ZoSo
Registered
How,s everybody doing on Curacao today after that storm,I'll be arriving this weekend and staying at Lodge Kura Hulanda. Hope it wasn't bad and everyones safe.
Omar on Curacao
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TheDiveBus
Contributor
In the early hours of Tuesday 14 October, tropical storm Omar hit Curacao from the south west.
Major winds, huge waves and driving rain pounded this usually protected coast of the island, washing away beaches, piers, boats, roofs, restaurants and roads.
Funnily enough, shore diving (and boat diving for that matter!) is on hold for the time being! It is too rough and dangerous to go into the water right now to check out the conditions and any damage to the reef but we'll update as soon as we know anything.
After surveying the scene at Pierbaai yesterday (go here for photos) we headed all the way out West checking out the various beaches. 50ft spray from the giant waves were hitting the cliffs out West, something we couldn't have ever imagined. Electricity was out in the West from 10am yesterday morning.
As of yesterday afternoon, The Dive Bus Hut and Surf and Turf restaurant was still intact, as were all the fishing boats, although the piers have sustained some damage. We're heading down there now to check out the latest.
We'll post video and photos on the Dive Bus facebook page shortly - watch this space for details.
Major winds, huge waves and driving rain pounded this usually protected coast of the island, washing away beaches, piers, boats, roofs, restaurants and roads.
Funnily enough, shore diving (and boat diving for that matter!) is on hold for the time being! It is too rough and dangerous to go into the water right now to check out the conditions and any damage to the reef but we'll update as soon as we know anything.
After surveying the scene at Pierbaai yesterday (go here for photos) we headed all the way out West checking out the various beaches. 50ft spray from the giant waves were hitting the cliffs out West, something we couldn't have ever imagined. Electricity was out in the West from 10am yesterday morning.
As of yesterday afternoon, The Dive Bus Hut and Surf and Turf restaurant was still intact, as were all the fishing boats, although the piers have sustained some damage. We're heading down there now to check out the latest.
We'll post video and photos on the Dive Bus facebook page shortly - watch this space for details.
We do are outside the hurricane belt, but sometimes a storm visits the island. Omar was at less than hundred miles north of Curaçao and because it slowly moved to the north east we had storm winds, but never at hurricane force. The usual trade wind comes from the east on 360 days a year, but shifted to the west-southwest and swept up the waves that pounded on the southcoast.
The wind pushed the water into the Anna Bay and rising the water along the waterfront and at the end of the morning the low lying Punda was closed for incomming traffic because of flooded streets.
The wind caused a lot of fallen leaves, branches and occasional a fallen tree on the island. Along the coast the beaches were hard hit and thers is al lot of erosion.
Because of the similarities with Lenny, that visited in october 1999, I also expect coral dammage up to a depth of 70 feet.
I haven't heard of any person got serious hurt.
Today the wind eased a bit, but the sea is still rough and it raines the whole day.
jeepguy
Contributor
TheDiveBus
Contributor
The wind and rain have dropped off now, although it will be a day or so before the ocean calms down, probably. I'm gonna send Mark in to check out the conditions as soon as possible ;o)
From what we saw ourselves yesterday and today, all the beaches East and West, took a good hammering. But we're a tough lot here in Curacao and no doubt we'll have everything ship shape again in no time, the dive operators in particular. And hopefully the sun will be shining again tomorrow, as per usual
)
We took a bunch of video from the various beaches and dive sites around the island yesterday and today - go here if you're interested in seeing 'before' and 'during' images.
If you're headed out to Curacao on a dive vacation soon: DON'T WORRY!!!! We're sure all the dive ops will be back in the water just as soon as they can, and as soon as it's safe. We will, for sure. After all, this weather's just like a typical English summer ;o)
From what we saw ourselves yesterday and today, all the beaches East and West, took a good hammering. But we're a tough lot here in Curacao and no doubt we'll have everything ship shape again in no time, the dive operators in particular. And hopefully the sun will be shining again tomorrow, as per usual
)We took a bunch of video from the various beaches and dive sites around the island yesterday and today - go here if you're interested in seeing 'before' and 'during' images.
