Welcome to ScubaBoard, an online scuba diving forum community where you can join over 205,000 divers from around the world discussing all things related to Scuba Diving. To gain full access to ScubaBoard (and make this large box go away) you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:
Participate in over 500 dive topic forums and browse from over 5,500,000 posts.
Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
Post your own photos or view from well over 100,000 user submitted images.
Gain access to our free classifieds marketplace to buy, sell and trade gear, travel and services.
Use the calendar to organize your events and enroll in other members' events.
All this and much more is available to you absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact the ScubaBoard Support Team.
The Marriott on Curacao would be a good choice for what you are looking for. The Hilton located beside it is not up to standard for a Hilton - as a HiltonHonors member I know!
Bonaire has excellent wind surfing and kiteboarding.
Nice sandy beaches don't really attract good diving.
If you want to lay on a beach too, then hit Curacao. Same diving, better beaches.
Agreed, we are usually nomad when travelling so even if the nice sandy beach and the diving spots are not at the exact same location but less than an hour drive, that's acceptable.
Agreed, we are usually nomad when travelling so even if the nice sandy beach and the diving spots are not at the exact same location but less than an hour drive, that's acceptable.
Like in Costa Rica:
Many of the nicest beaches in Curacao are also great dive sites...
Kitesurfing at Lac Bay (world-class), a little shopping, the Donkey farm? Some good dining. If you really like to "lay out" Sorobon is a nudist colony.
If it's rainy season on Curacao, it is on Bonaire also most likely, they're 50 miles apart.
You might consider Aruba. There's about a dozen shore dives and they advertise excellent beaches. Also nightlife, casinos, nice resorts. I've never been there but a dive buddy has. He described it as a good mix of both.
Curacao could work also, there's some nice beaches both in town and to the west, most have facilities. Also good restaurants, nightlife, about a dozen casinos, the Seaquarium etc. It's the deepwater port for the area and there's also a refinery just north of town so there's more people. Look at Porto Mari, Playa Lagun, Jan Thiel in the linked site below and see if that's what you want. All are good shore dives also.
The Marriott in Piscadera Bay has one of the better beaches I've seen there - and their restaurant is adjacent. One night we had dinner in the sand. Nice pool also. The Hilton next door is supposed to be similar but it's a 70's looking hotel building - I've never seen their beach.
A further difference between Bonaire and Curacao is that the entries are much easier on Curacao - many are a walk in off the sand. Most Bonaire entries are over ironshore/coral rubble at the waterline. The actual reef in some areas on either island is virtually the same. Except for named sites off the dive resorts (most have one) there are no facilities at any of the shore dive sites eithre north or south of town on Bonaire. Many sites on Curacao have some sort of combo snack shop/dive rental place. You also pay a small fee in guilders to use the site - often there's showers, a dive dock etc.
The best shoredive on either island I've done is Playa Kalki at the western end of Curacao but it's pretty remote - except for Lodge Kura Hulanda - nice resort but a 45min. drive to civilization.
If there's any shorediving in the Bahamas, I've yet to find it. Maybe the out islands? I'm pretty sure it's non-existent on Nassau or Grand Bahama. Lack of tank rentals also seems to be an issue.
Then that rental tanks issue and shore diving thing definitely cross out Bahamas from the list.
Curacao is not that rainy in November. It is partly sunny and mid-80's when we have been there twice in December. Shore diving is great from nice, sandy beaches.
About that rainy stuff, what should we expect in a week in Curacao? Seven days of full sunshine morning and afternoon then rain during evening and night? Grey skies 24/7 and occasionnal showers? or 3 days full sunshine and 4 days of severe rain fall or lightning storms?
About that rainy stuff, what should we expect in a week in Curacao? Seven days of full sunshine morning and afternoon then rain during evening and night? Grey skies 24/7 and occasionnal showers? or 3 days full sunshine and 4 days of severe rain fall or lightning storms?
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Originally Posted by Gnashrak
Reply With Quote
