Curaçao - Dive Operator

[scubatexastony]

I understand that the former Holland Hotel and Casino (now a Howard Johnson Inn) which is very close to the airport has some diving opportunities that can be arranged from the managers. Has anybody ever stayed here and if so, would the airport noise be too much?

I go by the place when headed to the airport, it's far enough away from the runway, and the traffic is light at the airport anyways....BUT...
that's the north side of the island and far from the easy shore diving the island has along the south and west shorelines. If you spend the money to get here, do yourself a favor and book a more diver friendly place, and if you want a casino, there's plenty more to choose from too!

tony

 

[nucem]

My wife and i just returned from Curacao on Saturday. We spent 5 days diving with Ocean Encounters. On most days there were 10-20 divers on the boat but there was enough room. We had rented a car ond shore diving was included with our package so after lunch we would grab some tanks and head off. The staff there was very helpfull with sugestions as where to go shore diving. I do not think that you could go wrong diving with Ocean Encounters.

 

[lishen]

You can check out what I and another poster on my website wrote about ocean encounters and dive bus here: http://www.dailydiver.com/index.php?f=18
then click on "Dive operator & hotel reviews"

(Feel free to leave any comments/reviews of your own there too )

 

[caribbean soul]

I also used Ocean Encounters.There was about 20 divers on board but I think they try to have 1 dive master for each 8-10 divers

 

[cleung]

On Dive Bus trips, what do you do about washrooms? What are the approximate hours of a typical day trip?

 

[Butch103]

On Dive Bus trips, what do you do about washrooms? What are the approximate hours of a typical day trip?

Most of the dive sites we went to had washroom facilities. They were very flexible with us regarding times. Can't go wrong with them.

 

[hotshoe]

On Dive Bus trips, what do you do about washrooms? What are the approximate hours of a typical day trip?

My wife and I also used the Dive Bus in Aug. Our first day of diving was on the Hilton's House boat and it was just OK (very smokey engine blowing on the deck all day). I had heard about the Dive Bus on these forums but had kind of an "attitude" about shore diving. Not wanting to sacrafice our vacation by ONLY shore diving...well let me tell you, the diving from the Dive Bus is GREAT for these reasons;
1)many of the boat dive sites are actually right off the shore, the sames ones as the Dive Bus 2)no smelly diesle boats 3)no crowded boats, all the beach you need to gear up 4)very easy entries, we walked 40 feet max geared up, usually 15-20 and no big surf. 5)Surface intervals that consist of hanging out and having a picknick on some of the most beautifull beaches there are. All locations we went to had bathrooms/showers and usually even a grill/snack bar! 6)convenience, they come pick you up at your hotel around 8:00am and get you back by 1:00-2:00. 7)they are extremely friendly and helpful. They act like they truly appreciate your business, as it should be.
In a nut shell, lose your preconcieved notions about shore diving, the Dive Bus is (in my and my wife's opinion) the way to go. <hi Doris, Derek and Lana Aug '06>

 

[gadams]

Returned 3 weeks ago form Curacao. Stayed at LionsDive, dove with Ocean Encounters. Lions Dive has great facilities with somewhat dated but clean and nice rooms, great beach bar/restaurant and nice beach near the aquarium. The house reef is nice and easy to reach. Walked to Breezes, comparing the 2, Breezes is more hotel like, Lions Dive is more dive resort like.

All of our dives would have been easily accessible from shore. Personally, I like boat diving so Ocean Encounters was great for me. The boats were very roomy, clean and well-maintained. The DMs were friendly though hands-down the best DM/instructor we met was Jeremiah, ask for him if possible. I brought all my own equipment but one friend did rent. His stuff was well-maintained.

Hope this helps.

Greg

 

[cleung]

If I decided to go with Dive Bus for an entire stay on Curacao, will they still go to pretty well all the top dive sites of the island? For example, I would not want to miss the Mushroom Forest and other of the more well known sites.

 

[ronbeau]

If I decided to go with Dive Bus for an entire stay on Curacao, will they still go to pretty well all the top dive sites of the island? For example, I would not want to miss the Mushroom Forest and other of the more well known sites.

Click on the following URL. Mark and/or Susie are usually prompt in responding to email inquiries.

I was very happy with their services last summer. I believe they do go to the Mushroom Forest. We did not go there on my trip since my wife was not certified and the snorkeling would not have been very good. I plan to go there this coming year. My wife is taking OW classes in January and will be certified by Memorial Day weekend. My wife daughter and I will be able to enjoy the Mushroom Forest together.


http://www.the-dive-bus.com/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=2