Unspoiled beaches abound with locations for every level of diver and snorkeler. The spectacular “Underwater Park” includes miles of aquatic scenery and diverse marine life. Read the Curaçao guide
Oswaldo's Drop-off is found off the dive shop dock of the Princess Beach Resort. The site Car Pile is also found here. This is a fun dive with easy entry and exit. About 3 km South East of Punda, wind your way down the coastal roads of Penstraat to the intersection of Dr. MLKing Blvd and Koraalspechtweg.
Cas Abao is another example of the pristine beaches that can be found on Curacao. This is a good family beach, for spending the morning or afternoon, but is also a premier dive site. Northwest of Willemstad, travel 12.3 km West on Weg Naar Westpunt from the Weg Naar Hato intersection to San Pedro. Turn left to head toward Soto. Travel 3.3 km to reach the intersection shown below.
Playa Kalki, also known as Alice In Wonderland, is a great afternoon dive destination. Perfect for sunning and kids, and the diving is spectacular! You'll find shade trees, a snack bar, and the most -- unique -- restroom you'll ever find. Bring food and water just in case the snack bar is closed. In the Northernmost village of Westpunt, turn left at the intersection below to head North along the coastal road. Playa Kalki is 1.3 km from this intersection.
Saint Marie is located at Captain Don's Habitat. Recreated with the same 'diving freedom' concept of his Bonaire operation, you'll find the reef off his docks are some of the best on the island. Northwest of Willemstad, travel 7.3 km West on Weg Naar Westpunt from the Weg Naar Hato intersection. Turn left to head to St. Willibrordus and St. Marie. Travel 4.7 km to reach the intersection below.
Playa Lagun is at the South end of Lagun. It's more of a family beach, but still with world-class diving only a few minutes out. Snorkelling: nice in the bay, with cliffs and rocks overgrown with coral and sponges. Sometimes there are turtles swimming in the bay. The drop-off start approx. 150-200 m from the beach, at a depth of 10 m. Slope 45 degrees outward, till a depth of 30 m, afterwards steeper. Beautiful coral, growing in mushroom shapes, lots of sea-life. South end of Lagun. Good parking facilities at the beach, from where you can enter the water. Swim out the bay to reach the drop-off (appr. 200 m). Northwest of Willemstad, travel 12.3 km West on Weg Naar Westpunt from the Weg Naar Hato intersection to San Pedro. Turn left to head toward Soto. Travel 15 km to reach the intersection shown below in the village of Lagun.
Porto Marie is another expansive beach perfect for relaxing, swimming, or diving. There is a small entry fee, but the money is well spent, maintaining the beach to five-star standards. Northwest of Willemstad, travel 7.3 km West on Weg Naar Westpunt from the Weg Naar Hato intersection. Turn left to head to St. Willibrordus and St. Marie. Travel 4.7 km to reach the intersection shown on the Saint Marie dive site. Follow the instructions from there.
Santu Pretu is a 5.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao, ABC Islands which is accessible from shore based on 2 ratings.
Caracas Bay Lost Anchor is a 5.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao, ABC Islands which is accessible from shore based on 2 ratings.
This is a more rustic version of the previous site, Grote Knip. See that site for entrance instructions; Kleine Knip is along the way. Follow the directions of the Grote Knip site.
Playa Largu is the third of a series of sites in this area. Check out the previous two sites for entrance instructions. You'll find a rather large expanse of beach here for sunning, diving or whatever! Northwest of Willemstad, travel 12.3 km West on Weg Naar Westpunt from the Weg Naar Hato intersection to San Pedro. Turn left to head toward Soto. Travel 5.3 km to reach the intersection shown on Playa Manzalino site. Follow the directions from there.
