Divin' Curacao next week!

[LeeParrish]

Originally Posted by mmakay

Cool. When you see Crowley, Mark and Suzi tell 'em Mickey and Karen say "Hi".

If you get to Mushrrom Forest, you'll enjoy it. Lots of cool coral formations. If you don't, you'll still have plenty of great dives. The Bus's house reef at "the hut" (Car Pile and Pierbaai) may be the best diving on the island right now. Vaersenbaai is also really nice right now, so you might ask for that dive.

Great, sounds like I'm set then, I had already set up reservations to do "the hut" 2 tank dive as my first dives when I get there. And Crowley said he's considering Vaersenbaai for the shore dive the next day! It should be great fun.

[LeeParrish]

Mickey, The gang at the Dive Bus said to say "Hi".

It turned out to be a great trip, I got in 9 dives in over 3 days. I dove the Dive Bus house reef for my first two dives, and the Marriott reef that afternoon. The next day Mark took me out to Vaersenbaai and we had another couple great dives. When I got back I jumped on the afternoon boat dive trip with Caribbean Sea Sports at the Marriott out to the reef off of the Aquarium, which is a great reef as well. Then it looked like Mushroom Forest was a go for Thursday morning, but at the last minute the other diver didn't show up, so I ended up doing 3 dives from Cas Abao, which were really great anyway. I didn't feel like I missed anything at all, and I can always do the Mushroom Forest next time. I saw so many very cool things everywhere I went. Mark at the Dive Bus was awesome, it was just me and him both days and he really helped me get my diving skills up to where I could really enjoy the dives. Considering it was my first time in the ocean after certification, it was perfect. I'll start a new thread with a full report later, I've got to go through the dive log and photos to even remember all the very cools things that I ran into while down there.

And thanks for all the tips and guidance, it really made my trip the best possible!

[Cheddarchick]

The Dive Bus Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DiverBob]

Originally Posted by mmakay

Thanks everybody for your comments. I'll keep adding photos until we leave on Wednesday.

Thank you Mickey for the excellent photos!! We are diving with Mark and Suzi in a few weeks. I am taking my UW camera and really look forward to shooting lot's of critter photos.

[Cheddarchick]

Bob you will love Curacao....And give Mark & Suzy a big hug from the Cheddars when you get there

[billsharp]

Curacao

Up front travel tips:

Make reservations before you go. The Marriott folks were touting a buy 3 get one free. We took two of those and discovered the 8 days were just about right to find our way around and get used to the place so by the end, we weren’t using a map and were coming up with short cuts to places.
While on the island, were told it is one of the nicer places, with Hotel Kura Hulanda setting the standard. The beds are great and the middle managers want everything to be OK.

Breakfasts were part of the deal. We booked in March, paid in April and used it in late July. It was a bargain then and it may get better . We ate a breakfast that lasted us all day. So, we had dinner out, early. They had fruit to take with us for snacks during the day.

Get an island map, showing all the dive spots, which is $7 at the Marriott dive shop on the beach or free from the concierge upstairs.

Snorkel the Marriott house reef. Left to right facing the water, both inside and out.

Really, snorkel at the Marriott. No kiddin’. Consider it one of the good dives.

Get a car here in the States, or, where ever you are before you go. Even the Curacao Budget folks were surprised at our $150 for seven days. We were never able to quite figure out the security alarm but we heard so many of them going off at various car parks, we decided we were just part of some sort of tourist rent-a-car sub-culture.

A heads up. The rental car booth is in the other (read: old) building, next to the new one which is where you arrive. Personnel there seem not to know the rental car booths are next door.

Without a car, the cab fare, just to the downtown and resort area ranges from $25 to $45. It’s about 6 miles. Get an agreement on the fare before you get in. Doubling up means nothing. Everyone pays. It seems the whole culture defers to the cabs.

If you don’t get a car, there are lots of 9 passenger “vans” for locals. Just stand at the Bushalt (sp?).

