| Welcome
to Curacao, the "C" of the "ABC" islands. Considered the wealthiest of the Caribbean Islands because of its massive oil refinery plant and tourist trade, Curacao offers a wide variety of experiences that the other islands do not. Thus, it is possibly the best destination for a diving/non diving couple. While the diver heads down, the non-diver can head out for shopping, touring, or just plain old sunning. The island is Dutch which means that all sunbathing is done European (topless)!! A very free and uninhibited form of sun worship. Wilemstad, the capital, contains a wide variety of shops from perfume and watches to fine jewelry and of course, the eternal t-shirt shops. It has gambling casinos and a few fine resorts. Wilemstad maybe recognizable as a backdrop for many cruise ship commercials, as it's the town with all the different colored pastel houses along the harbor. Lore has it that the first Governor of Curacao had migraine headaches from the glare of all the white homes and ordered all homes and stores to be painted pastel. (Thanks to author Larry Rietcheck, PADI, DM) |
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Scuba:
There is a great variety of dives in Curacao.
Mushroom Forest on the North Point of the island is a full day trip by boat from resorts near Wilemstad, but it is so worth it. The multi varieties of corals are interwoven in this area and have formed one of the most unique dives in the world. The dive is shallow, no more than 40' is required, so your bottom time can be extended to well over an hour. The return trip includes some shallow cave dives and a lunch stop at one of the hotels on the North End shore. The trip is long, but the Mushroom Forest makes the trip worth while.
The Wreck of the Superior Producer, a freighter which sank in 1977, is probably the most popular wreck dive. It sits just outside the harbor, the top sitting at about 90'. An extremely conservative dive profile allows only about 5 minutes. It is advised that only divers with deep diving experience attempt this wreck. Because of the depth and difficulty, other wrecks might be more enjoyable.
Further down the west side are the majority of dive sites beginning at the Princess beach hotel whose man-made reef is formed from stacks of cars and trucks in which a great variety of flora and corals have found comfortable homes. The dive sites are alive with grunts, trumpetfish, parrotfish, angelfish, small rays, barracuda and jacks. As well as large pillar and star coral, sea fans, huge brain coral, and beautiful stands of elkhorn coral. Visibility is extremely good most of the time with very little chance of having to fight any current. Curacao lies well out of the hurricane zone, so the water doesn't get too churned up and the coral is extremely healthy.
Peter Hughes has an operation at the end of the Princess hotel beach property for divers' convince. Other very fine operations include Curacao Caribbean Resort and Casino whose diving is supplied by Seascape Diving as well as Las Plamas Hotel and Casino, where Dolphin Diving of Curacao is on the premise.
The people of this island are absolutely wonderful. The standard of living is much higher here the most other Caribbean islands so there is very little crime and the island is extremely clean! Curacao is strongly recommended as a destination anytime, especially if you want to do more than just dive.
Rating (3-1/2 Flags)
High Points:
Very Good all-round vacation island
Lots of family activities
Scuba diving is moderate
Lessor Points:
Long flight to island
Expensive
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