With its beautiful blue water and clean, sandy beaches, Curacao is indeed a paradise for all to enjoy. As divers, we get a little something extra when we visit this island nation - an abundance of dive sites! From wrecks to caves, and from artificial reefs to sunken airplanes, there is no shortage of excitement to be had here. You'll be thrilled to discover that many of these sites can be easily accessed from shore, and that local dive operators are well-equipped and friendly. Let's take a look at just five of the many reef dives available at Curacao.
Valley / Port Marie
One of the most popular dive sites Curacao has to offer, Valley features a pair of parallel reefs, between which, you'll find everything from nurse sharks to mating pairs of cornetfish, angelfish, groupers, parrot fish, lots of yellowtail snappers, and plenty of other tropical species. This is also a very good site for viewing sting rays and sea turtles. Located at Porto Marie Beach, the site is easily accessed from the beach and is normally quite calm, with visibility often exceeding 30 meters. At the buoy, depth is 9 meters, and maximum depth along the reefs is 18 meters.
Smokey / Punti Sanchi
Smokey is one of the most beautiful reefs anywhere, as it is in pristine condition. Often compared with the reefs of Belize, this reef is remotely located, and cannot be accessed from shore, which is possibly one reason it remains in a near virginal state. Located to the southeast of Newport, this site features a wide, shallow terrace covered with splendid coral; diving is dependent on the weather and sea conditions.
Santu Pretu / Mushroom Forest and the Cave
Located in the San Nicholas area, which features enough dive sites to keep you busy for days, this site is named for the many star coral colonies that grow vertically in a way that makes them resemble mushrooms sprouting up off the sandy seabed. Though this area can be accessed from shore, entry is difficult due to nearby rocks and cliffs, and there is no onshore infrastructure. The best way to enjoy a relaxing dive at this beautiful site is to take advantage of one of Curacao's well-equipped dive operators. Doing this will allow you to save your energy for encounters with such creatures as nurse sharks and massive lobsters, schooling fingerlings, spotted drum, green and spotted moray eels, giant groupers, parrotfish, snappers, and others.
Playa Kalki / Alice in Wonderland
A small cove located in Westpunt, just below the Kadushi Cliffs Resort, Alice in Wonderland features more mushroom-shaped star coral colonies and is home to a fantastic array of marine life. Easy to access from the parking lot, thanks to a steep flight of stairs leading down to the beach, this is one of the most popular dive sites on Curacao. Watch for moray eels, lobsters, and all kinds of fish as you enjoy the site, which offers shallow areas for less experienced divers, and deeper reef sections as well, where plate coral and bigger fish can be found at depths beyond 30 meters.
Kabes di Baranka / Beacon Point / Lost Anchor
Here, you'll find the lost anchor to the left wall of the bay, directly ahead of the cliff. From this anchor descends a chain that drops away into depths well beyond recreational limits - following it is a recipe for certain disaster, so stay within the limits of your personal experience and training, where you'll find not only magnificent corals and lush gorgonians, you will find a kaleidoscope of marine life in every shape and size both around the anchor and around Beacon Point itself.
Curacao's volcanic beginnings are evident both topside and along its reefs, and as offshore waters are very deep, it is not unusual to encounter pelagics with stunning regularity here. In addition, watch for turtles and dolphins, and listen for the sounds of Pilot Whales passing in the distance. If you are lucky, you might even see a whale as you look out to sea. No matter what, you are certain to enjoy diving Curacao - and with plenty to see and do topside as well, your entire holiday is sure to be a fantastic one.