Daydreaming of Curacao

[Saturated and satisfied]

@Saturated and satisfied we will be on the Island staying at Lions Dive Resort. Any suggestions on dive sites, local food, steak house, mom/pop hole in wall cafeteria are welcome.

Let's start with eating where there are too many to mention but current and old favorites would be, provided you have a rental, Sol foods that's always mentioned in this forum . Sunshine will entertain you endlessly and has the best pizza and brownies in Curacao if not the world. An old favorite of mine is the Ribs Factory. If you're in to fish then there is a new one opened up that I have been to way too many time already called Villa Vis at Caracasbaai selling fish by the weight. My personal fave is 100grams of tuna sashimi, 100 grams of raw seared tuna a basket of shrimp and a bucket pf beer and you've got a happy man smiling back at you. Brisa Do Mar which is also called Pop's place by the locals is a great one, very close to Villa Vis. Purunchis, a great local seafood place which is nothing fancy at all. Try Plaza Beui which is ca cafeteria style local place in Punda only open for lunch during the week. Whilst i haven't been yet I have heard great things about Soi 95 and Mosa cana.

Dive sites. Mari Pampoen never fails to impress. Porto Mari, Superior Producer. Do multiple dives there with Nitrox if you're certified to do so. One of the best wrecks in the Caribbean. Don't forget to take ID to show security to get in Cas Abao I have been assured is totes instagrammable. Directors Bay, Watamula, Sponge Forest, as far east as you are able to get will get you some of the best reefs in Curacao. I recently had a fantastic dive at Klien Knip which has a longish swim to the reef but was well worth it. I hadn't done that in many years and was glad to dive it again. Double reef is well worth it despite the walk to the entrance. You should find turtles there. You will find many people telling you to go to playa Piskado but that has turned into a circus now and you'll see turtles a Doble reef more often than not and also at turtle mountain in Caracasbaai on your way to the tugboat area. Thinking about it it would be nice to do a dive there and then go across the road and eat at Villa Vis. Genius idea!

I am often asked what my favorite sites are and having lived here for 20 years i discovered many years ago that my favorite dives are the ones I am doing at the time with the funnest people. That's what makes them memorable! When you can see amazing things, share them with your buddies at the same time goofing around with your nest bud's. It may sound cheesy but that's where I still get my enjoyment......oh and an ice cold beer at the end of the dive!

Whatever you choose to do......May the fish be with you!

 

[tkaelin]

Let's start with eating where there are too many to mention but current and old favorites would be, provided you have a rental, Sol foods that's always mentioned in this forum . Sunshine will entertain you endlessly and has the best pizza and brownies in Curacao if not the world. An old favorite of mine is the Ribs Factory. If you're in to fish then there is a new one opened up that I have been to way too many time already called Villa Vis at Caracasbaai selling fish by the weight. My personal fave is 100grams of tuna sashimi, 100 grams of raw seared tuna a basket of shrimp and a bucket pf beer and you've got a happy man smiling back at you. Brisa Do Mar which is also called Pop's place by the locals is a great one, very close to Villa Vis. Purunchis, a great local seafood place which is nothing fancy at all. Try Plaza Beui which is ca cafeteria style local place in Punda only open for lunch during the week. Whilst i haven't been yet I have heard great things about Soi 95 and Mosa cana.

Dive sites. Mari Pampoen never fails to impress. Porto Mari, Superior Producer. Do multiple dives there with Nitrox if you're certified to do so. One of the best wrecks in the Caribbean. Don't forget to take ID to show security to get in Cas Abao I have been assured is totes instagrammable. Directors Bay, Watamula, Sponge Forest, as far east as you are able to get will get you some of the best reefs in Curacao. I recently had a fantastic dive at Klien Knip which has a longish swim to the reef but was well worth it. I hadn't done that in many years and was glad to dive it again. Double reef is well worth it despite the walk to the entrance. You should find turtles there. You will find many people telling you to go to playa Piskado but that has turned into a circus now and you'll see turtles a Doble reef more often than not and also at turtle mountain in Caracasbaai on your way to the tugboat area. Thinking about it it would be nice to do a dive there and then go across the road and eat at Villa Vis. Genius idea!

