Limited Time in Curacao

[mikeshamokin]

I am a relatively new diver going to Curacao from 8/11 to 8/16 with my girlfriend (non-diver). Since the amount of diving I will be able to do will be limited, I was wondering if anyone had any "must dive" spots. We are staying at the Marriott Beach Resort and Emerald Casino. I'm thinking that it would be convenient to dive with Caribbean Sea Sports since they are located there, but I'm not opposed to diving with someone else. Any ideas would be great...

 

[DeputyDan]

The Marriott is nice and the onsite dive op. will fit your needs.

If you want to go far afield consider using the dive bus:

The Dive Bus - WELCOME


Warning for your budget:

The cost of food will be three times what you think it should be at the Marriott!

 

[RJP]

Have dove with Carribean Sea Sports on several trips, they are great. If you book a boat dive with them you get unlimited shore diving that day, so be sure to take advantage of an afternoon dive later that day. House reef there is decent for a late afternoon dive.

 

[joyceschur]

I'm in Curacao right now at the tail end of a 2 week dive trip. I'm HIGHLY recommending The Dive Bus.

 

[mikeshamokin]

Thanks everyone for the input. It looks like I'm gonna try both dive ops...August can't come soon enough!

 

[Mike81]

I will be there with my wife as well from the 7th to the 14th. Also staying at the Marriott (4th time for us). The Superior Producer wreck is a must dive. Other than that, it all depends on what you're looking for. Mushroom forest is overrated in my opinion. The boat dives that Carribbean Sea Sports offers are great and as RJP said above, they offer free shore diving on boat diving days and their house reef (Betsy's Backyard) is an excellent wall dive. Food at the Marriott is more expensive than other restaurants on the island.

 

[joyceschur]

Superior Producer is a great wreck, but generally ranked "advance" dive because of depth and current (not for relatively new divers). Mushroom Forest and Watamula both have highly unusual coral formations, but these west end dives are quite a boat ride away from east end Curacao. Overly long treks always make me feel that certain sites are overrated (from north Cozumel, I felt the cenotes were overrated).

That's why I recommend The Dive Bus (they only do shore dives) as an option for part of your stay. There are so many terrific must-do shore dives on the east end. My favorites were Pierbaai and Tugboat.

If either of you Marriott Mikes have a rental car and want to dive west end, here's a suggestion: drive to Westpunt (45 minutes) and make a day of it at Playa Kalki. Ocean Encounters West Dive Shop is right there for local boat dives or shore dive the house reef (Alice in Wonderland, another top rated site). Great beach/snorkeling for non-diving family members. If you're in Westpunt on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, check out Sol Food for lunch or dinner.

I hope both you scubaboarders enjoy your stay in Curacao. I had such a great time there last month that I booked another trip for October.

 

[diverrex]

I will be there with my wife as well from the 7th to the 14th. Also staying at the Marriott (4th time for us). The Superior Producer wreck is a must dive. Other than that, it all depends on what you're looking for. Mushroom forest is overrated in my opinion. The boat dives that Carribbean Sea Sports offers are great and as RJP said above, they offer free shore diving on boat diving days and their house reef (Betsy's Backyard) is an excellent wall dive. Food at the Marriott is more expensive than other restaurants on the island.

I actually liked Mushroom Forest much more than the Superior Producer. I admit I like fish and coral much more than wrecks. I also probably liked both Tugboat and Saba more as little wreck dives compared to Superior Producer. To each their own I guess.

 

[Mike81]

You sound like you too have been bitten by the bug -my wife and I love Curacao, this will be our fourth trip in the past 2 years!!! Did you try Jaanchi's while you stayed out west? I never tried Sol Food, perhaps this time around we will take your advice and make the excursion.

I haven't dove Cenotes in Cozumel so I can't comment but from what I heard its not true cave diving, its more of a cavern with very large openings. But Isle Mujares and swimming with the whale sharks is worth the trip.