Curacao Dive Operators

[TN Traveler]

We were there last Christmas........

Sunset Waters was great for us and they run a boat to Watamula

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According to the net you can Watamula as a shore dive, we did it as a drift dive......

Watamula shore dive - Curacao Diving Paradise

Hope this helps.......M

Sorry to say the information on shore diving Watamula is incorrect - this is strictly a boat dive unless you want to make a giant stride entry from a 50 foot cliff and then drift all the way to Playa Kaliki to get out of the water. Best done from the boat from Ocean Encounters West.

 

[Jorgy]

Learned from my post.....

First Sunset Waters is closed and.....can't do Watamula from shore......

I can say that I think Watamula is a must dive site if you visit Curacao....

M

 

[gustele]

Sorry to say the information on shore diving Watamula is incorrect - this is strictly a boat dive unless you want to make a giant stride entry from a 50 foot cliff and then drift all the way to Playa Kaliki to get out of the water. Best done from the boat from Ocean Encounters West.

The info on shore diving Watamula is correct! Indeed you do have to do a giant stride although it is not from a 50ft cliff but from a 10ft cliff. And you don't have to drift to Playa Kalki to leave the water; there is an exit at Playa Gepi. And it is certainly another dive than the boat dive. If you like the spectacular coral you better do this dive with Ocean Encounters; if you like some adventure and a different dive, do this dive from shore. Of course you can do both.
I do the shore dive on a quite regular basis. It is a fun dive to do: the jump from the cliff, the entry in the "hole of Watamula", the dive through an underwater garden of soft coral and waving Sea fans and the exit at Playa Gepi. Trunkdivers located at the plantation house Daniel is the (only) dive shop that organizes this dive.
To get an impression of this dive check out the video on Youtube.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

Pretty cool YouTube video Gustele! We'll consider this on our next Curacao trip.

What's the shore dive profile?

What's the distance for the hike back from the exit shown in the video?

 

[cblauner]

Thanks to everyone for the responses...

I am staying at the Marriott, and it sound like my best option is using Ocean Encounters and having a rental car.

 

[gustele]

Pretty cool YouTube video Gustele! We'll consider this on our next Curacao trip.

What's the shore dive profile?

What's the distance for the hike back from the exit shown in the video?

The shore dive profile depends a bit on your own choice for the second part of the dive. The dive always starts shallow (max 6 meters, 20ft) with first a dive into the "hole of Watamula" where you briefly surface to greet the people that stay behind (if any). From there the dive continues parallel to the shore to a tunnel. In the past we were able to swim through that tunnel but during a storm a large rock came down from the ceiling and there is not enough clearance anymore to swim through. So we just enter the tunnel, look around and swim back. From there the dive goes perpendicular to the coast to the drop-off where you can choose to stay just on top of the drop-off (about 20 meters, 60ft) where there is a lot of fish or go deep (30 meters, 100ft, mostly sandy) where sometimes rays can be found resting in the sand. After about 25 minutes the dive continues in the direction of the coast where the dive ends at Playa Gepy. The hike back is about 200 meters/yards) and is quite doable provided you have sturdy boots.

 

[gustele]

Thanks to everyone for the responses...

I am staying at the Marriott, and it sound like my best option is using Ocean Encounters and having a rental car.

Hello cblauner
There are several opportunities for a shore dive close to the Marriott. Immediately to the left of the Marriott there is a public beach; to the left of that beach you can enter the water for a dive at the Crash Site. During WWII a US marine ship was torpedoed at this site and the captain decided to park the damaged ship on the shallow reef to prevent it from sinking. There was a surveyor plane aboard of that ship and that either fell off during the explosions or it was dumped for safety reasons. The remainders of that plane can be found scattered between 15 and 25 meters along the gradual drop-off. And there is a large piece from the hull of the USS Erie laying in shallow water at about 5 meters. For a guided dive (in case you want to find the piece of the hull) check with Trunkdivers.
Further to the East at the back side of the desalination plant is a fishermen's village with a small harbor. There you can enter the water and go for a dive either to the left or to the right. Both sides are very attractive. If you are experienced this is a dive that you can easily do without a guide.
To the West of the Marriott lies Hooks Hut at the entrance of Piscadera Bay. By crossing the entrance of the bay at the surface you can dive along the drop-off to the West. Navigation back is a bit tricky because the visibility under water while crossing the entrance to the bay is only a few meters.
Check the links for more information on my website or buy the Curacao Diving Guide during your vacation (available from several dive shops on the island, unfortunately not from Ocean Encounters. The Dive Bus, Atlantis, Aquarius and Silent Immersion sell the guide in the Eastern part of the island. In the Western part of the island the guide is available from RGD (along the weg to Westpoint), Trunkdivers (plantation house Daniel), Porto Mari Sports at Porto Marie, Bahia diving at Lagun and Sol Food (Sunshine and Dave) near Playa Kalki/Alice in Wonderland.
But first of all: enjoy your stay and relax at our beatiful island.

 

[jlbdiver]

Anybody got an opinion on where to stay if I'm planning on diving with Ocean Encounters West? I'd like to put our group up somewhere that's laid back that is more diver centric.

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

If you are planning on diving with Ocean Encounters West, the most logical place to stay is in Westpunt. All West Dive Apartment are a sister operation and have tanks available 24 hours a day and stairs to the bay. The Lodge Kura Hulanda is very nice and more upscale. Marazul Condos are going through some changes and has a wonderful view but if anyone is walking, over a mile to the dive shop. There are a number of apartments in the town. We, Sunshine Getaway and Sol Food have a 3 bedroom apartment. We've had a number of couples staying with us, a few dive groups and families; most of them divers. There are quite a few studios and one bedroom apartments in town. Besides All West, none of them have dive facilities but are all diver friendly. After a while you'll realize it doesn't matter. The town is so small, you'll get to know everyone. Westpunt is very laid back; people who like nightlife, casinos and fancy restaurants might be happier in town. There are a lot of divers who stay in Lagun who also dive with OEW.
Regardless where you lay your head, it's good diving.

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

Gustele,
I drove past Fatum. With a face and beard like yours, why isn't your picture on the side of the building?