atagirl
Registered
I decided to stop in Curacao to dive for a few days on my way to Bonaire this year. It will be my first time in Curacao after many trips to Bonaire. I had some questions about shore diving in Curacao.
1.I have been using Dive Curacao as one reference. Every shore site says: Special notes: Due to recreational and commercial boat traffic an inflated surface marker buoy is mandatory when shore diving. Do they mean you just have to have one in case you need to inflate on surfacing or do you have to use it with line and reel etc when coming up, swimming out, the whole time? I was just planning on a few days of unlimited tanks and weights. I never surface swim to sites in Bonaire, I realize it is further in Curacao but still would prefer not to surface swim. Would I have to use a marker if swimming out submerged? Not sure of depths and traffic.
2. I dive from tiny cars, both my own and rentals often and am not worried about the size and know how to keep it tidy. Will the car rental company care if they found out that I am diving in their sedan like they would on Bonaire?
3. How do you find the dive sites? As in literally find them? What is the best practice here do you print out directions ahead of time? Is there a solid paper map option when there? I will not be bringing a phone with me to a dive site. Basic shore dive map is sufficient in Bonaire but seems trickier to get to sites in Curacao. Are they signed and marked when you arrive?
4. Finally: favorite or must do shore dives? I will only be shore diving. We will be staying by Alice in Wonderland. I have the lists from the internet via various dive shops but would enjoy hearing personal opinions.
1.I have been using Dive Curacao as one reference. Every shore site says: Special notes: Due to recreational and commercial boat traffic an inflated surface marker buoy is mandatory when shore diving. Do they mean you just have to have one in case you need to inflate on surfacing or do you have to use it with line and reel etc when coming up, swimming out, the whole time? I was just planning on a few days of unlimited tanks and weights. I never surface swim to sites in Bonaire, I realize it is further in Curacao but still would prefer not to surface swim. Would I have to use a marker if swimming out submerged? Not sure of depths and traffic.
2. I dive from tiny cars, both my own and rentals often and am not worried about the size and know how to keep it tidy. Will the car rental company care if they found out that I am diving in their sedan like they would on Bonaire?
3. How do you find the dive sites? As in literally find them? What is the best practice here do you print out directions ahead of time? Is there a solid paper map option when there? I will not be bringing a phone with me to a dive site. Basic shore dive map is sufficient in Bonaire but seems trickier to get to sites in Curacao. Are they signed and marked when you arrive?
4. Finally: favorite or must do shore dives? I will only be shore diving. We will be staying by Alice in Wonderland. I have the lists from the internet via various dive shops but would enjoy hearing personal opinions.