Curaçao dive sites
| Dive site | Watamula Hole |
| region | Westpunt |
| Watamula is located at the westernmost point, Westpunt of the Caribbean island of Curaçao. | |
| Dive site | Playa Gipy |
| region | Westpunt |
| Playa Gipy is located on the northern tip of the island, close to the village of Westpunt. The beach is small and rocky, and the waterfront is difficult to reach. There are no facilities. The beach is visited by loggerhead sea turtles. | |
| Dive site | Watamula Reef | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Watamula Reef, also sometimes known as Watamula South, located between Westpunt and Nordpunt. It’s a boat-accessible site. | ||
| Dive site | Elvin’s Plane Wreck | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Elvins Plane Wreck is a nice dive site on Curaçao with the wreck of an old Fokker Fairchild 27. The plane used to fly regularly for Antillean Airlines as an island hopper between the ABC islands, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao . The plane now lies on a sandy bottom, surrounded by beautiful hard coral formations and large schools of fish. The plane didn't crash at this location but was donated by the Fire Department to Go West Diving Curaçao and All West Apartments in 2006. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Kalki (Alice im Wonderland) | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Playa Kalki is a beach on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, also known as Alice in Wonderland due to mushroom-shaped coral formations. The name Kalki is unrelated to the Avatar Kalki, but comes from the local Papiamentu word for the white coral rock and limestone, which is abundant on the beach and surrounding cliffs. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Kalki (Alice im Wonderland) |
| region | Westpunt |
| Dive site | Playa Kalki (Alice im Wonderland) | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Playa Kalki and its surroundings are known for their good scuba diving conditions. Several reefs on and around Playa Kalki offer good dive sites for beginners and professionals. There is a professional dive center located directly on the beach at Playa Kalki. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Piskado (Playa Grandi) | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Playa Grandi has been home for generations of local fishing families. The sea turtles at Playa Grandi are not shy, so visitors may find themselves being bumped and jostled as the turtles cruise around the shallows, weaving between the swimmers. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Piskado (Playa Grandi) |
| region | Westpunt |
| Dive site | Playa Forti (Sweet Alice) | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Playa Forti, is an easy-to-acess reef with plenty to see. To the south of the beach, lies Restaurant Playa Forti, whose menu also contains a nice mix of seafood and meat dishes, along with local options. Here, you'll have a ringside seat as people launch themselves from the cliff, literally adjacent to the restaurant's terrace, into the ocean 20 feet (9 meters) below. | ||
| Dive site | Korta Pe | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Korta Pe, is a reef located from the Marazu Dive Resort. We parked at the resort and climbed some steep stairs to get into the water. | ||
| Dive site | Grote Knip (Playa Abou) | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Grote Knip (also called Playa Abou, translation: "Beach in a valley") is a beach located at the western side of the island, between the villages of Westpunt and Lagun. The beach gives way to a small lagoon between high rocks. It is freely accessible to the public. | ||
| Dive site | Kleine Knip | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Kleine Knip (Playa Kenepa Chiki) is one of the famous beach on the island. It is located at the western side of the island, between the villages of Westpunt and Lagun, at 50 minutes drive from Willemstad. It is a small beach, located at a bay between rocks. There are only a few facilities. The parking is right next to the beach. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Jeremi | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Playa Jeremi is located close to the village of Lagun in the north-west of the island. The beach is a quieter beach, made up partly of sand, partly of volcanic material. There are no facilities. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Lagun | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Playa Lagun, is located near the village of Lagun. Play Lagun is located in a small bay and an amazing dive place. Surrounding the bay, an apartment complex has been built. The beach is used as a starting point for snorkeling. There is a snack bar and also a restaurant and dive school. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Santa Cruz | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Playa Santa Cruz, also known as Boca Santa Cruz, is a wide, sandy Beach. There are beach cabins and a snack bar. | ||
