Captivating
Curaçao!
Photo by: Fred
Altrieth–3/2000
Curaçao is situated about halfway between Aruba and Bonaire and about 35 miles
north of northwestern Venezuela. It is less than a 3–hour jet ride away from Miami.
Curaçao is outside the hurricane belt, but can feel the effects of large hurricanes.
Why is Curaçao a world-class dive destination?
- Over 100 dive sites with wrecks, reefs, walls (some near-vertical), shore dives and a
protected underwater park (since 1983).
- Many of the best dive sites are marked by mooring buoys.
- The visibility often reaches 150 feet and averages 60–100 feet.
- Abundance of sea life of every size and color imaginable!
- Coral Spawning every September and October! This miracle of coral reef reproduction
only happens in September and October, one week after the full moon. Witness several types of coral,
urchins and brittle stars release their eggs to be fertilized in the open waters around the reef.
Photo by: Dennis
DeYoung–2/2001
Clear, warm water, and the abundance of a great variety of sea life surrounding Curaçao, much
of which can be experienced by shore diving, makes for a spectacular, dynamic, marine drama
constantly changing shape, motion, color and texture.
Photo by: David
Playfair–2/2001
Diving!—From the newly-certified to the experienced olde-pro underwater photographers,
Curaçao offers a very safe, pristine underwater environment. There is usually a gentle current
and the easy drift diving makes for very relaxing explorations.
Most dive sites are about a 15– to 20–minute boat ride away, or easily reachable as a shore dive. Most
of the dive operators use the large social boats, making for more comfort all around—shade, drinking
water, room to spread out, relax, play "one-up-man-ship" about the biggest fish you ever saw and other
spectacular dive adventures you ever had, while you assemble your gear.
Weather & Water—Year round air temperature averages—86–93 deg.F. Water temperature
ranges between 75 deg.F. to 85 deg.F. Visibility runs between 60 to 130+ feet, and is usually around
100 feet.
Price Validity—All Package Prices are subject to change without notice, unless
Paid-In-Full. Changes may be required in the event of increases or decreases in the cost of services
imposed by hotels, dive operators, air carriers (if included in package), or other contractors.
Government taxes can change at any time.
Your Dive Sites
NOTE: The following are only a few of the many incredible sites visited on a regular
basis by Curaçao dive operators, varying in depth from 10–15fsw to 130fsw.
Photo by: Dennis
DeYoung–2/2001 
You are going to see a lot! There are over 400 species of fish, crab, anemones, colorful sponges and
coral—Flamingo Tongue Snail, Purple Yellow Royal Gramma, Yellow Black Rock Beauties, Angel Fish,
marlin, sailfish, tuna, dolphin and wahoo.
- Boka di Sorsaka—deeply undercut ledge formed by surf over 5,000 years ago.
- Piedra di Sombre—spectacular steep wall covered with sponges and black coral trees.
- Hell's Corner—steeply shelving reef covered with large gorgon and pillar corals. Seen there
are barracudas, morays and spiny lobsters.
- Wata Mula—for the more experienced diver. Rugged submarine terrain, underwater cave,
huge moray eels.
- Sponge Forest—enormous Breaker Sponges, 4–ft cross-sections and heights
ranging15–16 feet.
- Mushroom Forest—the most beautiful of Banda Abao Underwater Park, this gently sloping
reef is covered with giant mushroom-shaped coral formations.
- Mike's Place—giant sponge in the shape of a double bed.
- Car Pile—artificial reef consisting of, what else?, autos no longer required by land lubbers.
- Klein Curaçao—uninhabited island about a one-hour boat ride away. Large
collection of anemones, shrimp, crab, wall, scorpion fish, red-legged hermit crabs, stingrays, eels,
orange elephant ear sponges, purple tube and rope sponges, huge gorgonias, black coral trees, yellow
frogfish, eagle rays, turtles.....
- The Wrecks—Tow Boat (17fsw), Superior Producer (100fsw), a crashed seaplane, SS
Oranje Nassau (80 years under the water and covered with sea life).
Lion's Dive Curaçao Hotel & Marina
and
Ocean Encounters
High Season and Low
Season—High season generally begins mid-December and ends mid-April. Higher rates are
found during High Season and some holidays.
Lion's Dive Hotel & Marina— (Low season rates around $913 diver, $553
non-diver)—Adventure per person, double occupancy includes: 7 Nights Accommodations - 12 boat
dives with Ocean Encounters - unlimited shore diving - weights/tanks/air/belt - breakfast buffet - dive
locker - free use of fitness center - free use of private beach w/beach chairs - free entrance to Sea
Aquarium - free use of scheduled shuttle bus to Willemstad - all taxes and gratuities - free entrance to
Seaquarium - scheduled shuttle bus to Willemstad - healthclub & fitness center.
Located 5 miles away from Willemstad, next to the Curaçao Seaquarium, Lion's Dive Hotel &
Marina is situated on Curaçao's largest white sand beach, a private beach connected with
Seaquarium beach—palm trees, beach huts, lounge chairs aplenty. Conveniently close to the National
Underwater Park! Fresh water pool.
Ocean Encounters
Ocean Encounters is a family owned and operated business with over 20 years experience.
It's a premiere dive operation and PADI 5 Star Gold Palm IDC and National Geographic Dive Center.
We are also the island's first and only IANTD Technical Training Facility and DSAT TecRec
Facility.
From Klein Curaçao in the East, to the Mushroom Forest in the West; from the Drive and Dive
Safari at Porto Mari to the Coral Spawning Moonlight BBQs, Ocean Encounters will make sure you
get to experience it all.
If Education and Fun is what you are looking for then don't let our team of dedicated instructors get by
you. From Childrens programs to Resort Courses, to Professional level training to Trimix diving and
Expeditions. Let Ocean Encounters take you on the learning experience of your life.
Other Dive Adventure Options
The above standard dive adventures can be custom-tailored re: your length of stay, your number of
dives, your type of room, and divers vs. non-divers in your party. Do you want a Resort Course?
Become certified? Earn advanced certifications and specialties? Use the OW Referral and complete
your basic certification? If you don't see what you are looking for here, contact us and ask. We can
custom-tailor your dive adventure using other accommodations and dive operators.
Yes!...I Must Dive Curaçao Now!
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