cleung
Contributor
Out of the following Dutch islands, which one(s) do you prefer to dive in? What about as overall vacation destination?
Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire or St Maarten
Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire or St Maarten
Which Dutch Island Do You Prefer To Dive In?
- Thread starter cleung
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Aruba Bobs
Registered
I have only dove Aruba, 350 dives, Curacao 120 dives and Bonaire 80 dives. I really like all 3 Islands but the best and easiest is Bonaire. Then Curacao and then Aruba. That is my intake.
Damselfish
Contributor
Curacao first, then Bonaire. I've been to Curacao fairly often and prefer the diving there, as well as the island in general. Haven't been to Bonaire in a long time as it's really not my thing. YMMV.
I only went to Aruba once before I started diving, but from what I know I wouldn't plan a dive specific trip there. (Nor a vacation anymore, once was plenty.)
I've never really heard good things about diving in St Maartin and wouldn't plan a dive trip there either.
For an overall vacation, it really depends what other stuff is important to you.
I only went to Aruba once before I started diving, but from what I know I wouldn't plan a dive specific trip there. (Nor a vacation anymore, once was plenty.)
I've never really heard good things about diving in St Maartin and wouldn't plan a dive trip there either.
For an overall vacation, it really depends what other stuff is important to you.
Bonaire if all you want to do is diving. Curacao if you want to dive and do other things or have family that doesn't dive.
Bonaire and Curacao are very similar underwater.
Forget Aruba as a dive destination.
Don't know much about st Maarten other than a friend of mine went there 2 weeks ago and she didn't like it us much as Curacao
Bonaire and Curacao are very similar underwater.
Forget Aruba as a dive destination.
Don't know much about st Maarten other than a friend of mine went there 2 weeks ago and she didn't like it us much as Curacao
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Curacao over Bonaire for me also. Diving was more diverse - a lot of South Bonaire looks the same after a few days. Diving facilities are superior on Curacao also. Downside is they're more spread out. On Bonaire your resort has a shop and house dive. Some on known dive sites. Once you leave town there are no facilities at any dive site either north or south - none. Most entries are over sharp coral rubble and ironshore at the water line and into the surf line. So they're tricky.
On Curacao the reef starts a short swim out at many of them. So you enter off a sandy beach or the few that have ironshore also have a dive dock. With 3-4 exceptions every dive site on Curacao also has a very nice beach with full facilities - on site dive operator, some sort of restaurant/snack shop on site. And the all important shade. (and bathrooms) All of them are known dive sites also. Many of the hotels also have on-site dive shops and house reefs. I will give the nod to the better house reefs being generally on Bonaire. Except Playa Kalki listed below - the house reef for Lodge Kura Hulanda (and All-West Apts.)
The best dive I did on either island was Playa Kalki in Westpunt Curacao. The 2nd was Vista Blue on Bonaire. Subjectively the next 1/2 dozen were almost all on Curacao. I do like Salt Pier on Bonaire but the Tugboat site on Curacao has both a pier and the Tugboat. I'm not a wreck fan but I understand that Superior Producer (basically in downtown Willemstad) is a better wreck than the Hooker in south Bonaire.
As a overall vacation spot also. Bonaire is diving, a few decent restaurants (a couple excellent), kitesurfing at Lac Bay and the Donkey Farm. Slagbaai Park but bring a spare tire. Nightlife is Karel's Bar, Havana Cafe, the Divi's small casino or the bar at your resort.
Curacao has nightlife, dance clubs, multiple casinos, many more restaurants, (some excellent), the Sea Aquarium, famous shopping downtown, Ostrich Farm, Christoffel Park, Hato Caves, Substation Curacao (deep sub) etc. You can dolphin dive also at Ocean Encounters near the Sea Aquarium.
Curacao for most people is easier to get to also. Unless you can do the direct red-eye to Bonaire from Houston on Friday night. Or Delta from Atlanta. I dive with a group of friends in different locations in the U.S. We were all able to get to Curacao by about 2PM. We couldn't get to Bonaire before dark unless we took the red-eye - starting out early morning. But I live in Phoenix.
Never been to Aruba or St. Maarten.
On Curacao the reef starts a short swim out at many of them. So you enter off a sandy beach or the few that have ironshore also have a dive dock. With 3-4 exceptions every dive site on Curacao also has a very nice beach with full facilities - on site dive operator, some sort of restaurant/snack shop on site. And the all important shade. (and bathrooms) All of them are known dive sites also. Many of the hotels also have on-site dive shops and house reefs. I will give the nod to the better house reefs being generally on Bonaire. Except Playa Kalki listed below - the house reef for Lodge Kura Hulanda (and All-West Apts.)
The best dive I did on either island was Playa Kalki in Westpunt Curacao. The 2nd was Vista Blue on Bonaire. Subjectively the next 1/2 dozen were almost all on Curacao. I do like Salt Pier on Bonaire but the Tugboat site on Curacao has both a pier and the Tugboat. I'm not a wreck fan but I understand that Superior Producer (basically in downtown Willemstad) is a better wreck than the Hooker in south Bonaire.
As a overall vacation spot also. Bonaire is diving, a few decent restaurants (a couple excellent), kitesurfing at Lac Bay and the Donkey Farm. Slagbaai Park but bring a spare tire. Nightlife is Karel's Bar, Havana Cafe, the Divi's small casino or the bar at your resort.
Curacao has nightlife, dance clubs, multiple casinos, many more restaurants, (some excellent), the Sea Aquarium, famous shopping downtown, Ostrich Farm, Christoffel Park, Hato Caves, Substation Curacao (deep sub) etc. You can dolphin dive also at Ocean Encounters near the Sea Aquarium.
Curacao for most people is easier to get to also. Unless you can do the direct red-eye to Bonaire from Houston on Friday night. Or Delta from Atlanta. I dive with a group of friends in different locations in the U.S. We were all able to get to Curacao by about 2PM. We couldn't get to Bonaire before dark unless we took the red-eye - starting out early morning. But I live in Phoenix.
Never been to Aruba or St. Maarten.
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irie1029
Contributor
Aruba is quite diverse as is Curacao but Aruba is way more touristy. I did not like St Martin at all viz and currents were horrible. Have not been to Bonaire as we are more vacationers that dive. Curacao is our favorite in fact heading down this Saturday for our annual pilgrimage.
Aruba Bobs
Registered
irie1029. Have a safe trip and tell Hans a BIG hello from me. Tell the wife Hi!
irie1029
Contributor
I will for sure. Will see Sunshine Sunday as well
3 weeks of bliss and fishes. Stay warm and save me some lobsta for my next visit on Aruba! Enjoy the holiday.
Kharon
Contributor
Hands down - Bonaire.
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