| Dive site | Boca Santu Pretu (Black Sand Wreck) | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Black Sand Beach, also known as Boca Santu Pretu is unique, because it is secluded and does not have the same white sand as most of the other beaches in Curacao, and thus the name Santu Pretu. Translated means Black Sand. | ||
| Dive site | Sponge Forest | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| Sponge Forest gets his name from the abundance of sponges found there. Among others at Sponge Forest you'll find orange elephant ears sponges, purple stovepipe sponges, giant barrel sponges and many others. | ||
| Dive site | Blue Room | |
| region | Westpunt | |
| At the Blue Room Cave something magical happens between the sun and the water, transforming the underwater cave into a blue room. It is a special natural phenomenon. The Blue Room is a blue-lit cave on Curacao. You can dive or snorkel in the cave in an almost surrealistic blue environment. Actually, it is a cavern, because you can ascend in it. | ||
| Dive site | Santa Martha (Sunset Waters) | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Santa Martha is free to access and there are plenty of parking spaces. A small lagoon is enclosed by a semi-circular beach and breakwater, which makes entering and exiting the water simple. | ||
| Dive site | Santa Martha Plane Wreck |
| region | Bandabou |
| Dive site | Playa Hundu | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Playa Hundu, a mesmerizing shore divng site nestled near the quiant village of Soto, east of the picturesque Santa Martha Bay. The Plateau slopes a little deeper and heatures a wonderful mix of soft and hard corals, with large, Healthy stands of blade fire coral as well as stands of staghorn, elkhorn and pillar corals in some places. | ||
| Dive site | Playa San Juan | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| San Juan, where you are literally in the middle of nature, both above and below water. On the plantation of San Juan there are four beaches: Playa Largu, Playa Shon Mosa, Playa Manzaliña and Playa Hundu (not to be confused with the other Playa Hundu further west). There are no facilities on any of the four beaches, which literally makes you feel far away from civilization. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Chiki | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Playa Chiki is also known as Playa Chiki Hundu, which translates lates into "little beach". This small little beach is only accessible by dirt roads. There is a $6 US dollar fee to access these roads. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Manzalina | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Playa Manzaliña is a remote beach with great snorkeling. It's only accessible by dirt roads. There is a $6 US dollar fee to access these roads. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Shon Mosa | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Playa Shon Mosa is the smallest of the San Juan beaches. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Largu | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Playa Largu, or “Long Beach,” is the southernmost of San Juan’s beaches. | ||
| Dive site | Cas Abao | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Playa Cas Abou (also: Playa Cas Abao or Bon Bini Beach) is a private beach located in the northwest of Curaçao near the village of Pannekoek.Playa Cas Abou has white sand and clear, shallow water. The beach has restaurants, bars, and changing facilities. There are diving schools located on the beach. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Hunku | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Playa Hunku is a private beach with restricted access. You need to make an appointment for this. Then you can reach it by boat or by shore from nearby Playa Proto Mari, which is located to the southeast. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Porto Mari | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Playa Porto Mari, is a popular beach for the entire family, not just for divers and snorkelers. Diving is very nice because it is a unique double reef. The beach offers facilities, including restrooms, showers, changing rooms, and a dive center. The beach bar offers guests a wide selection of tropical drinks and snacks. You can also meet Willy and Woody, the famous pigs. | ||
| Dive site | Playa Porto Mari close-up |
| region | Bandabou |
| Dive site | Willy and Woody |
| region | Bandabou |
| Dive site | Daaibooibaai |
| region | Bandabou |
| The beautiful beach with a small restaurant and loungers invites you to spend the whole day. Facilities on the beach: free entrance 24/7 (public beach), free parking and simple and good restrooms & shower. |
| Dive site | Witches Kitchen | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Witches Kitchen is a dive site only accessible by boat. | ||
