Dive Op to use in Curacao

[CWL]

My wife and I are going to be staying at Santa Barbara Resort in Curacao in March. Their onsite Dive Op is Ocean Encounters and has pretty good reviews but sounds like they take out fairly big groups and the term 'cattle carriers' floats around some of the reviews. The plus side is they have an on site office and pick you up at the Santa Barbara pier. Our vacation plan is for definitely a combination of diving and relaxing and we aren't very experienced divers so just looking forward to being in the water.

The question for the collective wisdom of the board:

1. Any experiences with Ocean Encounters to share - good or bad?
2. Is there a smaller dive op that would be reasonably accessible that would potentially provide a more personal / smaller group experience that would be recommended?

Thanks in advance - looking forward to some sunshine, warm water, and sand after the appalling ice, snow, slush, rain, ice, snow of Eastern Canada!

 

[RJP]

Dive Bus is always an option in Curacao. Welcome to the Dive Bus Though I'm sure how often they go that far east.

The downside to the Hyatt location is that's its fairly distant from many of the more popular sites. Centrally located ops can go east or west. Boats leaving Santa Barbara have 60 sites to the west... and 5 to the east. This is probably why their boats are full... as everyone is looking to go "elsewhere" to dive.

 

[diversteve]

The Dive Bus doesn't pick up that far east - only between the Sea Aquarium and Piscadera Bay. If you wanted to drive there - they're across the street from Pierbaai Beach. All they do is escorted shore diving.

I can't think of anyone else near Santa Barbara except Scuba Do at Jan Thiel but afaik they don't have a boat. It's around Caracasbaai from Santa Barbara.

I'm actually struggling to think of another operator with a boat south of Willemstad besides the other two OE locations. Atlantis doesn't IIRC. Probably the next closest is Goby Divers at the Holiday Beach Hotel followed by Caribbean Sea Sports at the Marriott - both in Piscadera Bay - a long drive from Santa Barbara - on the north side of the Willemstad harbor.

Some of the shore dive operators do sell a Klein Bonaire trip but they're all sub-contracting out to the company that runs the big boat out there.

I'd probably go with Ocean Encounters. I thought they kept a boat at Santa Barbara just for their guests use. fwiw:

Due to heavy boat traffic and safety concerns for divers, shore diving is not permitted at our Ocean Encounters Santa Barbara facility.

This looks like it could be a lot of fun also, I don't know where they're based. HOME - Dive Charter Curacao

I did the Dolphin dive with Ocean Encounters at the Sea Aquarium. No real input except they're pretty safety conscious. And don't allow solo diving from their facility.

 

[Nivek Llekots]

If you are a more adventurous type of diver you should try "Dive Charter Curacao" contact Neils at HOME - Dive Charter Curacao, he runs the best trips to East Point, which in my opinion are the best dive sites in Curacao!

He will pick you up at the dock at Santa Barbara Resort and drop you back there after the two dives!

 

[CuracaoJ]

While there are few shore dives east of Santa barbara, if you're operating from boat east of there is basically nothing but dives. Also the east side is one of only three places in the Caribbean where the reef is actually growing!

 

[deep_H2O]

We were there over Christmas and used OE. I highly recommend them. You can take a taxi to their shop on Lions Dr and do a free shore dive. My son and I spent the day her doing shore dives until we were worn out. Be forewarned the taxi ride will cost you $40 each way. Other days they boat will pick you up at the hotel dock. Great reefs and sea life. One of my top spots to dive.

 

[Remy B.]

If you are a more adventurous type of diver you should try "Dive Charter Curacao" contact Neils at HOME - Dive Charter Curacao, he runs the best trips to East Point, which in my opinion are the best dive sites in Curacao!

He will pick you up at the dock at Santa Barbara Resort and drop you back there after the two dives!

I support Nivek comment, Dive Charter Curacao does small groups, there for you will have more attention during the dive, look at thier website, the boat is not as big or nice as the ones from OE, but you are in for the dive not the ride, and if you go east it is a very short trip from Santa Barbara.

 

[bertje]

I can highly recommend Scuba Lodge Dive Center Pietermaai. I always thought I preferred boat diving but these guys changed my mind!
The scuba equipment, organization and supervision were exceptional. The groups are always small (most of the time 2-4 divers, max 7).They choose a divesite depending on needs of the divers, level of divers and circumstances. The drive all around the island to go to the best spots. Pick up is possible on request. I can recommend dives as the Superior Producer, Tugboat and the Westpoint trip. The have a great combination between being serious during diving and easy going around the dives. That’s what makes it special.