Curacao

[billsharp]

We're headed there in a couple of weeks.

Staying at the Marriott.

We want to dive at locations in the North and NW.

Playa Kalki/Alice in Wonderland, Watamula, Vaersenbaai.

Do we need a car ?

If not, how do we get there?

Thanks for this help.

Bill

[diversteve]

Most likely - it's a good 45min. drive from the Marriott to Playa Kalki. We stayed in some condos across the street from the Marriott and drove out west repeatedly as we felt the diving was better. So I'm pretty familiar with the area.

The onsite diveop at Playa Kalki is Ocean Encounters West. They rent tanks/weights and have a locker room. You may as well rent from them as they probably charge a usage fee to dive there and use their pier. That's pretty typical in Curacao. The only shoredive where we didn't pay was Playa Jeremi because there's no facilities there. Everywhere else you pay a few guilders usage fee - like $5 or less.

West Punt and Playa Kalki are on the far west end of Curacao but on the south side. So more sheltered. I's a great dive both ways, more vertical to the right. We found one vertical wall/pinnacle that just was covered with stuff about 5mins. west. Nothing but blue water to way past rec depth.

Varsenbaii is similar though not as nice. The reef was a little more sparse in some areas. There's an onsite snackshop & diveop there. He definitely charged a usage fee but it included weights. I'd bring my own air also, cleanliness was not one of their strong points when we were there.

It's a good dive, two years ago there were seahorses just off the mooring ball - ask the owner for directions - and a big flat pontoon boat at about 80' to the east - coming back in as you get near the east end of the beach swim right along shore - in about 6' of water, you may see small turtles feeding - we did. We were told they're almost always there. They pop up for air around you so are easy to spot.

The DiveBus also goes to Varsenbaai. They'll go all the way out to Playa Kalki if there's 6 or more according to their website. I think they pick up at the Marriott. Good people, they helped us plan dives even after we couldn't dive with them due to schedule conflicts. Suzy the GM is one of the most friendly, helpful people I met there.

For Watamula you also need a boat...OEW goes there a couple times a week. ..:: Ocean Encounters West ::.. Their two morning trips leave at 8:30 if you plan to drive out.

On the North road, it's probably a 45min. or longer drive - the roads aren't in great shape. We had a little trouble finding OEW once in West Punt, if you follow the main road look for the Lodge Kura Hulanda sign, it'll be on your right. If you pass Rancho El Sobrino or All West Apts. you went too far as I recall. OEW is just past the resort entrance on the right - there's a parking lot and OEW is down the stone stairs to the left. You don't see anything but the roof from street level.

If you plan on doing any other shore dives, it's most likely over dirt roads as you get near the water so you might want to rent an SUV. We were told to lock everything and cover anything we left in the truck by the owner of the place we rented from.

Shorediiving on the North side of the island is almost impossible due to the pounding surf often experienced there.

In case you hadn't heard, Sunset Waters just closed down permanently. It wasn't that great a dive but shame about Sunset Divers, they were good people to dive with also.

[Curacao Sunshine]

Hi Bill,
I'm not sure what your dates are in August. There is a group with a few divers staying at the Marriott going on a one tank afternoon boat to Watamula on Tuesday the 18th. Some are going to shore dive OEW house reef, Alice In Wonderland before hand and we are serving pizzas and beer for dinner (Sol Food). You are welcome to join us. Feel free to email me with any questions you have on the island. Yes, I strongly recommend you rent a car.
Sunshine
curacaosunshine@gmail.com