Please help with Curacao dive op info...

[O'Malley]

...we will be staying at the Curacao Marriott, Jan 8-16 2006. Wife doesn't dive, therefore, I plan on boat diving mainly. From the threads I have read, the best dive sites are on the west side of the island (true?) and not all dive operators provide boat trips to these locations. Simply looking for dive op suggestions to make the most of my diving while in Curacao. By the way, I plan on renting wheels and don't mind driving to dive ops off-site of Marriott for boat access to the better dive sites. Thanks!

 

[VolcanicCraterDvr]

I will be honeymooning with my wife, both divers at the Marriott in Curacao from 11 JAN - 17 JAN. I would appreciate any info you can find, I am tring to find the same info as you..

 

[Damselfish]

Operators like the one at Lion's Dive dive to the east most of the time because it's much closer for them. (Maybe they do an occasional trip west for someplace like Mushroom Forest, not sure.) Operators from Habitat and Sunset Waters are to the west so they dive sites out there all the time. The Marriott is kinda in the middle so I'm not sure which way they go. Probably most do the Superior Producer, but that's also pretty much in the middle, so certainly a good one to do from the Marriott if they go.

The official marine park is actually along the eastern end of the island so you'd assume diving would be better there, but that's not what I saw. It's been a long time since I dove the east end (I did that in 92, and the west end for the first time in 96.) But I did feel that the diving and condition of the reefs was much better on the west end. As I recall the big harbor towards the east end of the island (Spanish Water) used to have lots of oil industry activity back before then, I assumed that affected the reefs somewhat. The west end had little to nothing going on.

I've always been pleased with the dive op at Habitat, but I haven't been there for a few years. It's about a 30min drive from town. People say good things about Sunset Waters lately. They're even further west. There's many nice sites close to Habitat but they often also head further west. So depends if you'd rather cover the distance by boat or land! There's a couple places way down at the western tip which I know nothing about, but for your purpose it probably doesn't make sense to drive all the way down there anyway.

If you want specific sites check with the ops, I'm not sure how far ahead they plan where they are going. At Habitat they put up signup boards late in the afternoon for the next days sites.

 

[Damselfish]

Just looked, the Marriott op has good info on where they dive and an actual schedule. Looks like they do mostly central/east. And a bit west as far as Habitat but not all the way to the best stuff. I see they show Seldom on their map which is very nice (and "seldom dived" I think due to unpredictable current) but not on their schedule. They don't even show dive sites on the west end.

http://www.caribseasports.com/

 

[CheddarChick]

All right boy & girls,
When you go to Curacao and stay at the Marriott in Jan, will you please post your thoughts & experiences when you get back. We are going in Jan/Feb to the Marriott also and would love to have some feedback!
Cheddarchick

 

[scubatexastony]

Seasports at the Marriot is a good op with nice boat, like you say they visit the reefs near them. If you have a car, Blue Gardens and Blue Wall can be a shore dive from the Blue Bay resort, 10 guilders (Naf) gets you in and your first tank. Nice facilities and resturant, beach, pool,the wife will like it too. To dive mushroom,cave, ect two options, water taxi is cheap, but he just drops you off and arranges a time to pick up... scary
Sunset Waters has a couple nice boats and just a 10-15 min ride to the sites, good OP, didn't care for the food at the Resort there, decent beach. I haven't dove their house reef yet. Habitat is another option for some good house reef diving, although the stairs are a hard on an old fart. LOL Drive and dive, pick some tanks up at Sea sports, head to the water..... lots of good shore diving, but most lack rinse tanks and showers, rental tanks/weights ect. another option, the-dive-bus.... picks you up for a day of shore diving, no lugging tanks, gathering food and drinks... Mark and Suzy are nice folks... I haven't done that route, rather met them and made the eco dive and cleanup party with them.
I have a few photos posted on allenhost, click the link in the sig. I think there's a couple of the marriot. Cant go wrong with them, nice hotel. Holiday Beach is another option, a bit cheaper, older, but nice and clean, good house reef, less on the diver facilities though he has tanks and rental gear. Anton is a hoot! Shoot me a PM if you have any specific quiestions I can track down for you.

tony

 

[smokey braden]

o'malley,
i don't know if this will help you.
'04 stayed at sunset waters resort.
http://www.sunsetwaters.com/
dove with the house op, sunset divers.
http://www.sunsetdiver.com/
all our dives were boat.
we had a great time and the diving was good.
regards,

 

[scubatexastony]

What Geographically Challanged Moderator Moved This Thread, But I'm Positive That The Sea Surrounding The Abc Islands Is The Caribbean, I.e. We Have To Move Bonaire And Aruba To Latin America Too.....sheeze

 

[O'Malley]

I was wondering the same...

Thanks all for your input...it is greatly appreciated!

I would appreciate any info you can find, I am tring to find the same info as you..

I have sent emails to Sunset Divers, Easy Divers, Ocean Encounters and Silent Immersion inquiring into their services and proximity to the Marriott...will forward info as it becomes available.

 

[scubatexastony]

Now that Curacao is back in the Caribbean (thanks Andy:05: ) made me think of another point. Staying at the Marriot, if you plan on dragging your gear back and forth from your room, ask for the rooms to the west, (low numbers, 100s, I think) so you'll be close to the dive shop. There's hot tubs on each end of the resort, and the pool complex is in the center, so you'll not be missing anything. You still have to exit the resort via the main lobby so the trek is no further. There is also a entrance to Seasports around the west end to drive up behind the shop if your visiting or want to load gear for a day trip. Definately do the house reef, either direction is nice, just head into the current, if there's one present and enjoy a night dive there too!

A little pricy, but definately on our favorites, is the Italian resturant there, Portofino, most excellent. Drive over to Larry's for the best rack of ribs, followed by House of Ribs. Specials at the little Surf and Turf are good too, my friend Tony Montana will serve up a great meal. Close to the house here is Grillin' Joes, with the best fajiatas south of .......well.... you get the picture. Hopefully, we'll get our job ironed out and be here to visit with you.:14:

tony