas of 30 feet or less...great for additional photo opportunities or simply practice, in my case.
Over the six days, I dove Porto Mari twice, College Reef, Pelican Beach, Lost Anchor, Boca Hulu, Black Coral Gardens, Cas Abo twice, Mushroom Forest, Rediho City twice (AM/PM), Mike's Place and the Sunset Waters house reef with Lynn...not one dive was less than 55 minutes. Porto Mari, Cas Abo and Mushroom Forest were my particular favorite dives. The visibility averaged 60 to 100 feet, water temperatures 79-84 degrees and lots to see...spotted and green moray eels, half dozen seahorses (two alone on Sunset Waters' house reef), few turtles, many scorpionfish, balloonfish, blackbar soldierfish, peacock flounder, lobster and trumpetfish.
Back at the Marriott...I did, however, make one afternoon boat dive with Caribbean Sea Sports, a trip to Black Coral Gardens. They also run a good, safe operation with a very nice boat. The Marriott's house reef (dove twice, AM/PM), a gradual slope to recreational limits and beyond, is OK but pales in comparison to that of Sunset Waters'. Yeah, if you're staying at the Marriott and doing more than a couple dives with CSS, I agree with reviews I had read...you defenitely want a room on the west end of the resort. Our room, however, was centrally located, just east of the main lobby and conveniently near the parking lot.
A special thanks to Tony (scubatexastony) for meeting me at the Marriott for a night dive and inviting me to another with Mark and Suzy, the Dive-Bus folks, out at Pierbaai. Mark and Suzy were great and only if I had a few more days...next time, I will defenitley join them for a few days.
Overall, Curacao and the diving with Sunset Divers was amazing. Although the Marriott was very, very nice, I did manage to bring my wife out to Sunset Waters one day this trip and next time, were staying there...Gold bless her.
Steve
We flew Air Jamaica, departing from Chicago O'Hare and contrary to all I had read of recent experiences (delays, cancellations, etc.), we were pleasantly suprised. We arrived in Curacao, following a connection in Montego Bay, on-time and with all our checked luggage. Yeah, were off to a good start.
Upon arrival at the Marriott Resort, a ten minute drive the Curacao International Airport, I was content with our decision. The Marriott is very, very nice with immaculate landscaping, a quaint beach never too crowded and a very attentive staff. This was all very appealing for my wife who does not dive and as long as the sun kept shinning bright, I didn't feel as guilt-stricken making three, four dives daily.
During the three months leading up to our trip, Sunset Divers at the Sunset Waters Beach Resort was unanimously chosen for my dives. Sure, Caribbean Sea Sports, the Marriott's on-site dive shop, would have certainly been the more convenient option but I was looking to dive the more coveted west end of the island, the sites Caribbean Sea Sports will not, according to thier website, dive logistically. Well, in the weeks leading up to our arrival, I must have been emailing Lynn and the gang every few days it seemed. Yeah, I was getting pretty darn anxious to leave this damp, cold weather behind and I think Lynn, a Colorado native, must have felt my pain or perhaps thought, "OK, this guy's a head case." But she always responded.
Traveling up west was approximately a 25-30 minute drive and not once did I find myself asking, "is this really worth it?" Lynn, Kurt, Carlos, Steve and the gang are a hoot and run an excellent operation. Sunset Divers allows you to "dive your own profile," not requiring buddy teams but maintaining yourself within eyesight of the group. Both boats, Day Dreamer and Day Tripper, are equipped with DAN O2 kits and the staff were thorough in thier safety briefings. And quite humorous, I might add.
The diving was easy...against the current for approximately 20-25 minutes or 1500 PSI, turn around and drift back to the boat. After 40 mintes, the DM surfaces but allows the group to stay down for 60 minutes maximum and usually in shallow areas of 30 feet or less...great for additional photo opportunities or simply practice, in my case.
Over the six days, I dove Porto Mari twice, College Reef, Pelican Beach, Lost Anchor, Boca Hulu, Black Coral Gardens, Cas Abo twice, Mushroom Forest, Rediho City twice (AM/PM), Mike's Place and the Sunset Waters house reef with Lynn...not one dive was less than 55 minutes. Porto Mari, Cas Abo and Mushroom Forest were my particular favorite dives. The visibility averaged 60 to 100 feet, water temperatures 79-84 degrees and lots to see...spotted and green moray eels, half dozen seahorses (two alone on Sunset Waters' house reef), few turtles, many scorpionfish, balloonfish, blackbar soldierfish, peacock flounder, lobster and trumpetfish.
Back at the Marriott...I did, however, make one afternoon boat dive with Caribbean Sea Sports, a trip to Black Coral Gardens. They also run a good, safe operation with a very nice boat. The Marriott's house reef (dove twice, AM/PM), a gradual slope to recreational limits and beyond, is OK but pales in comparison to that of Sunset Waters'. Yeah, if you're staying at the Marriott and doing more than a couple dives with CSS, I agree with reviews I had read...you defenitely want a room on the west end of the resort. Our room, however, was centrally located, just east of the main lobby and conveniently near the parking lot.
A special thanks to Tony (scubatexastony) for meeting me at the Marriott for a night dive and inviting me to another with Mark and Suzy, the Dive-Bus folks, out at Pierbaai. Mark and Suzy were great and only if I had a few more days...next time, I will defenitley join them for a few days.
Overall, Curacao and the diving with Sunset Divers was amazing. Although the Marriott was very, very nice, I did manage to bring my wife out to Sunset Waters one day this trip and next time, were staying there...Gold bless her.
Steve
