Question First-time Diver Certification in Curaçao

[pastlightspeed]

I am planning our honeymoon for next month, and am pursuing an open water certification (my partner is not). I have snorkeled for most of my life including in Galapagos, but since Curaçao is known for diving and we haven't been on a tropical vacation since pre-COVID, I wanted to take the opportunity to get scuba certified.

I have completed my PADI eLearning and confined water dives in my home dive shop this month. I have the open water dives booked across two days with Bahia Dive Shop near our AirBnB for the first half of our trip based on the recommendation of our travel agent who lives on the island.

Anyone have experience with Bahia for open water certification dives or any thoughts on best place/shop to complete them on the island?

Further more, assuming I can get my certification confidently and want to plan 1-2 additional dives over the course of our honeymoon, what are the best combo beginner friendly and beautiful dive spots around the island that I should prioritize?

We will have a rental car so getting around the island is not a barrier. We will be filling the rest of our water time snorkeling together so if any recommendations come to mind for that too, even better, but my #1 priority is to make sure I have a safe and confident certification plan.

Edit: The original inspiration for getting certified was the opportunity to hunt Lion fish, but at the advice of instructor and after realizing just how significant the jump from snorkel to scuba is, I don't think that is something I should attempt while I'm a new diver. But something to aspire to in my future diving career!

 

[rick00001967]

cant say i did any training with that shop, but it is in a great spot. we stayed in one of the condos there over looking the bay. beautiful.
nice easy shore diving there, but it is a bit of a swim to get out to the reef.
the fishermen clean the fish on shore and it attracts a lot of turtles.
i would caution you about doing any diving on your own right after getting certified. just because someone is certified to do something, does not always mean it is a great idea to actually do it unsupervised.
pls use a guide.
we heard good things about the dive bus but not sure if they would be in your area.
i am sure bahia can offer that service.
we really liked directors bay, kokomo, and playa lagun where you will be staying. but that was a number of years ago.

 

[Dan28173]

I would recommend the Dive Bus. I took my AOW there in February and they were extremely helpful in working with me to get the dives planned around my schedule. Really quality folks and very solid dive operation; the rental equipment is all like new condition.

Also they have a house reef on site which is very beginner friendly and makes the cert dives really easy and convenient.

And you may want to try the Lionfish Caribbean restaurant in Willemstad, which has a full menu of locally sourced lionfish. Everything we had was excellent.

 

[pastlightspeed]

i would caution you about doing any diving on your own right after getting certified. just because someone is certified to do something, does not always mean it is a great idea to actually do it unsupervised.
pls use a guide.

For SURE using a guide! Just want to plan ahead and schedule in the post certification dives since we’ll have other honeymoon plans around my solo diving and I need to make sure my partner has good counter programming (like golf!)

 

[FreqFlier]

am pursuing an open water certification (my partner is not)

How's about a bit of convincing (get your partner certified too!)? Diving is much better and easier when you have a perma-buddy besides you...

 

[Redtwo]

If you don't want to book everything in advance, A lot of beaches don't require much pre planning. Just arrive at the dive shop at the beach and say you want a guided dive that day. They can almost always fit you in. Just have a nice beach day and when diving time is there you are gone for 1,5/2hrs while the wife soaks up some more sun. They normally go 3 or 4 times per day in the water with guests.

And bahia in lagun is as far as i know a great operation and fine for your OW dives. Nice shallow to start and beautiful reef.

Curaçao is very friendly for starting divers. Dive bus obviously is an option but if you stay near lagun (bahia) then it doesnt sound most logical to me. They are on other side of the (small) island and require a check dive at their housereef. So just going to one of the more nearby beaches is more easy i t think (cas abou, daaibooi, port marie, Blue Bay, Kokomo all have good reputable dive shops at the beach. ).

Only thing which gets pricey if you do one dive is the rental. Thats usually per day so doing two dives in one day is more economical.