The Southernmost, reasonable shore diving spot on Curacao is JanthielBaai. As a full service beach facility for families and divers, you'll find concessions, shade, showers, and even a dive shop on site. This is a great beach to spend the morning or afternoon. This site is 2.1 km Southeast of the Sea Aquarium, but the direct road is no longer open. You'll need to wind your way East of Willemstad to the community of Janthiel, off Caracasbaai. There are no easy instructions for the drive; you must obtain a good road map, and note the distances to each turn since many of the streets have no street signs. Good luck-- It's worth the search!
The Bapor Kibra wreck, almost 100 years old, is off the Curacao Sea Aquarium. Conditions can be a little choppy, so check the weather before you head out. About 4 km Southeast of Punda, wind your way down the coastal roads of Penstraat, Dr. MLKing Blvd, and then on Bapor Kibra.
Steep wall right off the beach. Filefish, Trumpetfish, Juvenile Spotted Drums, Queen Anglefish, Blue Tang, Honeycomb Cowfish and much more. From the beach a very short swim South of Jan Thiel Bay
The wreck of the Superior Producer has been gathering coral since 1977, in about 25-35 meters (80-110 feet) of depth. It's a worthwhile and relatively easy wreck dive, when the conditions are right. Found on the coastal highway of Pater Euwensweg in Otrobanda, just 1.1 km West of the inlet to the harbor area of Willemstad. Parking is at the Holiday Beach Hotel. If it is not too choppy it is easy to enter the water from shore (off the concrete jetty). Boats go there quit often also. If you choose to park abeam the wreck buoy on the Mega Pier, leave someone watching your car. We had our cars broken into twice in a year at this site. Superior Producer is also known as Location Mega Pier.
Wet Suit City is the sister-dive of the previous site, Airplane Wreck. Here you'll find a more pristine drop-off to explore. Follow the instructions from the Airplane Wreck site.
Just North of the small village of Jeremi, you'll find one of our favorite dive sites. Less popular than the larger beaches, you'll enjoy the ambiance! Northwest of Willemstad, travel 12.3 km West on Weg Naar Westpunt from the Weg Naar Hato intersection to San Pedro. Turn left to head toward Soto. Travel 15.6 km to reach the intersection shown below in the village of Jeremi.
Daaibooi is a more rustic beach, with a longer kick-out. It is well worth exploring. Northwest of Willemstad, travel 7.3 km West on Weg Naar Westpunt from the Weg Naar Hato intersection. Turn left to head to St. Willibrordus and St. Marie. Travel 4.7 km to reach the intersection shown on the Saint Marie dive site. Follow the instructions from there.
Boca Grandi is a 5.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao, ABC Islands which is accessible from shore based on 1 ratings.
This is a nice site for a check out dive. Easy entry and exit. The dive staff will help you as much as you would like. The recent storms have moved the beach onto the reef so the visibility and coral were not so good. Located at the Marriott resort. Go to the Marriott, drive through the employee parking lot to get to the dive shop. This is a full service dive shop.
Playa Hulu, also known as Boca Hula, named after the very secluded private beach area. This Curaçao site offers a fairly steep wall encrusted with a large population of healthy mountainous star corals and a variety of colorful sponges. The environment here lends itself to being home an awesome combination of macro life, as well as special stars such as seahorses and frogfish. Playa Hulu, located next to Sponge Forest, is simply just a beautiful boat dive or possibly a shore dive depending on the availability to access this private property.
Based on Zentacle reviews, the top-rated sites in Curaçao are Oswaldo's Drop-off (4.9 from 12 reviews), Cas Abao (4.8 from 28 reviews) and Playa Kalki (Alice in Wonderland) (4.7 from 38 reviews).
The top-rated beginner sites are Oswaldo's Drop-off (4.9 from 12 reviews), Playa Lagun (4.6 from 30 reviews) and Playa Largu (4.6 from 13 reviews).
Oswaldo's Drop-off, Cas Abao, Playa Kalki (Alice in Wonderland) and Saint Marie are the top-rated sites you can enter from shore.
Zentacle lists 16 dive shops in Curaçao. The top-rated are Curacao Divers (5.0 from 153 reviews) and B Diving & Watersports (5.0 from 64 reviews).
