Curacao on cruise ship, have own equipment. Can we wing it?

[ScubaNNP]

Hello all. The husband and I are heading to Curacao on a cruise ship in July. We contacted Bas Harts but he is fully booked that day
We have all of our own equipment, but will require tanks. We are comfortable with shore diving but we may need a guide. I'm not sure if it's practical to dive here unescorted, or if we can even rent tanks somewhere close to the cruise pier. The ship doesn't arrive until 1:00 pm, and we are there until 11:00 pm. Any suggestions?

 

[Nivek Llekots]

Get a taxi to "The Dive Bus", about fifteen minutes away at Marie Pompoen, rent tanks from them, rig up and walk across the road, get in the water from the small beach, swim out to the sea entrance about 30 yards and descend on the reef.

First dive, dive straight out and drop down to about 60 feet, turn left and continue along the reef until about half tank (depending a little on if there is any current), turn around and ascend to about 30 feet, continue until about 800 psi, shallow out to about 15 feet and follow the break-water back to the beach. Second dive do the same but go out at between 40 > 45 feet, and come back at 15 > 20 feet.

They have a map of the reef at the dive shop and I'm sure if you ask they will give you directions and tips on conditions etc., they will probably also be able to provide a guide, but for that you should get in contact with them prior to your arrival.

 

[arubabob1]

I would e-mail Hans with Cureous2dive. He is the BEST!!!! He will take very good care of you. Will your boat then go to Aruba or Bonaire?

 

[diversteve]

What Nivek said...the Dive Bus cruise program is set up for self-diving. The only problem I see with that is your schedule. The Dive Bus closes around 5-ish. So two dives might be difficult. They're such nice people though that they would probably make arrangements for you to drop the tanks in the yard though if necessary. Cruise Ship Passengers

My other suggestion is to check with Caribbean Sea Sports. Because a boat dive with them is a possibility also within your schedule. A couple days a week they offer a 2:30PM boat dive. They also do a Wednesday Sunset trip if there's 6 signed up. Tuesday they do a Night shore dive on their house reef. And guided shore dives on demand on their house reef during the day also. CSS is at the Marriott Emerald Beach - 2? miles north of the cruise port in Piscadera Bay. It can't be a five minute ride from the cruise port. (Note - it's not the Marriott Renaissance adjacent to the cruise port.) Caribbean Sea Sports Curacao - Pricelist & Boat Schedule 2015

Another advantage to CSS is that if you wanted to do some other diving elsewhere - maybe rent a car? - since IMO the best shore dive is not at CSS.

our equipment rental is open 24 hours so you and your buddy can simply gear up and go exploring on your own.

I believe that's for walk-ins as well as resort guests but check to be certain. The people I know that've done that stayed at the Marriott.

Renting a car opens up a lot of good diving options both north and south of the cruise port. Some locations are going to pretty much shut down around 5PM so getting a cab to pick you up would be more iffy than I'd want to try with a cruise departure time looming.

For reference the cruise port is next to Superior Producer on this list - actually so close that your ship being tied up will close it for diving that night. Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: Curacao, ABC Islands Once you get farther south or farther north, there's a decided lack of street signs/places to ask directions - GPS advised.

Realistically with a car just about all the sites are options.. I might steer clear of #'6-7 after dark since they closed/razed the former Sunset Waters dive resort so it's a lot more deserted now. Possibly #4 also as you could wait for a long time for someone to show up if you had car trouble - one of few sites with no facilities immediately nearby. A repair vehicle would probably be from town - that could be the better part of an hour.

Another option is to check with Atlantis Diving and see what they can do. Atlantis Diving Curacao - Cruise ships They'll pick you up. They're a little closer to the cruise pier than the Dive Bus.

 

[irie1029]

As Aruba Bob suggested I would use Hans at CURious 2 DIVE - Diveshop Curacao First off if the weather is rainy the day before or of your dive you do not want to be diving at Dive Bus house reef the VIZ will suck. There are several dive sites right near your ship which we have dove with Hans. Right off desal plant and also behind an apartment in downtown. Also, Hans could hook you up with a great night dive as well seeing you have till 11PM. Curacao is addictive so enjoy!

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

Actually..... I met group from a cruise ship one year. They rented a car, enjoyed one dive at Porto Marie while their non divers relaxed, drove to Westpunt and I joined them for a dive here. They easily made the 2 dives, surface time, and drive time back. They returned the car and still had time to walk around Punda before 4 or 5 when they had to report back on ship.

 

[bertje]

Hi there,

I would highly recommend the Scuba Lodge Dive Center, they are located pretty close to the cruiseship and they have a pick-up service as well. I have dived with them and they are cool guys, give good personal attention and know all the nice spots to go diving. They always dive with small groups (I believe max of 6 persons) because no more people fit in the bus ;-), they drive all over the island to go diving at the best spots. I had a blast with these guys!! I found them via TripAdvisor.
I hope you are able to dive in Curacao! Its awesome.

 

[ScubaNNP]

Thanks for all of your replies! I've gotten some great suggestions here. The only reason Curacao is turning out to be so complicated is that we arrive late (1 pm), and there are so many options for house reefs! I love shore diving in Florida, so I get to see plenty of macro life here. I would like something a little different.

Any thoughts on diving the tugboat in the afternoon, then directors bay the wall and back to tugboat for a twilight dive? Playa Kalki looks great, but it's far from the port and from what I've read on here, transportation could be a problem.

Arubabob. As luck would have it, we leave Curacao and go to Aruba the next day. I've already booked my dives in Aruba; this board was full of good information! We will be diving the Sonesta Airplane and Sponge Reef that morning. What are your thoughts on those sites?

 

[diversteve]

Any thoughts on diving the tugboat in the afternoon, then directors bay the wall and back to tugboat for a twilight dive? Playa Kalki looks great, but it's far from the port and from what I've read on here, transportation could be a problem.

The wall around the point to the south is the place to start that dive. It starts out kind of flat but follow it down - pretty soon it's a pretty steep slope. Covered with eels. Can be a lot of current there also - a guide warned us about it. I cut it off on the image but it's just about double the distance south from the tugboat.

Do your safety stop on the Tugboat itself. There's also a pier dive there but if there's a ship tied up - you can't dive it.I'm pretty sure this is the accurate location of the boat - the dive school is the two buildings near the pier. If you do go back at night there's orange cup corals on the pilings near the boat.



No facilities at Directors Bay unless that's recently changed.

 

[irie1029]

Thanks for all of your replies! I've gotten some great suggestions here. The only reason Curacao is turning out to be so complicated is that we arrive late (1 pm), and there are so many options for house reefs! I love shore diving in Florida, so I get to see plenty of macro life here. I would like something a little different.

Any thoughts on diving the tugboat in the afternoon, then directors bay the wall and back to tugboat for a twilight dive? Playa Kalki looks great, but it's far from the port and from what I've read on here, transportation could be a problem.

Arubabob. As luck would have it, we leave Curacao and go to Aruba the next day. I've already booked my dives in Aruba; this board was full of good information! We will be diving the Sonesta Airplane and Sponge Reef that morning. What are your thoughts on those sites?

ScubaNNP CURious 2 DIVE - Diveshop Curacao is located right near tugboat and directors bay on the Jan Thiel roundabout. Pop's place is a nice place to eat near there. BTW That is my favorite dive site for many reasons including the pier. I could dive those sites every day and sometimes do . The boat has legal problems and has been permanently moored to the pier now for several years and it can be dove any time. We usually end our dive at 200 psi at the pier. If conditions cooperate a leisurely dive from Directors Bay to tugboat ending at pier is possible.