The top 55 dive and snorkel sites in Curaçao, ranked by diver reviews, with maps and photos. 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
After my husband dived from a boat at this site and really liked it, we rented a car and drove out there so I could snorkel. It was the best snorkeling we did on the island. There are huge columns used for tying off ships that have lots of corals growing on them. The coral was pristine and the fish abundant. Coronets, spotted drums, parrotfish, several kinds of butterfly fish, eels, Spanish hogfish, and a very attractive tugboat below. From Anonymous: Get there early and beat the snorkel boats to this picturesque site! Tugboat is everything you see in the dive Curacao ads. Shallow site, great for photographing the little things! Finish your dive by checking out under the pier. There is a small dive shop there, but the day we went they were out of tanks and have no compressor. The attendant promised to have tanks there in a hour, we waited two hours and still no tanks. Bring your own tanks! From downtown Willemstad go east to Salina and take Nieuwe Caracasbaaiweg all the way out to its end, which is a roundabout, where you take the left turn (east). continue along the road, passing the ruins of Fort Beekenburg and alongside Baya Beach. Follow the unpaved road up the hill and back down to a parking lot below the Quarantaine Building (old, large, yellow building on hill). At the end of the parking lot is a small beach facility. It has a small dive shop, picnic tables, a small cobbled beach, and snack shop, changing rooms, and showers. The shop's name is Tugboat. On the big 'SmartDriving' road map we got from out hotel this divesite is marked as #63, 'Tugboat'.
Playa Shon Moso is just to the South of the previous site, Playa Manzalino. Again, this is a rustic site, where you'll be assured of having your very own diving space! 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.
Vaersen Bay is also associated with the site known as Car Wrecks. The beach here is small and rustic. In the three times we have been here, we've had the beach to ourselves! It is a good dive and worth the trip. Due West of Willemstad, travel 4.9 km West on Weg Naar Bullenbaai. Follow the landmarks below. Vaersen Bay is also known as Vaersenbaai, Kokomo Bech.
Just down the road from Boca Sami is Snake Bay. This dive give you the opportunity to explore the reef further South. Nice dive site to make a long and shallow drift to Boca St.Michiel, or a shorter one in the same dive area. we spotted a small turtle, barracuda's, reef fish. Some times sea horses. The dive site is well pointed out by (brown) roadsigns, starting around the village of Boca Sami. It is located at a public parking next to "waterside apartments". From the parking an old boat ramp leads in to the water. it is protected access in to the water because of a jetty. Due West of Willemstad, travel 2.4 km West on Weg Naar Bullenbaai. Turn left to head to the Village of Boca Sami. When you reach the water, turn left and travel for about 1 km. Snake Bay is also known as Slangen Baai.
Grote Knip is another excellent beach for the whole family. The kick-out for the diver is a little far, but if you take your time, and enjoy the scenery, you'll be at the reef edge before you know it! 4.3 km South of the Northernmost village of Westpunt, turn at the intersection below.
Daaibooibaai is a 4.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao which is accessible from shore based on 1 ratings.
Playa Manzalina is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.
Cas Abou (Lower House) is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.
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 Playa Lagun 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).