| Dive site | Rif Sint Marie & Habitat | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Rif Sint Marie and Habitat are located at Coral Estate, the house reef of Habitat Curacao back in the day. You find Coral Divers dive school and a very nice restaurant at the beach. | ||
| Dive site | Light Tower | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Light Tower, also known as Lighthouse and Kap St. Marie, is only accessible by boat. | ||
| Dive site | Seldom Reef | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Seldom Reef is only accessible by boat. | ||
| Dive site | Spanish Anchor | |
| region | Bandabou | |
| Spanish Anchor is a boat-accessible dive and snorkel site located in Bullenbaai, just west of the oil refinery. | ||
| Dive site | Bullenbaai | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Bullenbaai is a spectacular dive and snorkel site located just south of the oil refinery in Bullenbaai, hence the site`s name. | ||
| Dive site | Pestbaai | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Pestbaii is one of the most challenging dive and snorkel sites to access from shore. The site is open to the sea, so wind, waves, and current will be a consideration. | ||
| Dive site | Kokomo Beach | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Kokomo Beach, also known as Vaersenbaai, is very famous. There is also a spa, a bar and restaurant, and a dive center. | ||
| Dive site | Kokomo Beach close-up |
| region | Willemstad |
| Dive site | Boca Sami | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Boca Sami a unique coastal fishing village, is also known as Sint Michielbaai because it is located adjacent to the town of Sin Michiel in an area known as Boka Sint Michiel. | ||
| Dive site | Snake Bay | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Snake Bay is also known as Slangenbaai and Playa Wachi. The name comes from the many eels that can be found on the reef here. | ||
| Dive site | Hole Number 6 | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Hole Nummer 6 is also sometimes known as Kaap Mal Meeuw. The site is located at the northern end of Blue Bay Wall, which is the farthest from the beach. The only safe way to dive this site is by boat. | ||
| Dive site | Blue Bay Wall | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Blue Bay Wall, sometimes simply referred to as The Wall, is an exceptional dive site that often leaves divers in awe of their experience. | ||
| Dive site | Blue Bay Wall close-up |
| region | Willemstad |
| Dive site | Blue Bay Garden | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Blue Bay Garden is a relaxed dive site, nestled within the pristine Blue Bay Golf and Beach Resort. | ||
| Dive site | Rolling Stones | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Rolling Stones is only accessible by boat. The dive site is located in front of the golf course of the Blue Bay Golf Resort and is therefore also called the Eighteenth Hole. | ||
| Dive site | Long Beach | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Long Beach is a dive site only accessible by boat. | ||
| Dive site | Piscadera | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Piscadera is claimed as the house reef for both resorts and their associated dive shops.Willemstad is a rondabout located 1.9 miles ( 3 km) | ||
| Dive site | Mariott Beach | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| The Marriott Beach dive and snorkel site is sometimes called Parasasa Beach after the public beach that is located adjacent to the beach in front of the Marriott resort. There is also a dive shop. | ||
| Dive site | Fisherman`s Wharf | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Fisherman`s Wharf is also called Fisherman`s Hut, Small Harbor, and Water Factory. The quality of this coral reef is exceptional, which is surprising considering it lies immediately adjacent to a busy fishing harbor. | ||
| Dive site | Double Reef | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Double Reef is located next to the MV Superior Producer with shore access close to the Water Factory dive site in Otrabanda. This shore dive is aptly named Double Reef because of the smaller, shallower reef, followed by a sandy area and a larger reef plateau, but it is the second reef that holds most of the action. | ||
| Dive site | Double Reef close-up |
| region | Willemstad |
| Dive site | Superior Producer port side | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| MV Superior Producer was built in 1957 and was originally called the MV Andromeda. The 400-ton cargo ship was constructed by Handel & Scheepsbouw Maatschappij Kramer & Booy N.V. in Kootstertille, Netherlands. It was 165 feet long with a beam of 25 feet and an 8-foot draft.The cargo-laden ship’s end began as soon as it cast off. The vessel immediately began to list and its cargo started to shift. The captain ordered some of the ship’s improperly stowed cargo be thrown overboard in an attempt to balance the ship. Horne writes that the crew had left the ship’s port holes open, and that water began to enter the ship, further complicating the situation. | ||
