Dogbowl
Contributor
My husband and I are beginner divers and would like to go to Curacao this August for some diving, sightseeing, etc. We've dived in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Key Largo, and Tobermory, so our expectations of what constitutes good diving is pretty high (unfortunately). I'm torn between staying in Willemstad or Westpunt or several days in both.
On the one hand, I would really like to stay at the Renaissance in town, which is convenient to sightseeing and restaurants. There is no need to rent a car, which we always try to avoid on vacation unless it's absolutely necessary. It's also a much nicer hotel that's at a reasonable price right now. There's also a significantly better rate if we stay the full 7 nights.
On the other hand, my limited research has told me that the "better" diving is at Westpunt, particularly the Mushroom Forest (sometimes disputed) and Watamula. Since we would like to dive these, this would be important to us. However, it appears that there is really only one dive op (Go West Diving, which I'm fine with), several hotels (all of which I'm not too keen on ), and very limited dining options (great, we might starve to death ). Remember, we don't want to rent a car.
So, I guess I was wondering what people's thoughts are, especially those of you who have been there or live there. Should we do 4 nights at Westpunt and 3 nights at the Renaissance, and rent a car for the 4 nights we're in Westpunt? Of course, this would be the more expensive option, with the added costs of the car rental and the inability to get the special discount at the Renaissance.
Or, should we just spend all 7 nights at the Renaissance in Willemstad and go diving with a dive op in town? How's the boat diving that leave from dive ops in town? Is the diving really that much better in Westpunt? Any dive op recommendations? Any dive ops that might pick us up at our hotel in town?
I also see that shore diving is very popular in Curacao. I personally don't think I'd prefer it over boat diving - being a pretty weak and short person, carrying all that gear from the car, over the beach/rocky shore, and into the ocean would surely tire me out before I even got into the water! I'm just not sure if I'm prepared for all that work. But I've also heard that many people, thinking the same thing, have been converted!
Thanks for your help!
On the one hand, I would really like to stay at the Renaissance in town, which is convenient to sightseeing and restaurants. There is no need to rent a car, which we always try to avoid on vacation unless it's absolutely necessary. It's also a much nicer hotel that's at a reasonable price right now. There's also a significantly better rate if we stay the full 7 nights.
On the other hand, my limited research has told me that the "better" diving is at Westpunt, particularly the Mushroom Forest (sometimes disputed) and Watamula. Since we would like to dive these, this would be important to us. However, it appears that there is really only one dive op (Go West Diving, which I'm fine with), several hotels (all of which I'm not too keen on ), and very limited dining options (great, we might starve to death ). Remember, we don't want to rent a car.
So, I guess I was wondering what people's thoughts are, especially those of you who have been there or live there. Should we do 4 nights at Westpunt and 3 nights at the Renaissance, and rent a car for the 4 nights we're in Westpunt? Of course, this would be the more expensive option, with the added costs of the car rental and the inability to get the special discount at the Renaissance.
Or, should we just spend all 7 nights at the Renaissance in Willemstad and go diving with a dive op in town? How's the boat diving that leave from dive ops in town? Is the diving really that much better in Westpunt? Any dive op recommendations? Any dive ops that might pick us up at our hotel in town?
I also see that shore diving is very popular in Curacao. I personally don't think I'd prefer it over boat diving - being a pretty weak and short person, carrying all that gear from the car, over the beach/rocky shore, and into the ocean would surely tire me out before I even got into the water! I'm just not sure if I'm prepared for all that work. But I've also heard that many people, thinking the same thing, have been converted!
Thanks for your help!