Snorkeling And Diving In Curacao

Author: Justin Burch

Article:

Home to over 80 miles of pristine coral reef, myriad tropical
fish, sponges, sea turtles, seahorses, eels and dolphins, the
waters surrounding Curacao beg to be enjoyed and photographed.
Besides boasting the clearest water in the Caribbean, with
average visibility between 80-140 feet, year-round water
temperatures of 78-83°F allow the ocean to be enjoyed regardless
of season. Whether you want to snorkel or scuba dive, there are
plenty of experienced dive operators providing daily boat trips
and tours to all the best locations. From quiet coves with
shallow reefs perfect for snorkelers and beginning divers, to
coral walls with strong currents for experienced drift divers,
there are sites in Curacao for everyone. In addition to being
recognized as the best snorkeling and scuba diving location in
the Caribbean, Curacao was also named the "3rd Best Destination
in the World" by Scuba Diving Magazine. With over 80 unique dive
and snorkel sites to be explored, this article will merely
scratch the surface of what Curacao has to offer.

Porto Marie is a wonderful site for all levels of divers and
snorkelers with a quiet, scenic beach to relax before and after
your dive. Currents and swells here are light and the visibility
averages 80 feet. Porto Marie offers a unique double reef dive,
with a 100-foot wide, 50-foot deep sandy valley separating the
inner and outer reefs.

Klein Curacao is a tiny, idyllic island southeast of Curacao.
Day trips are available from a number of dive shops and charter
companies. The island offers a serene day away from civilization
with a long stretch of powdery sand, shallow snorkeling areas,
an old scenic lighthouse and the wreck of the Maria Bianca
Guidesman tanker resting against the rocks. Additionally,
visibility is usually over 100 feet, allowing divers the
opportunity to observe sea turtles and dolphins.

The Superior Producer is a fantastic wreck dive located near the
Mega Pier where cruise ship passengers disembark for daytrips
into Willemstad, the island's capital. The currents are strong
here, so the site is limited to experienced divers. Roughly 200
feet long, you'll find this wreck sitting upright on a sand
plateau between two reefs in about 100 feet of water. After 27
years beneath the surface, the ship is completely encrusted with
tube sponges, cup coral and patches of black coral, producing a
colorful garden complete with snails, rays, eels and darting
fish. Also, the bridge has recently been opened up and is safe
to swim through.

The incredibly popular Tugboat is a wreck that can be enjoyed by
snorkelers and divers alike. Sitting upright in just 20 feet of
water, the 30-foot vessel is accessible from shore or by boat.
After three decades beneath the sea, it is fully encrusted with
elaborate formations of brain coral, star coral, sponges and
Christmas tree worms. The area is also teeming with such
photogenic fish as sergeant majors and parrotfish.

Watamula lies off the coast of a national park at the
northwestern corner of the island. The reef starts at 30 feet
and runs down to a sandy shelf at 100 feet. Sea turtles favor
this area, with a huge resident logger head, the
barnacle-encrusted "Crush," regularly spotted resting between 30
and 60 feet.

The Mushroom Forest, regularly cited as one the Caribbean's
premier dives, is also located on the sparsely populated
northwest side of Curacao. The Forest starts close to shoreline
cliffs in 40 feet of water and runs several hundred yards out
into the sea, reaching a depth of 60 feet. The site earns its
name from the giant mushroom-shaped coral formations sprouting
from the seafloor. Formed over many decades as the bottoms of
Great Star and Plate Corals were undermined by fish, sponges and
clams, some have grown to over ten feet in diameter.

Oswaldo's Drop Off, another of Curacao's celebrated sites, is
suitable for all levels of divers with great snorkeling on a
shallow terrace. The drop off is only 100 yards from shore with
the reef wall starting in 30 feet of water, gradually plunging
to a depth of 130 feet. The remains of the Car Pile, an
artificial reef created in the 1960s, also rests in this area.

Playa Kalki, also known as Alice in Wonderland, is a fantastic
site located on the west side of the island. Sheltered from the
wind with minimal surf, this is a great place to rent a diveyak,
an inflatable kayak that can hold all your gear.

Playa Jeremi offers a quiet sandy beach with an easy dive entry.
The sheltered bay is ideal for beginning divers and snorkelers,
with plenty of coral at depths of 3-20 feet. For experienced
divers, the outer reef offers a fantastic variety of unspoiled
corals and abundant fish populations.

About the author:
This article was written by Justin Burch. Justin writes select
pieces about travel in the Caribbean for the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino. - http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/CURMC

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