Curacao dive sites

[tarheeldiver]

Going to Curacao in 2 weeks does anyone have any favorite dive sites there?
thanks
greg

[diversteve]

We did around 15 dives there last April.

Habitat reef (Nos Kas) is a good site. Saw multiple 6-8' Morays, the resident Octopus - I chased a Barracuda around by their dock. And the reef is really good both directions. Look for the flounder off the "beach" just to the west of the dock. In 6' of water between the moorings and the shore. We liked it so much we went back twice even though we weren't staying there. And Porto Marie, another recommended site, is five mins. up the road from there.

Varsenbaai was also really good, turtles and seahorses on the same dive. As you're getting near the dock, go really shallow - like 6' or so into the sand flats and you'll see the turtles eating grass there. Ask the dive operator on-site how to find the seahorses. There's also a big pontoon boat wreck out to the east. It's perched on the slope starting about 80'.

Playa Kalki/Alice in Wonderland is also really good in both directions. It's the house reef at Kura Hulanda in West Punt. Ocean Encounters West is there, good facilities.

Everybody says do Mushroom Forest but the captain on our boat dive said it's all very similar looking. He recommended Lost Anchor instead.

The best boat dive on is supposed to be Watamula on the west end.

I found Sunset Waters disappointing. The "plane wreck" is the frame of a Cessna with the wings/tail scattered nearby. The diving there is to the east, to the west there's a boat channel and hurricane damage. It's supposed to get better farther west but we didn't look.

I wrote a more detailed report here.

[Damselfish]

Mushroom Forest did used to be really special but it's nothing like it used to be. A storm did a job on it years back and probably wear and tear too. It still gets promoted as a must do dive, I'd say if you get there fine, if you don't don't feel you've missed something major.

I agree Watamula is the best, and sites near the northwestern end in general like Playa Kalki.

[tarheeldiver]

Glad to hear Playa Kalki and Ocean Encounters west are good since I'm staying at Kura Hulanda Lodge
greg