First time Curacao; need help

[tubbyka]

My wife and I have been to Cozumel for 5 straight year to dive and relax. She wants to try something new, but we have some specific needs. Please help with the following:

1. She wants an all inclusive so we don't have to cook or pay for drinks. Breezes gets mixed reviews. thoughts?

2. I keep seeing that the west side is the place to stay, but are there any AI's?

3. where is the Breezes resort on the island?

4. We've never dove by ourselves. Can we dive ok by ourselves from the beach, without a dive master. We both are logging around the 40 dives apot.

5. She wants to dive with dolphins. Is this possible?

6. How does Curacao compare to Cozumel?

I know this is a lot, but the deal right for Curacao looks really good. We've only been to Nassau and Cozumel. Is this the place for us? Vis looks really good and thats important to us who are still new to the sport.

Thanks for the help!

 

[jd950]

My wife and I have been to Cozumel for 5 straight year to dive and relax. She wants to try something new, but we have some specific needs. Please help with the following:

1. She wants an all inclusive so we don't have to cook or pay for drinks. Breezes gets mixed reviews. thoughts? Can't say....never been there, but if I am not mistaken it is the only AI on the island, so I guess it is the best, no?

2. I keep seeing that the west side is the place to stay, but are there any AI's? Not on the West side. Closest is Lodge Kura Hulanda. Deluxe and has onsite restaurants. I think they have an "AI" option to include meals and that may be what you are looking for. I don't think they have the traditional "wear the wristband and you can drink all the beer and house liquor you want" kind of thing.

3. where is the Breezes resort on the island? Willemstad, East side, very close to Dive Bus and the Seaquarium.

4. We've never dove by ourselves. Can we dive ok by ourselves from the beach, without a dive master. We both are logging around the 40 dives apot. Yes, but if you have never shore dived before, and based on your experience, I would suggest doing a couple guided shore dives first, perhaps with the Dive Bus. Not necessary, but sometimes a compass can be handy (Generally it is easy to remember which direction is the shore and which is the open sea, but I enjoy trying to see how close to my planned exit I can get using navigational skills. Sometimes that provides some good entertainment itself)

5. She wants to dive with dolphins. Is this possible? Seaquarium Curaçao Sea Aquarium

6. How does Curacao compare to Cozumel? Fewer large fish, viz is typically a bit lower (but still usually excellent, I wouldn't let that influence you) more coft coral, more juveniles. Not much current. Better for photography for that reason. Biggest difference to me is the differences inherent in shore diving vs. boat diving. Dive you own schedule and profile, without being controlled by a group or a DM.

I know this is a lot, but the deal right for Curacao looks really good. We've only been to Nassau and Cozumel. Is this the place for us? Vis looks really good and thats important to us who are still new to the sport.

Generally, I would say Curacao (and Bonaire) are excellent for newer divers because it is easy diving with typically easy entries. Little current, can dive with or without a DM, dive as shallow (or deep) as you want, on whatever schedule you choose. You can also do boat dives as much or as little as you want.

Again, I would do a few shore dives with a DM just to get the feel of it, and maybe pick a couple boat dives that you want to do. Some dives are a very easy intro, and you can choose based on which side of the island you are on with the help of a dive op nearby. There are nice dives right around Breezes as well as all along the coast all the way out to the West end.

If you decide to forego the AI thing there are also a variety of lodging choices along the coast and on the west side. You will likely find plenty of divers and dive ops happy to help, make suggestions and/or to dive with you. It can be very relaxed diving.

When are you going?

 

[bkpix]

I can only really address things on the west side of the island, my only involvement with Breezes was driving past it while sightseeing on that side of the island. AI's are not as prevelent on Curacao as some other locations. I have stayed at AI's in Honduras and had a good time there with the eat, sleep, dive mantra; but I am about to go back to Curacao for my second trip and staying at the same place I stayed last time, All West Apartments. Nice apartments with kitchens and BBQ grills out on the balcony. Cooking is no big deal for my wife and I, we both love to cook, and the BBQ grills are sort of a gathering spot in the evening where all the divers show up to cook and talk about the days dives, or get ready for a night dive right in front of the apartment. Andreas from All West will probably jump in on this thread sometime, and he can give you info on packages that include apartment, rental truck and diving: boat as well as shore.