I am often asked what my favorite sites are and having lived here for 20 years i discovered many years ago that my favorite dives are the ones I am doing at the time with the funnest people. That's what makes them memorable! When you can see amazing things, share them with your buddies at the same time goofing around with your nest bud's. It may sound cheesy but that's where I still get my enjoyment......oh and an ice cold beer at the end of the dive!

Whatever you choose to do......May the fish be with you!

On the food notes, if staying at Lions Dive check out Nemo and make a reservation if you like sushi/Japanese food. Only open certain nights. Excellent.

Purunchis - a food adventure. Located in industrial zone on a canal. Not much to look at. You walk through the kitchen but their whole fried fish dishes are excellent and very Curacao.

If you find yourself in Westpunt and have time for a nice dinner try Cactus Cafe and for an informal lunch on the water Blue View Sunset Terrace.

 

[lexvil]

Let's start with eating where there are too many to mention but current and old favorites would be, provided you have a rental, Sol foods that's always mentioned in this forum . Sunshine will entertain you endlessly and has the best pizza and brownies in Curacao if not the world. An old favorite of mine is the Ribs Factory. If you're in to fish then there is a new one opened up that I have been to way too many time already called Villa Vis at Caracasbaai selling fish by the weight. My personal fave is 100grams of tuna sashimi, 100 grams of raw seared tuna a basket of shrimp and a bucket pf beer and you've got a happy man smiling back at you. Brisa Do Mar which is also called Pop's place by the locals is a great one, very close to Villa Vis. Purunchis, a great local seafood place which is nothing fancy at all. Try Plaza Beui which is ca cafeteria style local place in Punda only open for lunch during the week. Whilst i haven't been yet I have heard great things about Soi 95 and Mosa cana.

Dive sites. Mari Pampoen never fails to impress. Porto Mari, Superior Producer. Do multiple dives there with Nitrox if you're certified to do so. One of the best wrecks in the Caribbean. Don't forget to take ID to show security to get in Cas Abao I have been assured is totes instagrammable. Directors Bay, Watamula, Sponge Forest, as far east as you are able to get will get you some of the best reefs in Curacao. I recently had a fantastic dive at Klien Knip which has a longish swim to the reef but was well worth it. I hadn't done that in many years and was glad to dive it again. Double reef is well worth it despite the walk to the entrance. You should find turtles there. You will find many people telling you to go to playa Piskado but that has turned into a circus now and you'll see turtles a Doble reef more often than not and also at turtle mountain in Caracasbaai on your way to the tugboat area. Thinking about it it would be nice to do a dive there and then go across the road and eat at Villa Vis. Genius idea!

I am often asked what my favorite sites are and having lived here for 20 years i discovered many years ago that my favorite dives are the ones I am doing at the time with the funnest people. That's what makes them memorable! When you can see amazing things, share them with your buddies at the same time goofing around with your nest bud's. It may sound cheesy but that's where I still get my enjoyment......oh and an ice cold beer at the end of the dive!

Whatever you choose to do......May the fish be with you!

If only there was a Bus like place where people could get this info first hand…

 

[tarponchik]

Just got back from Curacao. The reefs are in miserable state and there are obvious signs of water polution and overfishing. What surprised me was the vanishing of small crustaceans. Previously, even in 2017, in every 2nd sea anemone I had found either an anemone shrimp or a bunch of Pederson shrimp. This time I found just 1 anemone shrimp and 2 groups of Pedersons, this in 25 dives.

On the bright side, the residential sea turtles of Plaia Grandi are still there, and I found a couple of seahorses.

 

[Jake 10]

Just got back from Curacao. The reefs are in miserable state and there are obvious signs of water polution and overfishing. What surprised me was the vanishing of small crustaceans. Previously, even in 2017, in every 2nd sea anemone I had found either an anemone shrimp or a bunch of Pederson shrimp. This time I found just 1 anemone shrimp and 2 groups of Pedersons, this in 25 dives.