The nicest thing about Curacao is that diving is the 3rd most important income generator, lagging behind both the refinery and the port activity.
As a result, a visitor (70% of whom are from the Netherlands) is not treated unusually or patronized, but rather, just becomes part of the social landscape and therefore almost invisible in the population. But, if you insist on wearing your stingray, skull & crossbones, dive Omaha tee shirt, you’re on your own.

Bring both your camera and binoculars. 50 pounds in the second bag is lots of stuff.

Now, about the diving:

Get in touch with Suzy at the Dive Bus before anything else from here in the US. I cannot overemphasize this. Tell her Vic Lancing sent you. Use that code name.

The Dive Bus - HOME

They may well have the best operation and service of any I’ve seen in either the Caribbean or the FL Keys. They just care about their folks having a totally good visit.

You can comfortably consider them as the web browser for diving and anything else in Curacao.

Ask her about Miramar, the sushi place just up the street. Oh man! Talk with the owner/sushi meister when you go there. Find out where he’s from and what he’s done. Also, see the general rule we follow for what to eat under the “Eat at” section.

Do the Dive Bus house reef dives for your checkout. That’s the Instructor in me talking.

Lose yourself in the school of fish at the wave break.

From there Suzy and Mark are happy to point you to or make accommodations for all your diving.

The Dive Bus - HOME

693-8305 when you get there.

I carry my own weights in addition to my personal gear. Few do, but if you decide to, I suggest you carry the weights onto the plane to avoid the Homeland Security delays. (It’s one of those, “Ask me how I know.”). Just tell the the straight faced badges what they are. Everything else goes in the 3rd bag. I use a $90 Travel Pro bag that has wheels and is large enough for both Ann’s and my gear, including 30 inch fins, and is still under 50 lbs.

91.5 is one radio station.

Schedule at least one boat dive from the rubber boat with Niels and Kevin from Dive-Charter Curacao, (www.divechartercuracao .com) just for the training and experience. (529-3899). They can hook you up for a once in a lifetime helicopter launch.

Dive the unnamed spot, reachable only by boat on the Eastern side at the end of the wind generators.
Dive Watamala because of the coral and the surprise ending.
Dive Playa Kalki/Alice in Wonderland.

Eat at:

Our standard action is, first, ask for the chef. Then, ask what she/he suggests, then order it.

Eat next door to the Dive Bus at the Seaside Terrace, the place beside the Breezes. Did you see me write NEXT DOOR to the Dive Bus location? Sit down. Although it looks like a counter order place or a longish food trailer at a state fair, there’s wait staff. Bring your appetite as well as your taste buds. They may close at 7.

Fishalicious ( 461-8844 ). Actually, go to Intermezzo ( 465-8700 ) and eat there first, right beside the Swiss embassy. Plenty ‘O parking across the street and easy to find. While you’re having wine and tapas (they’ll fill you), ask where Michelle is now (she used to own Intermezzo under another name until 4/09) so you can figure how to get to Fishalicious the next night. It’s tricky and best found by parking in the same spot as last nite and walking. Ask your waitress at Intermezzo where to dive. She’ll tell you site 65 for openers.

Landhuis Daniel ( Landhuis daniel, 528-0008). Save it for the last night. An experience not to be missed. It’s unique. That simple.
The “Supermarket,” left at the second light, going west, has a bunch of great red wines for 10.99 G. Cono Sur, a Pinot Noir with the bicycle on the label is our favorite there. Also, try the various crackers and snacks. They have great, light colored, hard cheeses. Be sure and buy a plastic grocery bag or two, pay the carry out guys and save the bags for shopping back home.

Pop’s Place. Say hello to Shahirea Maktis and ask her what’s best today. Ask after her children and husband. Also, ask her for the home made garlic salad dressing and Tar-tar sauce. They do close at 7. At the other end of the beach, Carcasbaai, walking distance, is the Golden Sea Horse. Owned by the same guy who has and sits at the best table at Pop’s Place and reads the newspaper.

Spend a day driving the West coast beaches and swim, snorkel or dive.
Jump in at Grote Knip with the kids when you tour the NW coast.
Stop by Jaanchie’s when you’re touring the top of the West coast. It’s a landmark. Open air with singing birds thru and all around as well as a noisy rooster out back. But first, check on the timeliness of the service with the pleasant owner who sits down at your table to verbalize the menu and take your order. We waited an hour for the food after we ordered and had a problem getting someone’s attention for a second glass of red during the wait. The stack of Dutch newspapers and magazines help pass the time or you can take a book.

