markmud
Self Reliant Diver--On All Dives.
Hello All,
Cathy and I had a great time on Curacao! We met some nice people and thoroughly enjoyed the diving. We experienced exceptional dining at three restaurants. Thank you Cookie and Ken for two lion fish dinners that you hosted at your condo! Lion fish should be on everyone's dinner plate until they are extirpated from the Caribbean.
No photos...unlike my dive buddy @Kimela, I did not lose my camera on a night dive, I left my camera at home (accidentally--it is not an u/w camera--so no topside photos).
C-19 Testing and Documentation:
We followed the Government of Curacao directions for travelling to Curacao. We got the ct PCR test beforehand, we filled out our PLC form, we made appointments for the 3-day antigen tests, and we filled out our Immigration form. The ticket agent read them at the baggage drop area. No problems. We dropped in for the U.S. 3-day antigen test at ADC. We saw a sign and stopped for the test--no appointment. The entire process was a mental hassle, but otherwise painless.
Our Accomadations:
We stayed at All-West Apartments. Roxy met us as the Airport Transfer driver delivered us to All West (the transfer was included in the apartment fee). She showed us our apartment and gave us the keys to our four door Nissan diesel truck (included). She gave us the key to the tank room, where we met Lewis. The tank room had DIN and yoke tanks waiting for us (all included in the apartment rental).
Our apartment was clean and completely functional, which includes a full apartment kitchen. We loved it!!!!! We did have problems with the internet; Lewis was communicating with the service provider to get it fixed. A crew was working on the east end of the facility with buckets of paint and carpentry tools. Our unit had brand new air conditioners. The crew pressure washed and cleaned the outside of the complex while we were there. Obviously, this complex has regular ongoing maintenance being performed. We will go back to All West on our next trip to Curacao without any hesitation. By eating breakfast and lunch in our apartment, I did not gain weight on this trip! We ate healthy and we did not overeat. Woohoo!
We stocked our kitchen from Centrum Supermarket. A beautiful full-service market. I felt like I was in the Netherlands while inside Centrum!
Our balcony overlooked Playa Grande. The shore diving and snorkeling is excellent there. Our tank room has racks and hangers for wetsuits and BCDS. A large rinse tank is inside. The wind blows through the tank room constantly--our gear dried out very quickly. The doors are stainless steal gates with an industrial padlock for each door. Lewis has CCTV cameras inside the tank room. We used the outside shower which is just outside the tank room.
Go West Diving:
We met so many nice people at Playa Kalki. Go West's beachfront has covered picnic tables where divers congregated. We met and enjoyed the companionship from Ken, Cookie, Nicole, and Marit. We socialized off-site with Ken, Cookie, and Marit. We had two lion fish dinners with them. Sue was our resident lion fish hunter and harvest trainer. Ken was actively hunting while I got to "wound" a fish. Sue thinks I did not forcefully set the spear which is why I was not successful. I am now hooked. My filet knife, Japanese fish skinning knife, EMT shears, and diamond steal are already loaded for the next trip.
Tuki and Loyce were the best. All Go West crew members were exceptional. Tuki and Loyce were just more fun!
I love the type of boat diving we do with Go West. All one-way. Even though we dived in completely benign conditions, we did not swim back to a mooring. We popped a sausage and Tuki was waiting for us with dive boat when we finished our SS. My kind of diving--the ultimate in Concierge Diving. Our Go West crews will help you with your gear, or stand aside and let you rig your own "precious" dive gear (I am a little territorial with my kit) .
Dive Sites:
Classified.
All I will say is that one site was the best my wife and I have dived in more than a decade (maybe ever). We dived with a nice couple from the Netherlands one day. He was not conscious of his fin kicks. I protected some of the coral with my body when he got close to the reef. I took a few head shots. I was just amazed with the reef. Awestruck. The other sites were beautiful and fun to dive. There are lots of fishermen on the island; therefore, we did not see large fish.
I can't thank Lewis enough for the use of his apartment, truck, and dive operation. Whether we were boat diving, shore diving, or snorkeling, Playa Grande and Playa Kalki are just beautiful. A truly professional dive operation.
Dining:
Koraal Roof Top Terrace at Oasis Coral Estates, Cactus, and Sol Food gave us the best dining experiences. All on the west end. All of our meals were excellent, the restaurants listed above are definitely on the go-to list for our next trip to Westpunt, Curacao!
