Referral certification on Curacao

[Monkeyinthemiddle]

Hi,

We are going to Curacao and Bonaire next month. Our 15 year old daughter will be half way done with her PADI certification by then.

I would like to find an dive operation where she can do a referral certification class.

We will be staying at a house down by Boca Santa Marta, on the ocean.

We want a good experience for her, and hopefully a location that is not to far away.



Thanks, Susan

 

[diversteve]

Is that near Spanish Waters? If so there's a dive school at the Tugboat site near Caracasbaai. I don't know if it's PADI though - might be CMAS or something as they seemed more Dutch oriented. Sorry I don't know the name of it but here's a reference to it: Curacao diving Paradise The Tugboat at Baya - East - Dive sites

We dove the Tugboat it's in 20' of water so that would be a good dive for a beginner. It's also a really good dive, one of the best on Curacao IMO.

Another option would be Ocean Encounters. Their main location is between Lions Dive and the Seaquarium. They're PADI and one of the largest operators on Curacao. Curacao Padi Scuba Diving - Ocean Encounters Curacao

 

[Seaside Curacao]

Down by Santa Marta is a great area! Have a fun trip and check out a fun local restaraunt called El Lanternu, down by Cas Abou. The other direction by Westpunt has a fun place called Sol Food.

 

[Monkeyinthemiddle]

Does anyone have experience with PADI certification with the dive operation at Cas Abao or the Dive Operation at Playa Lagun? Any name to recommend?

 

[Diver OnLu]

From Santa Marta it is approximately 20 minutes driving to Westpoint. Your daughter could do her referral course with us at Ocean Encounters West, and there is a chance to have a wonderful pizza at Sunshine's afterwards for celebration

Greetings from Curacao

Andreas
..:: All West Apartments & Diving, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles ::..
..:: Ocean Encounters West Curacao ::..

 

[diversteve]

The dive operation at Playa Lagun is Discover Diving. Sort of a small diveshop/cafe sort of place. There was only one person on-site anytime we were there. We rented lots of tanks from them for about 3 days as we stayed nearby but I have no other experience with them.

Lagun is a good dive also - easy beach entry.

I'd go to OEWest instead. Much better facilities - lockers etc. And they're on Playa Kalki, IMO the best dive in that area.

 

[Diver OnLu]

Hey diversteve,

Your avatar looks like the whaleshark that visited Elvin's Plane Wreck and Playa Kalki a bit more than a week ago

Greetings
Andreas

 

[diversteve]

If you see it again, try to get a photograph of the left side behind the gills - straight on is best and submit it to the Ecocean database people. www.whaleshark.org. They use NASA imaging technology - really! - to identify and catalog them.

If they can ID it, you'll get an e-mail response. If it's a new shark to them, you'll get updates about where "your" shark has been spotted. My buddy shot one in Utila in March 2009 and gets updated periodically about it.

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

Now that makes spotting a whale shark even more impressive!

 

[muzicgirl]

I did my certification with Clarck who is at habitat now - he was an awesome instructor.