Diving on Curaçao

Curaçao has been voted 3rd best shore diving location - in the world! The 2nd best shore diving site in the Caribbean! With only a few miles separating the two islands, it's not surprising that Curaçao shares the same wonderful ocean conditions as Bonaire. Tropical water temperature, visibility 30 metres plus, and an enormous diversity of marine life. The west coast, with virtually no currents, and where most diving takes place, is 37 miles of beautiful shoreline, lots of great beaches, bays, and shore diving sites. Each shore diving site is clearly marked, and dive maps are available. On every dive you'll see hard and soft corals, sponges of all shapes, sizes and colours, hundreds of species of colourful
fish, too numerous to mention. The reef runs parallel to the coast, easy to navigate! A shallow shelf, with a sandy bottom around 5 metres, then follow the gradient of the reef to excellent wall dives. Out of 60 official sites, 40 are shore diving sites. A vehicle is very useful if you want to enjoy the shore diving. As with Bonaire, shore diving on Curaçao is easy because the reef is never more than a few minutes swim from shore. Look out for: turtles, barracuda, lobster, manta, sting and spotted eagle rays, octopus and squid and in the shallows, sea horses and nudibranchs. A few dive sites to whet your appetite:

• Tugboat wreck a few yards offshore;
• Superior Producer - the cargo freighter sits upright in 30m;
• Beacon Point - largest pillar coral formation in the Caribbean;
• Porto Marie - perfect for divers and non-divers - double reef is great for snorkeling;
• Mushroom Forest - Star and Boulder coral in mushroom shaped domes – voted one of the best sites in the world;
• Klein Curaçao - small island 20 miles east of Curaçao, known for its turtles;
• Airplane Wreck.

The lack of currents on the west coast, warm water, and excellent visibility make this a perfect spot for all divers, especially learners. Divers of all standards can relax and really enjoy the wonderful marine life. Easy diving conditions, crystal clear water and abundant, protected, marine life also means fantastic snorkeling - it is easy, and very rewarding! Boat dives are usually no more than 15 minutes from shore. The proximity of dives sites, even boat dive sites, means you are not away for long periods, helpful if you are with a non diver. Non-divers have lots to do, the bays and beaches are superb for relaxing, many have bars and restaurants, and with a vehicle there is plenty to explore, worthwhile considerations for non divers. Night, Shore, Wall and Wreck diving plus warm, calm, crystal clear water.
What more can you ask for? Divingon Curaçao is easy and rewarding – great fun for all divers - just as diving should be.

Our diving partners on Curaçao:

• Ocean Encounters;
• Scuba Do;
• Wederfoort;
• Easy Divers;
• Sunset Divers.

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