The west side of the island is much more laid back then the east. The area around Breezes sort of reminds me of parts of Florida. Great if that is your kind of thing; but far more hectic then "out west."

Like the reply from jd950 said, the Lodge Kura Hulanda might offer an AI package, but it will be pricier then what you are used to from Coz.

Wherever you wind up, you should have a great time. Some of the reef structure is amazing.

Dive safe, BK

 

[jeepguy]

My wife and I have been to Cozumel for 5 straight year to dive and relax. She wants to try something new, but we have some specific needs. Please help with the following:

1. She wants an all inclusive so we don't have to cook or pay for drinks. Breezes gets mixed reviews. thoughts?

2. I keep seeing that the west side is the place to stay, but are there any AI's?

3. where is the Breezes resort on the island?

4. We've never dove by ourselves. Can we dive ok by ourselves from the beach, without a dive master. We both are logging around the 40 dives apot.

5. She wants to dive with dolphins. Is this possible?

6. How does Curacao compare to Cozumel?

I know this is a lot, but the deal right for Curacao looks really good. We've only been to Nassau and Cozumel. Is this the place for us? Vis looks really good and thats important to us who are still new to the sport.

Thanks for the help!

Going to Breeze's CUR in April for the 6th time in 7 years. Never had a problem at Breeze's and have seen improvements thru the years. Check my past posts for many details but basically it is not 5 star but is all that we need. Not gourmet but enough food choices that you can find something that appeals to you. Rooms are basic, but maids have always kept ours clean (A little tip always helps). People that we talk to seem to have less problems with the "ocean front rooms". We've always gotten one. We find the employees attitudes are equal to how you treat them. Some guests that we've seen there were just horrible to the help and these guests seem to be the ones complaining most at the airport waiting to leave. We try to be patient (we are on vacation on a island and not in a rush) and have always been treated well with many employees remembering us from past visits and welcomed with handshakes and hugs!!! It is less than 10 minute ride to town. Buses (or vans) run about every 5 minutes from the stop accrossed street. Diving from Breeze's is good and can be done without DM after checkout dive. We've always found diving better just next door to Breeze's at the Dive Bus. You can dive that end of the reef with or without a DM also (probably still need a check out). Plus they can take you in thier Bus to most of the best sites on the island if you wanted. Mark and Suzy are wonderful people and plain fun to hang or dive with. Suzy can answer any questions about the island, diving, accomadations, or even a dolphin dive. Check out The Dive Bus - HOME . Our first trip to CUR and the dive bus sounds similar to yours. I was just certified(4 dives) and my wife had no interest in diving.
She did a discover dive with Mark at the Dive Bus home reef (pierbaii), had a turtle join them for about 10 minutes and has been hooked ever since. (I often wondered if Suzy and Mark hire that turtle just for that reason). Good luck planning and feel free to PM if I can answer any other questions:cool2:
Tom & Isabelle

 

[tubbyka]

Thanks for all of the great advice. We're booked to go to Curacao June 26-July 3. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[tubbyka]

What are the "must dives" of Curacao? Is doing any boat dives worth the money?

 

[tubbyka]

Jeep guy,

Please give me a full report when you get back in April. hope you guys have a safe trip too!

 

[jeepguy]

Jeep guy,

Please give me a full report when you get back in April. hope you guys have a safe trip too!

will do

 

[diversteve]

I keep seeing that the west side is the place to stay, but are there any AI's?

Habitat Curacao is more or less - room, diving, optional meal plan. If you stay there, you'll mostly be eating there as it's a drive to anything else. No one that I'm aware of on Curacao bundles everything including drinks etc.

What are the "must dives" of Curacao?

Playa Kalki
Porto Mari
Playa Lagun
Nos Kas (Habitat's reef)
Tugboat
Varsenbaai

all make my list. A friend who lived there recommends Snake Bay. Cas Abao was also on our list but we didn't get there.

Is doing any boat dives worth the money?

One of - if not the best - dives on Curacao is Watamula - a boat dive just past the west end of the island (WestPunt). One of the more interesting boat dives is the Mushroom Forest. Some operators do your SI as a snorkel at the Blue Cave on that dive.

 

[aquajon]

where are you staying? at breezes? looking into heading down that way a week later. is the july 4th weekend in the islands a good time?