SteveC
Contributor
Does Aruba and Curacao have the same kind of shore diving as Bonaire, or is it more boat diving at these islands?
Thanks
Thanks
Shore diving
- Thread starter SteveC
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Curacao Sunshine
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Hi Steve,
My husband David and I moved to Curacao last year. We think (as in our own personal opinion before I get slammed) that the shore diving is just as good if not easier in some aspects as Bonaire. In Bonaire you can drive right up to the shore and the next dive site can be mere yards down the road. In Curacao there is a farther drive between sites and often you need to drive out to the road and then back in to the beach. We live in the West and also prefer the dive sites there (again, see above disclaimer). Most of the time the water is very flat and the while the beach sometimes has small coral pieces, there are not those hard plates with pot holes to maneuver around, trip or fall into while exiting in the small surf. The surface swim can be as short as a few yards or up to maybe 50 yards, but we use this time, me to equalize my ears, to discuss our dive plan. We then make our safety stop by swimming into shore by the shallows. We also disagree with some of the dive books that state some of the sites are boat dives; more than 3/4 of the Curacao dives can be done from shore. On the East end the reef is closer to shore and there are a couple of wall dives that you won't find out west. There are dive shops at all the major beaches/dive sites so you can get air without having to lug the tanks around. Playa Kalki/Alice In Wonderland, Lagun, Cas Abou, Porto Marie, Sunset Waters and Habitat on the West End. Caracas Bay, Jan Theil, Sea Aquarium Beach, most of the hotels on the water, Varasenbaai and others on the East end and there is the Dive Bus that can pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the various sites. There is a large wreck, the Superior Producer but quite often there is a cruise ship docked quite nearby and you would not be allow to dive on it when a ship is moored. Many dive the wreck as a shore dive but this exit can be difficult as well as the surface swim if there is a lot of chop at this site. We were certified in and returned a number of times to Bonaire and appreciate how the island and industry respects their reef. We have only been to Aruba to windsurf but prefer an island with less American/Miami Beach feel to it. If you would like more information on diving, Westpunt (where we live) or Curacao, please feel free to email us.
Sunshine
curacaocunshine@gmail.com
Curacao Sunshine - Rental Property on the Island of Curacao
My husband David and I moved to Curacao last year. We think (as in our own personal opinion before I get slammed) that the shore diving is just as good if not easier in some aspects as Bonaire. In Bonaire you can drive right up to the shore and the next dive site can be mere yards down the road. In Curacao there is a farther drive between sites and often you need to drive out to the road and then back in to the beach. We live in the West and also prefer the dive sites there (again, see above disclaimer). Most of the time the water is very flat and the while the beach sometimes has small coral pieces, there are not those hard plates with pot holes to maneuver around, trip or fall into while exiting in the small surf. The surface swim can be as short as a few yards or up to maybe 50 yards, but we use this time, me to equalize my ears, to discuss our dive plan. We then make our safety stop by swimming into shore by the shallows. We also disagree with some of the dive books that state some of the sites are boat dives; more than 3/4 of the Curacao dives can be done from shore. On the East end the reef is closer to shore and there are a couple of wall dives that you won't find out west. There are dive shops at all the major beaches/dive sites so you can get air without having to lug the tanks around. Playa Kalki/Alice In Wonderland, Lagun, Cas Abou, Porto Marie, Sunset Waters and Habitat on the West End. Caracas Bay, Jan Theil, Sea Aquarium Beach, most of the hotels on the water, Varasenbaai and others on the East end and there is the Dive Bus that can pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the various sites. There is a large wreck, the Superior Producer but quite often there is a cruise ship docked quite nearby and you would not be allow to dive on it when a ship is moored. Many dive the wreck as a shore dive but this exit can be difficult as well as the surface swim if there is a lot of chop at this site. We were certified in and returned a number of times to Bonaire and appreciate how the island and industry respects their reef. We have only been to Aruba to windsurf but prefer an island with less American/Miami Beach feel to it. If you would like more information on diving, Westpunt (where we live) or Curacao, please feel free to email us.
Sunshine
curacaocunshine@gmail.com
Curacao Sunshine - Rental Property on the Island of Curacao
Birdy
Guest
Hi Steve, the shore diving is great in Curacao. I just returned from 2 weeks in the west end of Curacao for the first time and had spectacular dives. As Sunshine stated above, many of the dive sites have dive shops. Drive up with your gear, rent a tank or air for $6 and your ready to go. Very easy not having to haul tanks around. If you have never been there, it's well worth the trip.