Hook’s Hut, down the road beside The Hilton or just up street from the Marriott (there’s a sign) is one evening’s must, just to get a tee shirt to wear back home. Parking is on the right.

Spend your time in Punda, away from the stores.

Here again, ask Suzy. She can suggest great places to go.
Visit the slave museum (allow 3 hours, really).

Here you’ll see the finest hotel on the island. It’s rated as one of the top 100 small hotels in the world.

See Boka Wandomi, the national park on the NE coast - the rough coastline and the waves.

See the resident pink flamingos, you’ve only ever seen them stuck in U. S. lawns, on the West side of the island and often missed.

Pick up a team jersey from Dasia Wielersport ( www.asiacuracao.com ), the island’s leading cycling club shop.

Hope this all helps the next person/s going to Curacao.

Best,

Ann & Bill,
PADI OWSI 238458

[billsharp]

Up front travel tips:
Make reservations before you go. The Marriott folks were touting a buy 3 get one free. We took two of those and discovered the 8 days were just about right to find our way around and get used to the place so by the end, we weren’t using a map and were coming up with short cuts to places.
While on the island, were told it is one of the nicer places, with Hotel Kura Hulanda setting the standard. The beds are great and the middle managers want everything to be OK.
Breakfasts were part of the deal. We booked in March, paid in April and used it in late July. It was a bargain then and it may get better . We ate a breakfast that lasted us all day. So, we had dinner out, early. They had fruit to take with us for snacks during the day.
Get an island map, showing all the dive spots, which is $7 at the Marriott dive shop on the beach or free from the concierge upstairs.
Snorkel the Marriott house reef. Left to right facing the water, both inside and out.
Really, snorkel at the Marriott. No kiddin’. Consider it one of the good dives.
Get a car here in the States, or, where ever you are before you go. Even the Curacao Budget folks were surprised at our $150 for seven days. We were never able to quite figure out the security alarm but we heard so many of them going off at various car parks, we decided we were just part of some sort of tourist rent-a-car sub-culture.
A heads up. The rental car booth is in the other (read: old) building, next to the new one which is where you arrive. Personnel there seem not to know the rental car booths are next door.
Without a car, the cab fare, just to the downtown and resort area ranges from $25 to $45. It’s about 6 miles. Get an agreement on the fare before you get in. Doubling up means nothing. Everyone pays. It seems the whole culture defers to the cabs.
If you don’t get a car, there are lots of 9 passenger “vans” for locals. Just stand at the Bushalt (sp?).
The nicest thing about Curacao is that diving is the 3rd most important income generator, lagging behind both the refinery and the port activity.
As a result, a visitor (70% of whom are from the Netherlands) is not treated unusually or patronized, but rather, just becomes part of the social landscape and therefore almost invisible in the population. But, if you insist on wearing your stingray, skull & crossbones, dive Omaha tee shirt, you’re on your own.

[billsharp]

Bring both your camera and binoculars. 50 pounds in the second bag is lots of stuff.
Now, about the diving:
Get in touch with Suzy at the Dive Bus before anything else from here in the US. I cannot overemphasize this. Tell her Vic Lancing sent you. Use that code name.
The Dive Bus - HOME
They may well have the best operation and service of any I’ve seen in either the Caribbean or the FL Keys. They just care about their folks having a totally good visit.
You can comfortably consider them as the web browser for diving and anything else in Curacao.
Ask her about Miramar, the sushi place just up the street. Oh man! Talk with the owner/sushi meister when you go there. Find out where he’s from and what he’s done. Also, see the general rule we follow for what to eat under the “Eat at” section.
Do the Dive Bus house reef dives for your checkout. That’s the Instructor in me talking.
Lose yourself in the school of fish at the wave break.
From there Suzy and Mark are happy to point you to or make accommodations for all your diving.

The Dive Bus - HOME

693-8305 when you get there.

