Curacao vs Bonaire

[lsorenson]

Nicely said jd950

 

[Sirto]

jd950, Thanks for the info, it was very helpful.

I have another question that perhaps someone might be able to answer. I am interested in a stay on Curacao of one month and would want to dive perhaps three days out of each week. I wonder if there is a way to get the six day unlimited air but use it over a two week time frame. Just wondering if anyone has done this.

Also, any ideas for car rental for a month that would keep the cost down? I know that some rental agencies offer a discount but was wondering if any locals might have a car for rent at lower prices. Long shot I'm sure.

Any recommendations for long term house rental? Looking for a 2 br condo/house.

---------- Post added January 25th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ----------

As far as I know, Curacao still does not have a chamber in operation while Bonaire does.

From what I've found online, Curacao does have a chamber; opened in July, 2012

 

[jd950]

jd950, Thanks for the info, it was very helpful.

I have another question that perhaps someone might be able to answer. I am interested in a stay on Curacao of one month and would want to dive perhaps three days out of each week. I wonder if there is a way to get the six day unlimited air but use it over a two week time frame. Just wondering if anyone has done this.

Also, any ideas for car rental for a month that would keep the cost down? I know that some rental agencies offer a discount but was wondering if any locals might have a car for rent at lower prices. Long shot I'm sure.

Any recommendations for long term house rental? Looking for a 2 br condo/house.

---------- Post added January 25th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ----------

From what I've found online, Curacao does have a chamber; opened in July, 2012

I don't have any information on long-term lodging or car rentals. I am fairly sure most dive ops can work with you on the issue of dive days, one way or another. The answer will probably depend a lot on where you stay and what dive op is convenient to you.

There has been a chamber on Curacao for some time but they seem to have trouble keeping it operating. This is the last I heard about it form 2013:

Sehos wants to buy pressure tank - Curaçao Chronicle

I would be pleased to hear the chamber is available. Luckily, even if it isn't working there is one on Bonaire and a person in need of treatment can be taken over there fairly quickly.

 

[LindaSSF]

There is a Facebook post showing a new chamber up & running last summer on Curacao.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tjack]

Is the diving really that same same between Curacao and Bonaire??? I find it hard to believe they are so similar underwater. I have not been to Bonaire so I'm curious.

Curacao has vertical walls dropping to over 300' at the east end, Directors Bay and Blue Bay come to mind. Are there vertical walls like that off Bonaire?

The West end of Curacao has curious Christmas tree like formations and other oddly shaped coral heads interspersed with an amazing variety of sponges ie Watamula and Playa Kalki.

As far as fauna there are thick schools of reef fish, brown chromis, creole wrasse and boga. Sharptailed Eels and Lettuce Sea Slugs are superabundant off Curacao. I have not found Nurse Shark, large rays or or other 'big fish' there. Occasional turtles and Barracuda and rare Tarpon encounters keep it interesting. For me the surreal reef structure along Curacao's sloping walls and abundance of otherworldly sponges make Curacao unique .

I hope someone who has done Bonaire can describe the underwater realm there?

 

[lmorin]

Tjack--Some Bonaire dive sites have very steep walls on the outer of a double reef system; others, such as Karpata, drop into the deep blue fairly close to shore. Some sites have mounds of coral similar to Mushroom Forest. Some have lots of soft corals, while some are largely hard corals. The fish, IMHO, are substantially similar. Remember, however, that all dive sites on Curacao are not alike, so global generalizations about Curacao diving are going to be poor, at best. The same is true for Bonaire dive sites. It is likely that the dive site variation, in terms of fish to be seen, is not much greater between the islands than it is within the islands. All the fish you name are common on Bonaire. It is also true that more fish have been identified on several Bonaire reefs than anywhere else in the Caribbean. If you want to see certain species, you have to look in their ecological zone to find them. That may be under sheets of hard coral at 80 ft, among soft corals at 35 ft or on rock right at the surf line.

 

[TheWizard]

Leaving Bonaire today (8th trip) and have done three Curacao dive trips as well.
Yes, many CUR dive sites require more driving from the main road to access, but some out by Westpunt are fairly close to the road.

I disagree on CUR having more non-diving activities to choose from that BON. They are more similar than different, tho CUR does have lots more sandy beaches (many with beach cafe/bars).

BON has really upped the DINING experience over the past few decades. Restaurants and groceries in the Westpunt part of CUR need some planning to make it work. Around Willemstad, not an issue but diving is better out west.

I'll continue diving both islands...

 

[Tjack]

Thanks for comparing the actual diving Imorin, sounds like the reef structure and fauna are quite similar between Curacao and Bonaire. Anyone else care to describe the diving at both places?

The Wiz points out that the West End of Curacao has limited dining and groceries, which is true, but that is part of the charm of Westpunt which has a quiet rural vibe.