If you're headed out to Curacao on a dive vacation soon: DON'T WORRY!!!! We're sure all the dive ops will be back in the water just as soon as they can, and as soon as it's safe. We will, for sure. After all, this weather's just like a typical English summer ;o)
Curacao Sunshine
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No power still for David and Sunshine 32 hours and counting at least when we're not mopping out the incoming waters. I'm at All West sending a safe and sound email back home. But, forgot to bring the power cord. Before it powers down, I just wanted to say....
I tried to blow all the mosquitoes away, I really did. But... they'll probably still be here this weekend. See you in a few days! Sunshine
I tried to blow all the mosquitoes away, I really did. But... they'll probably still be here this weekend. See you in a few days! Sunshine
Sunshine
I am glad to see that you survived. Yesterday during the newscast at 8 PM I saw the waves breaking over the cliffs where your home, appartment and restaurant is located. Didn't look good.
I agree with Suzy that we will be back in good shape in short time. As Kukuisa said, there will probably be some damage to the coral because of the wave actions, but that creates opportunities for the new coral (we had a great coral spawning last month) to step in.
I am curious to see or hear if the Tugboat survived undamaged. So, Suzy, as soon as you send Mark in to check the conditions at your house reef, send him also to the Tugboat.
I am glad to see that you survived. Yesterday during the newscast at 8 PM I saw the waves breaking over the cliffs where your home, appartment and restaurant is located. Didn't look good.
I agree with Suzy that we will be back in good shape in short time. As Kukuisa said, there will probably be some damage to the coral because of the wave actions, but that creates opportunities for the new coral (we had a great coral spawning last month) to step in.
I am curious to see or hear if the Tugboat survived undamaged. So, Suzy, as soon as you send Mark in to check the conditions at your house reef, send him also to the Tugboat.
TheDiveBus
Contributor
Tugboat is on Mark's 'to dive' list, don't you worry ;o)
We tried to get there this afternoon but the dirt track was too flooded.
A day or 2 of sunshine and it'll be right, no worries.
Speaking of Sunshine, can't BELIEVE you're still without electricity!!! If you want a hot cup of coffee, you know where we are)
Suzy
The Dive Bus
We tried to get there this afternoon but the dirt track was too flooded.
A day or 2 of sunshine and it'll be right, no worries.
Speaking of Sunshine, can't BELIEVE you're still without electricity!!! If you want a hot cup of coffee, you know where we are
)Suzy
The Dive Bus
CheddarChick
Contributor
Hey you crazy people...get off the beach when the waves are taller than you....Honestly suzy thank yu for the video. I wish I could get on a plane and be there tomorrow to help......
Curacao Sunshine
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35 hours and we're baaack. Seriously folks, the storm was pretty intense from the sounds of it all over the island, as seen in Mark and Suzy's before and after videos. But today the waves are only half as high and the color of the water is gradually fading. I might think that the seas will be calm for the Saturday arrivals. I didn't go into the Lodge only as far as the dive shop but they have generators and should be all set. We had a tremendous amount of rain this morning; Andreas said the stairs at Kalki were like a waterfall. We actually needed a good fresh water rain soaking. As Gustele mentioned, The waves were crashing high on the cliffs and spraying tons of water over the trees and into the houses. All the leaves seaside are brown. Looking up into the hills, all of Westpunt has power but the beach cleanup will be a lot of work. There are plenty of divers in town. If the seas are calm enough tomorrow, I'm sure they'll be itching to get wet. I'll post what we hear about conditions. There was wet gear at All West today but they might have gone to the normally rougher North coast. I'm not sure about the coral spawning; if the rough action will put the corals out of the mood... See you in a few days. Sunshine
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