My buddy and I will be spending a week shore diving in Curacao this fall. Usually we shore dive independently in Bonaire, but this will be our first dive trip to Curacao.
I've seen some recommendations for the Dive Bus in Curacao, but little information about diving independently. Does the Dive Bus only have guided dives, or do they also rent tanks and provide information for independent divers?
Both -
The Dive Bus - Tips and Info for Independent Shore Divers
Is there another source of information about the shore diving sites in Curacao?
Curaçao Actief
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Curacao diving and snorkeling | Bon Bini Curacao
Would you recommend guided dives with the Dive Bus for newbies to Curacao, instead of independent shore dives?
I personally recommend Suzie at the Dive Bus. If you stop by there she'll provide you with all sorts of info and they have a good dive site map - even if you don't dive with them (we didn't due to time constraints) She's often on SB also.
ScubaBoard - View Profile: thedivebus
Otoh the shorediving is very similar to Bonaire. The same reef parallels the shore just a slightly farther swim out in most places. And unlike Bonaire, most of the really good dives sites have facilities on-site - most rent tanks/weights, have refreshments etc. Most also collect a small usage fee even if you bring all your own gear so you have the option to rent tanks from them also.
Bring tanks to Varsenbaai as they have cleanliness issues. But it's a great dive - worth doing. And bring everything to Playa Jeremi, there's no facilities there. The other must drive out dive is Alice in Wonderland at Playa Kalki. If you can get on a boat from Ocean Encounters West there to Watamula - that's supposed to be the best dive on Curacao. My friends g/f is an instructor there, she recommends Snake Bay also.
The big difference is that nowhere will you find the reef as close to shore as the Bonaire south sites, most West End dive sites require you to drive in anywhere from a couple of blocks to a couple of miles miles on secondary roads off the main road. And back out to the main road and over to the next divesite - there's no road that runs along the waterline like on Bonaire. So that really cuts into your diving time, we planned 4 dives/day but averaged 3.
We always rent a pick-up in Bonaire. So far we haven't found pick-ups for rent in Curacao. Does that mean the roads are better into the dive sites and that an ordinary car with our gear in the trunk would suffice?
We drove all over the West End and to a lot of the public dive sites. Most are accessible via car as they're either just off the paved roads or on improved dirt roads. Personally I'd rent something with a little ground clearance, once out of town even the paved roads are bad in places. And something you can lock, theft is a problem there. More so than on Bonaire.
Budget has 4 door trucks:
Curacao Budget Rent A Car's fleet
We rented a Hyundai Tucson, it worked well for 2 sets of dive gear and had a covered cargo area.
:: Curacao Car Rental :: Cheap car rental in Curacao! Reserve your car online.
Saw these little Suzuki Ignis's everywhere - hope you have short legs...:
Alamo fleet & rates
hth, PM with other questions, we were there last April.