Thanks Curacao for a wonderful vacation!
markm
Cathy and I had a great time on Curacao! We met some nice people and thoroughly enjoyed the diving. We experienced exceptional dining at three restaurants. Thank you Cookie and Ken for two lion fish dinners that you hosted at your condo! Lion fish should be on everyone's dinner plate until they are extirpated from the Caribbean.
No photos...unlike my dive buddy @Kimela, I did not lose my camera on a night dive, I left my camera at home (accidentally--it is not an u/w camera--so no topside photos).
C-19 Testing and Documentation:
We followed the Government of Curacao directions for travelling to Curacao. We got the ct PCR test beforehand, we filled out our PLC form, we made appointments for the 3-day antigen tests, and we filled out our Immigration form. The ticket agent read them at the baggage drop area. No problems. We dropped in for the U.S. 3-day antigen test at ADC. We saw a sign and stopped for the test--no appointment. The entire process was a mental hassle, but otherwise painless.
Our Accomadations:
We stayed at All-West Apartments. Roxy met us as the Airport Transfer driver delivered us to All West (the transfer was included in the apartment fee). She showed us our apartment and gave us the keys to our four door Nissan diesel truck (included). She gave us the key to the tank room, where we met Lewis. The tank room had DIN and yoke tanks waiting for us (all included in the apartment rental).
Our apartment was clean and completely functional, which includes a full apartment kitchen. We loved it!!!!! We did have problems with the internet; Lewis was communicating with the service provider to get it fixed. A crew was working on the east end of the facility with buckets of paint and carpentry tools. Our unit had brand new air conditioners. The crew pressure washed and cleaned the outside of the complex while we were there. Obviously, this complex has regular ongoing maintenance being performed. We will go back to All West on our next trip to Curacao without any hesitation. By eating breakfast and lunch in our apartment, I did not gain weight on this trip! We ate healthy and we did not overeat. Woohoo!
We stocked our kitchen from Centrum Supermarket. A beautiful full-service market. I felt like I was in the Netherlands while inside Centrum!
Our balcony overlooked Playa Grande. The shore diving and snorkeling is excellent there. Our tank room has racks and hangers for wetsuits and BCDS. A large rinse tank is inside. The wind blows through the tank room constantly--our gear dried out very quickly. The doors are stainless steal gates with an industrial padlock for each door. Lewis has CCTV cameras inside the tank room. We used the outside shower which is just outside the tank room.
Go West Diving:
We met so many nice people at Playa Kalki. Go West's beachfront has covered picnic tables where divers congregated. We met and enjoyed the companionship from Ken, Cookie, Nicole, and Marit. We socialized off-site with Ken, Cookie, and Marit. We had two lion fish dinners with them. Sue was our resident lion fish hunter and harvest trainer. Ken was actively hunting while I got to "wound" a fish. Sue thinks I did not forcefully set the spear which is why I was not successful. I am now hooked. My filet knife, Japanese fish skinning knife, EMT shears, and diamond steal are already loaded for the next trip.
Tuki and Loyce were the best. All Go West crew members were exceptional. Tuki and Loyce were just more fun!
I love the type of boat diving we do with Go West. All one-way. Even though we dived in completely benign conditions, we did not swim back to a mooring. We popped a sausage and Tuki was waiting for us with dive boat when we finished our SS. My kind of diving--the ultimate in Concierge Diving. Our Go West crews will help you with your gear, or stand aside and let you rig your own "precious" dive gear (I am a little territorial with my kit) .
Dive Sites:
Classified.
All I will say is that one site was the best my wife and I have dived in more than a decade (maybe ever). We dived with a nice couple from the Netherlands one day. He was not conscious of his fin kicks. I protected some of the coral with my body when he got close to the reef. I took a few head shots. I was just amazed with the reef. Awestruck. The other sites were beautiful and fun to dive. There are lots of fishermen on the island; therefore, we did not see large fish.
I can't thank Lewis enough for the use of his apartment, truck, and dive operation. Whether we were boat diving, shore diving, or snorkeling, Playa Grande and Playa Kalki are just beautiful. A truly professional dive operation.
Dining:
Koraal Roof Top Terrace at Oasis Coral Estates, Cactus, and Sol Food gave us the best dining experiences. All on the west end. All of our meals were excellent, the restaurants listed above are definitely on the go-to list for our next trip to Westpunt, Curacao!
Thanks Curacao for a wonderful vacation!
markm
