Scuba Diving in Curacao

Curacao is an excellent vacation option for divers featuring over 60 dive sites to be explored. This island offers a diversity of marine life that simply cannot be found at the average Caribbean location.

There are many reasons why scuba diving in Curacao can be a unique and exciting experience. It features vast underwater landscapes filled with marine life, and because the reef is so close to the shore everything is much more accessible than in the usual dive spots. Among the many fish and sea mammals that occupy the area, it is possible to see dolphins, turtles, pilot whales, and more among a colorful bed of coral. The following will take a look at a few of the most exciting dive locations in the island territory of Curacao.

One of many shore diving locations in Curacao

Photo by laszlo-photo

One of the most popular sites for scuba diving in Curacao is Playa Kalki. It is named Kalki due to the significant amount of limestone that cover the nearby cliffs in this area. There are few waves here so you can count on a peaceful swimming experience, however the current can be strong and unpredictable so be careful. There is excellent visibility underwater up to 30 meters so it will be easy to spot the moray eels, lobsters, and colorful schools of reef fish that populate the water surrounding the island. Getting to the dive location can be a little tricky though; there are no amenities offered on the beach and you will have to carry all of your gear down a long flight of stairs to get to the dive spot.

Another one of the top locations on Curacao is known as Mushroom Forest which can be found in San Nicholas, a location on the island that offers several excellent dive spots. This can also be difficult to get to however because you have to take a dirt road that can get quite muddy during the rainy season; using a four wheel drive to get there is recommended. This site is given its name because of the numerous star coral that grow in the area. Tiny fish and other sea creatures can often be seen among them because they make great hiding spots.

Marine life in Curacao

Photo by laszlo-photo

If you enjoy wreck diving, the area does not offer as much as other locales, but it does offer the tugboat site which is a popular favorite amongst visiting divers. This is a great spot for some underwater photography and is a lot of fun for beginner to experienced divers. The boat sunk roughly 25 years ago and is now covered in coral that has been preserved well. Marine life that can be found in the area include trumpet fish, morays, angelfish, and tube coral among others. There are typically no currents around the wreck, but a nearby wall roughly a couple minutes away does feature a strong current that is unpredictable.

These are only a few spots where scuba diving in Curacao may be enjoyed. You may also want to visit the Superior Producer, another wreck in the area, and the Porto Marie Valley which features a pair of parallel reefs.