| Dive site | Superior Producer starboard side | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Superior Producer entered Curacao’s harbor through St. Anna Bay on the morning of September 30, 1977, to take on cargo bound for Venezuela. It would be underwater by the end of the day. According to the Netherlands Maritime Historical Database, the ship was loaded with the cargo of two local Hindu traders who were hoping to profit off the upcoming holiday season. The ship was stuffed from most accounts, well beyond capacity and Horne lists whiskey, bottles of perfume, clothing, and bags as part of its inventory. The cargo-laden ship’s end began as soon as it cast off. The vessel immediately began to list and its cargo started to shift. The captain ordered some of the ship’s improperly stowed cargo be thrown overboard in an attempt to balance the ship. Horne writes that the crew had left the ship’s port holes open, and that water began to enter the ship, further complicating the situation.After a number of unsuccessful attempts to right the ship, even employing a Curacao Ports Authority tugboat to try and pull it back up, it was clear that Superior Producer was going down. The harbormaster decided to stop rescue operations and instead focus on moving the ship before it sank in the harbor and created a navigational hazard. Horne writes that the cargo ship was towed about 1,650 feet west of the harbor entrance before it finally succumbed to the sea, sinking at 4:30 p.m. The captain and crew suffered no casualties and were picked up by the Harbor Police after abandoning ship | ||
| Dive site | Tarpon City | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Whoever visits Tarpon City comes for the tarpons. There is always a large school in this dive site. The fish feel safe and are not afraid of divers. Tarpon City is located near the historic Waterfort in Willemstad. It was built in 1634 as one of the forts to protect the Annabaai. Now it houses, besides a diving school, a number of restaurants and terraces overlooking the sea. | ||
| Dive site | Dive City | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Dive City is a shore-accessible dive site located adjacent to the dive center. | ||
| Dive site | Boca Simon / Atlantis | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Boca Simon is a small beach located close to the main road. It`s not an official Curacao dive site. Atlantis is not an official Curacao dive site, but like its neighbor to the northwest, it is considered a real hidden gem in Curacao`s busy southern Willemstad area. | ||
| Dive site | Pierbaai & Car Pile, (Playa Marie Pampoen) | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Pierbaai & Car Pile is also known as Playa Marie Pampoen because of the beach where the site is located. This is an incredibly popular spot, located just south of Willemstad and surrounded by numerous dive operators. Part of this site is known as Car Pile because of the presence of a barge and numerous car wrecks scattered along the reef. The barge, which has a collapsed crane on top and other assorted beams, is located a depth of just over 100 feet, 30 meters. | ||
| Dive site | Pierbaai & Car Pile wrecks (Playa Marie Pampoen) |
| region | Willemstad |
| Dive site | Oswaldo’s Drop off | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Oswaldo`s Drop Off was named after a local diver who popularized diving and snorkeling at this site. An easy and pretty site, this is the house reef of the Sunscape Curacao Resort & Ocean Encounters Diving Curacao. | ||
| Dive site | Stella Maris Reef | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Stella Maris Reef is named after the wreck located in extremely deep water off the seaward edge of the reef. | ||
| Dive site | Shipwreck Point | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Shipwreck Point is a deep dive site with the wrecks of two tugs at a depth of 50 meters. In 1884 the SS Oranje Nassau, a trading ship of the West India Company, also perished at this location. Only the kettle of the wreck is left, it lies between the Lions Dive Resort and the Curaçao Sea Aquarium. Paid diving, the use of the Ocean Encounters facilities. | ||
| Dive site | Tugboat Saba | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| The Saba Tugboat Wreck dive site is only accessible by boat. The Saba Tugboat Wreck rests at a modest depth of 12 meters. | ||
| Dive site | Sandy’s Plateau | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Sandy`s Plateau is a dive and snorkel dive located just seaward of the Jan Thiel salt flats and slightly closer to Jan Thiel Beach than to Tugboat Saba. This site is also sometimes known as Boka Di Sorsaka. | ||
| Dive site | Jan Thiel / Sweet Bottom | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Jan Thiel, or Jan Thiel Bay, or Zansibar, is a well known and beautiful beach and dive site. Which makes access simple. Visit the bay, the wreck of the sailboat, the deep well, and the coral reef. | ||