On the bright side, the residential sea turtles of Plaia Grandi are still there, and I found a couple of seahorses.

Thank you. Could you please list some of the reefs you visited?

 

[AdivingBel]

If near Westpunt Thursday-Sunday...Isabelle Off The Beach also Sol Food

 

[tarponchik]

Thank you. Could you please list some of the reefs you visited?

Grandi, Kalki, Watamula, Black Sand Wreck, Mushroom Forrest, Red Bush City.

 

[Jake 10]

@Saturated and satisfied what is your opinion on the status of the following reefs?
Grandi, Kalki, Watamula, Black Sand Wreck, Mushroom Forrest, Red Bush City.

 

[sisu29]

Let's start with eating where there are too many to mention but current and old favorites would be, provided you have a rental, Sol foods that's always mentioned in this forum . Sunshine will entertain you endlessly and has the best pizza and brownies in Curacao if not the world. An old favorite of mine is the Ribs Factory. If you're in to fish then there is a new one opened up that I have been to way too many time already called Villa Vis at Caracasbaai selling fish by the weight. My personal fave is 100grams of tuna sashimi, 100 grams of raw seared tuna a basket of shrimp and a bucket pf beer and you've got a happy man smiling back at you. Brisa Do Mar which is also called Pop's place by the locals is a great one, very close to Villa Vis. Purunchis, a great local seafood place which is nothing fancy at all. Try Plaza Beui which is ca cafeteria style local place in Punda only open for lunch during the week. Whilst i haven't been yet I have heard great things about Soi 95 and Mosa cana.

Dive sites. Mari Pampoen never fails to impress. Porto Mari, Superior Producer. Do multiple dives there with Nitrox if you're certified to do so. One of the best wrecks in the Caribbean. Don't forget to take ID to show security to get in Cas Abao I have been assured is totes instagrammable. Directors Bay, Watamula, Sponge Forest, as far east as you are able to get will get you some of the best reefs in Curacao. I recently had a fantastic dive at Klien Knip which has a longish swim to the reef but was well worth it. I hadn't done that in many years and was glad to dive it again. Double reef is well worth it despite the walk to the entrance. You should find turtles there. You will find many people telling you to go to playa Piskado but that has turned into a circus now and you'll see turtles a Doble reef more often than not and also at turtle mountain in Caracasbaai on your way to the tugboat area. Thinking about it it would be nice to do a dive there and then go across the road and eat at Villa Vis. Genius idea!

I am often asked what my favorite sites are and having lived here for 20 years i discovered many years ago that my favorite dives are the ones I am doing at the time with the funnest people. That's what makes them memorable! When you can see amazing things, share them with your buddies at the same time goofing around with your nest bud's. It may sound cheesy but that's where I still get my enjoyment......oh and an ice cold beer at the end of the dive!

Whatever you choose to do......May the fish be with you!

I was in Curaçao last week with Ocean Encounters at LionsDive. Outstanding trip! Regarding food, definitely put Soi 95 on your list. We had dinner there last Friday and it was phenomenal. The dishes are creative and delicious - and the bar knows how to make a good drink. Wish we’d found Soi 95 sooner - it was a recommendation from the proprietor of a little restaurant right across the boat channel from OE LionsDive called Olas & Copas - a good alternative to the restaurants at LionsDive and the way-overpriced Mambo Beach joints. The dive shop crew eats lunch at Olas & Copas - which we took as a good sign. Service was a bit slow but the food is good and fairly priced.

 

[Saturated and satisfied]

@Saturated and satisfied what is your opinion on the status of the following reefs?
Grandi, Kalki, Watamula, Black Sand Wreck, Mushroom Forrest, Red Bush City.

To be honest the western sites generally suffer more than the ones we have in the reef due to the shape of the island. It's much calmer there than it is in the east and so there is a lack of water movement that we get on the more exposed east side so the bleaching that does occur tends to recover quicker on the east as the temps drop faster. The reef may have suffered but the I find the marine life is still vibrant. I can't really comment on individual critters as it's all a matter of perspective and we're all focused on different things. I still think Watamula is an amazing site.