I carry my own weights in addition to my personal gear. Few do, but if you decide to, I suggest you carry the weights onto the plane to avoid the Homeland Security delays. (It’s one of those, “Ask me how I know.”). Just tell the the straight faced badges what they are. Everything else goes in the 3rd bag. I use a $90 Travel Pro bag that has wheels and is large enough for both Ann’s and my gear, including 30 inch fins, and is still under 50 lbs.

91.5 is one radio station.

[billsharp]

Schedule at least one boat dive from the rubber boat with Niels and Kevin from Dive-Charter Curacao, (www.divechartercuracao .com) just for the training and experience. (529-3899). They can hook you up for a once in a lifetime helicopter launch.

Dive the unnamed spot, reachable only by boat on the Eastern side at the end of the wind generators.
Dive Watamala because of the coral and the surprise ending.
Dive Playa Kalki/Alice in Wonderland.

Eat at:
Our standard action is, first, ask for the chef. Then, ask what she/he suggests, then order it.
Eat next door to the Dive Bus at the Seaside Terrace, the place beside the Breezes. Did you see me write NEXT DOOR to the Dive Bus location? Sit down. Although it looks like a counter order place or a longish food trailer at a state fair, there’s wait staff. Bring your appetite as well as your taste buds. They may close at 7.

Fishalicious ( 461-8844 ). Actually, go to Intermezzo ( 465-8700 ) and eat there first, right beside the Swiss embassy. Plenty ‘O parking across the street and easy to find. While you’re having wine and tapas (they’ll fill you), ask where Michelle is now (she used to own Intermezzo under another name until 4/09) so you can figure how to get to Fishalicious the next night. It’s tricky and best found by parking in the same spot as last nite and walking. Ask your waitress at Intermezzo where to dive. She’ll tell you site 65 for openers.
Landhuis Daniel ( Landhuis daniel, 528-0008). Save it for the last night. An experience not to be missed. It’s unique. That simple.
The “Supermarket,” left at the second light, going west, has a bunch of great red wines for 10.99 G. Cono Sur, a Pinot Noir with the bicycle on the label is our favorite there. Also, try the various crackers and snacks. They have great, light colored, hard cheeses. Be sure and buy a plastic grocery bag or two, pay the carry out guys and save the bags for shopping back home.
Pop’s Place. Say hello to Shahirea Maktis and ask her what’s best today. Ask after her children and husband. Also, ask her for the home made garlic salad dressing and Tar-tar sauce. They do close at 7. At the other end of the beach, Carcasbaai, walking distance, is the Golden Sea Horse. Owned by the same guy who has and sits at the best table at Pop’s Place and reads the newspaper.

[billsharp]

Spend a day driving the West coast beaches and swim, snorkel or dive.
Jump in at Grote Knip with the kids when you tour the NW coast.
Stop by Jaanchie’s when you’re touring the top of the West coast. It’s a landmark. Open air with singing birds thru and all around as well as a noisy rooster out back. But first, check on the timeliness of the service with the pleasant owner who sits down at your table to verbalize the menu and take your order. We waited an hour for the food after we ordered and had a problem getting someone’s attention for a second glass of red during the wait. The stack of Dutch newspapers and magazines help pass the time or you can take a book.
Hook’s Hut, down the road beside The Hilton or just up street from the Marriott (there’s a sign) is one evening’s must, just to get a tee shirt to wear back home. Parking is on the right.
Spend your time in Punda, away from the stores.
Here again, ask Suzy. She can suggest great places to go.
Visit the slave museum (allow 3 hours, really).
Here you’ll see the finest hotel on the island. It’s rated as one of the top 100 small hotels in the world.
See Boka Wandomi, the national park on the NE coast - the rough coastline and the waves.
See the resident pink flamingos, you’ve only ever seen them stuck in U. S. lawns, on the West side of the island and often missed.

Pick up a team jersey from Dasia Wielersport ( www.asiacuracao.com ), the island’s leading cycling club shop.

Hope this all helps the next person/s going to Curacao.

Best,

Ann & Bill,
PADI OWSI 238458