Habitat Closing?

[diversteve]

IDK why the distance window didn't show up in this image but the yellow line is .18 mi. end to end.
It's mostly downhill from the pool - the lodge is higher than the beach/diveshop.

 

[BoltSnap]

can't answer questions about the lodge but can about all west. All west is short drive away from the lodge. You could walk it but I never saw anyone do it. I am sure its a timing thing but found the dive in front of All West to be better than Alice in Wonderland. Way too much coral bleaching for me to get over at alice in wonderland. Loved the dive in front of All West, did it many different times of day, there is a turtle or two just waiting to say hello when you go in
Agree that where you stay is about what you like etc for us All West was great for us and intend on going back next year. Just not again in November--was very rainy and came back with possible dengue fever--(not tested but ...)which is/was no fun.

1. Is the dive spot for AllWest close enough to Alice in Wonderland for one to swim from one to the other?

2. Where do they store the dive equipment in AllWest, in the apartments or lockers by the beach?

3. If one is going to go diving to AiW from AllWest, do they have to schlep their equipment upstairs from the locker and then downstairs in AiW site (I know that the stairway in AiW site is challenging AFTER a dive or two).

4. I presume that there is some sort of a dive operation on the AllWest beach site, do they offer Nitrox fills there?


From all you are describing, you make it sound as staying in either place much more interesting than Habitat anyways.

 

[jdcpa]

But the garden view rooms appear to be very far from the ocean and dive shop on the map. Is it really that far to walk?

Not too far.

 

[jdcpa]

1. Is the dive spot for AllWest close enough to Alice in Wonderland for one to swim from one to the other?

I don't think you want to swim that far. Not sure why you would do that.

2. Where do they store the dive equipment in AllWest, in the apartments or lockers by the beach?

Not sure, but my memory is in the room.

3. If one is going to go diving to AiW from AllWest, do they have to schlep their equipment upstairs from the locker and then downstairs in AiW site (I know that the stairway in AiW site is challenging AFTER a dive or two).

I assume so. Schleping is good. Take the stairs slowly.

4. I presume that there is some sort of a dive operation on the AllWest beach site, do they offer Nitrox fills there?

No dive operation, just tanks. No Nitrox that I know of. I guess you could pay for it an OEW and have them drop it off. Not sure.

From all you are describing, you make it sound as staying in either place much more interesting than Habitat anyways.

Habitat had a restaurant on site, as does the Lodge, but neither of those has a kitchen in unit, as does All West.

You need to decide what type of trip you want to take and that will give you your answer. Restaurant/kitchen; shore diving or boat/shore diving.

 

[kmcneer]

we went by there for a dive the first week of Jan and it seemed like they were cleaning up. i guess it was closing up.

 

[morecowbells]

I have stayed at both, All West and Lodge Kura Hulanda. Thoroughly enjoyed both places and would return in a heartbeat. In a summary of each place:
Kura Hulanda(one bedroom suite)
-Both room I have stayed in had a small(very) kitchenette.
-Beautiful grounds, pool and had a true resort feel
-Decent rates when on website searching for 'value' or 'special' deals. Sometimes you can find a good air + lodging package through Orbits, Expedia etc.
-Dive shop on site.

All West(junior suite)
-Ocean views are far better and closer then KH
-Nice sized kitchen
-Spacious lay out i.e. I could sleep in later than my husband while he went out on patio or hung out in living room. Bedroom separate from living room.
-No dive shop but tank room always well stocked(no nitrox when I was there. OEW has the Nitrox tanks) with tanks with area to hang and dry gear. No limitations on hours of operation. More options and convenience than trying to work around dive shop hours. We would either grab a tank and schlep our gear down the stairs to dive the wonderful area in front of the All West; or we would walk a few yards to our car with tanks for off site- shore dives. Much easier than the system at KH.

You will not regret staying at either place. The KH is more luxury, All West is more spartan. I personally feel you get more bang for the buck at All West when it comes to ocean views and convenience with tank room.

 

[BoltSnap]

If one stays at the AllWest apartments, are there "Breakfast" places close by?

 

[idocsteve]

1. Is the dive spot for AllWest close enough to Alice in Wonderland for one to swim from one to the other?

2. Where do they store the dive equipment in AllWest, in the apartments or lockers by the beach?

3. If one is going to go diving to AiW from AllWest, do they have to schlep their equipment upstairs from the locker and then downstairs in AiW site (I know that the stairway in AiW site is challenging AFTER a dive or two).

4. I presume that there is some sort of a dive operation on the AllWest beach site, do they offer Nitrox fills there?


From all you are describing, you make it sound as staying in either place much more interesting than Habitat anyways.

1. Alice in Wonderland is the house reef outside the lodge, which is about a 5 minute drive from All West Apartments. It's not short enough to swim from All West. [see edit note below] OEW is right down a flight of steps from the Lodge, although the Lodge is somewhat spread out so it might be a bit of a walk if you're in one of the further units but still not all that bad.

2. All West does not have a dive shop on site, it's a large room, and full tanks, rinsing buckets and bins and hooks are available for your gear. Guests are given a key to the locking door and your gear can be safely stored there. You have 24 hour per day access to tanks. If on impulse, you feel like getting up at 2 am and diving the house reef, it's right there for you.

3. When you're diving anywhere else besides the reef outside All West, you simply take your gear out of the gear room which is on the level of the parking lot and throw it in the back of your vehicle. You're talking about 20 footsteps and a curb, no steps. When you're diving at All West, you go out the other lockable grated door facing the ocean, that's where the steps are that bring you down to the beach and yeah those steps are some work, especially on the way back up after the dive. You can also throw your gear in your vehicle and drive down to the boat ramp behind All West, and avoid the steps altogether but I don't think it's worth the trouble. The steps are a hassle but they're not THAT bad unless you've got some sort of physical disability.

4. Full tanks are always available in the gear room but Nitrox needs to be arranged separately, I'd imagine you'd have to make the 5 minute drive over to the OEW site next to the Kurlanda Lodge or maybe Andreas can bring a set over for you since he's back and forth between the two places quite often. A word of caution about Andreas. If you spend any time talking with him you're going to have an irresistable urge to mimic his accent, at least I did.

By the way if you're staying at the Lodge you can leave your gear at the OEW facility. The Lodge is more of a resort, with a gated manned entry and a few restaurants and landscaped grounds and I think I remember seeing a pool. All West is more barebones, It's just one big building full of apartments overlooking the ocean. Both are nice places and the Lodge is only a few hundred bucks more for a week.

Edited to correct:

As per more recent posts on this thread, it is in fact possible to swim between All West Apartments House Reef and the Alice in Wonderland Reef off of OEW, however it's a long dive, approaching 70 minutes or more.

 

[BoltSnap]

Thank you ALL for your great help. My apologies for asking so many questions but I needed to get full information on these places before I commit to anything in Curacao. I was so comfortable with Habitat for so many years and I am careful choosing a replacement.

I suppose that if I stay at AllWest, going to dive at AiW or anywhere else, is just like staying at Habitat and driving to other places to dive.

I can't wait to have time off work and go diving in Curacao.

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

FYI
I've coerced quite a few folks to go from OEW dive shop to All West. I cruise on slow speed so as not to miss the small stuff. The one way trip is well over 75 minutes with extra time to explore the shallows. Now to work on getting a lift to the left and cruising back for 75 minutes......