| Dive site | Diver’s Leap | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Diver`s Leap is a step wall dive, located in front of Pagagayo Beach Resort between Jan Thiel Bay and Beacon Point. | ||
| Dive site | Lost Anchor | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Lost Anchor is a boat-accessible dive site located just inside Caracasbaai. The site is named after a long anchor chain that runs up to 90 meters into the depths. | ||
| Dive site | La Palapa | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| La Palapa is believed to be named after the Palapa Beach Resort & Marina located along the shore adjacent to this site. Palapa Beach Resort is the only complex of its kind that offers direct access to the beach and to a private marina as well as amenities like a marina plaza, restaurants, a beach club, a pool and the future oceanfront hotel and casino. | ||
| Dive site | La Palapa |
| region | Willemstad |
| Dive site | Caracasbaai | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| The beach is made of coarse sand and pebbles and is popular for snorkeling and diving because it`s part of the underwater park. Also popular with the island residents. There are several small restaurants, their water is usually calm, and the admission is free. | ||
| Dive site | Tugboat Curacao site | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Discover the mesmerizing underwater world of Saba Tugboat dive site. It is located at the entrance of the Jan Thiel Salt Pans, just a sones`s throw away from the renowned Jan Thiel Beach. At the beach is a wonderful beach bar. Tugboat Curaçao is among the most famous dive sites on the island. The small tugboat lies at a depth of just 5 meters; the length is 30 feet (9 meters). It, was sunk by accident in the 1990s when a large ship anchor crashed onto its deck. The wreck, which sank here many years ago, is covered with beautiful coral. | ||
| Dive site | Director’s Bay | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Director’s Bay used to be the private beach of the directors of Shell; the Dutch royal family used this beach at the same time. After the departure of Shell in 1985, the beach became public. | ||
| Dive site | Small Wall | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Small Wall is located within Curacao`s National Marine Park and is a boat diving site. | ||
| Dive site | Barracuda Point | |
| region | Willemstad | |
| Barracuda Point is positioned across the channel from Sandals Royal Curacao. Barracuda Point gets its name from the many barracuda that can be found along this healthy stretch of coral reef. | ||
| Dive site | Eel Valley | |
| region | Oostpunt | |
| Eel Valley is located just seaward of the 3rd hole of the famous Old Quarry Golf Course, and it extends along the breakwater that marks the edge of nearby Fuikbaai. The name is from the brown garden eels that are found in large populations along the shallow sandy plateau toward the eastern end of the site. | ||
| Dive site | Newport /Bobby Trap | |
| region | Oostpunt | |
| Booby Trap by Fuikbaai at the Curacao Marine Park is only accessible by boat. | ||
| Dive site | Kathy`s Paradise | |
| region | Oostpunt | |
| Kathy`s Paradise by Fuikbaai at the Curacao Marine Park is only accessible by boat. Kathy`s Paradise is often enjoyed as a drift dive. | ||
| Dive site | Smokey`s | |
| region | Oostpunt | |
| Smokey`s by Fuikbaai at the Curacao Marine Park. Smokey`s, affectionately known as Puntì Sanchi by the locals; it is a hidden gem. | ||
| Dive site | Guliaw | |
| region | Oostpunt | |
| Guliaw is a dive site located near Oostpung that is only accessible by boat. Guliaw has a shallow plateau that slopes down to the drop-off at 12 meters. The reef descends to a depth of 40 meters. | ||
| Dive site | Best Reef | |
| region | Oostpunt | |
| Best Reef is a dive site only accessible by boat. The strong current here often makes drift diving. | ||
| Dive site | Piedra Pretu (Black Rock) | |
| region | Oostpunt | |
| Piedra Tretu, also called Black Rock, is a dive site only accessible by boat. The site has a lush, shallow terrace and a steep, deep wall, which drops to about 120 ft (37 meter) and then slopes off further to depths well beyond safe recreational dive standards. | ||
| Dive site | Punt Kanon | |
| region | Oostpunt | |
| Punt Kanon is a dive site located close to Curacao`s East Point. It is only accessible by boat. | ||
| Dive site | Tarpon Bridge | |
| region | Oostpunt | |
| Tarpon Bridge is a dive site located close to Curacao`s East Point. The central feature of Tarpon Bridge is a large underwater archway where tarpon often congregate. It is only accessible by boat. | ||
| Dive site | The Cave (North Point) | |
| region | Oostpunt | |
| Klein Curacao`s North Point dive site, or The Cave as it is often called, is located at the northern end of the island where strong currents, predominantly from the east, curl around the point and slide down the west coast. | ||