Dive Center in Curacao

[sytech]

i am staying at the Renaissance Hotel within walking distance of downtown Willemstad.

I need a local dive shop that will pick me up at the Hotel and that has dive lockers for my gear. I've been given the names of "Ocean Encounters" and "Caribbean Sea Sports.

Any recommendations will be appreciated. Thanks, Sy

 

[joyceschur]

THE DIVE BUS!!!

Especially if you're looking for a more intimate operator with a really great reputation. I just got back from 2 weeks of hard-core diving, my first time in Curacao. I stayed in Willemstad first part of the trip (right next to the Ocean Encounters shop). I chose NOT to use them. They have a good reputation, but they're quite large scale and some of their boat trips have lengthy travel times. The Dive Bus only offers shore dives, but I was totally pleased with all their sites. Check out their reputation on this board and also on Trip Advisor.

If you want to dive in the Westpunt area (a 45 minute drive from Willemstad where there are some truly spectacular dive sites) and IF you have a rental car at your disposal, do yourself a favor and DON'T use a Willemstad dive operator. Instead, drive to Westpunt yourself, make a day of it and use the Ocean Encounters WEST dive shop located adjacent to Lodge Kura Hulanada at Playa Kalki. Do one of their morning 2-tank boat dives and do their house reef as an afternoon shore dive. If you're there during Friday, Saturday or Sunday, plan to have dinner at nearby Sol Foods.

 

[Seanpaul]

just a note to the mod maybe this should be moved to lesser antilles, abc islands.

 

[diversteve]

just a note to the mod maybe this should be moved to lesser antilles, abc islands.

good idea..

Caribbean Sea Sports is at the other Marriott (Beach Resort/Emerald Casino) in Piscadera Bay. About 5-10mins. by car from downtown. They had lockers when I went by there in 2008. Maybe they have some pickup arrangement with the Renaissance?

The Dive Bus will pick you up at the Renaissance also.

I agree with just about everything Joyce posted above. We did the Dolphin Dive with Ocean Encounters but cancelled our second reef dive later that morning as the boat looked to be filled to the the max. A staff member told me that they often pick up at a couple of the other nearby resorts where they have satellite operations.

 

[sytech]

Hi Joyce,

Thanks for the comprehensive feedback.

I'll let you know how I make out.

Sy

THE DIVE BUS!!!

Especially if you're looking for a more intimate operator with a really great reputation. I just got back from 2 weeks of hard-core diving, my first time in Curacao. I stayed in Willemstad first part of the trip (right next to the Ocean Encounters shop). I chose NOT to use them. They have a good reputation, but they're quite large scale and some of their boat trips have lengthy travel times. The Dive Bus only offers shore dives, but I was totally pleased with all their sites. Check out their reputation on this board and also on Trip Advisor.

If you want to dive in the Westpunt area (a 45 minute drive from Willemstad where there are some truly spectacular dive sites) and IF you have a rental car at your disposal, do yourself a favor and DON'T use a Willemstad dive operator. Instead, drive to Westpunt yourself, make a day of it and use the Ocean Encounters WEST dive shop located adjacent to Lodge Kura Hulanada at Playa Kalki. Do one of their morning 2-tank boat dives and do their house reef as an afternoon shore dive. If you're there during Friday, Saturday or Sunday, plan to have dinner at nearby Sol Foods.

 

[Damselfish]

I don't think diving w/ Ocean Encounters on the East end makes sense if you're not even staying at a hotel where they're the op. There is a good chance of having a pretty full boat, possibly with pickups from multiple hotels, and they tend to do sites more to the East. Definitely look into the Dive Bus if you are interested in shore diving. If you are more interested n boat diving, it's worth looking at CSS at the other Marriott, especially if they have some arrangement between the 2 Marriotts but probably even if they don't. Their boats don't usually look crowded and they do more diving towards the West which IMO is better. Plus they have a decent shore dive on site you might want to take advantage of.

It would be worth spending at least a day out at the west end of the island. Do some boat dives with OE West on a day they are doing Watamula, shore dive the house reef there (excellent), and hang out at Kura Hulanda Lodge, food is pretty good.

 

[James R]

Unfortunately The Dive Bus, at least a few weeks ago, did not have lockers. We had no trouble with bringing our gear back to our hotel after diving every day. They were always on time for pickup and we 100% recommend them to everyone visiting Curacao.

 

[ApexLongimanus]

+1 for the dive bus.
while having to take your gear home every day is a bit of a pain, they surely make up for that in many other ways. all the advantages that a small shop has in terms of personal service and going the extra mile to make you happy.

 

[Damselfish]

As I recall from some of your past posts you really want the convenience of onsite diving and lockers. Is there a reason you choose the Renaissance? You might consider seeing if you can change to the other Marriott.

 

[RJP]

As I recall from some of your past posts you really want the convenience of onsite diving and lockers. Is there a reason you choose the Renaissance? You might consider seeing if you can change to the other Marriott.

I believe they have a shuttle between the two, allowing for use of Caribbean Sea Sports at the Marriott as your "almost on-site" dive op.

That said, I'd op for the Marriott as well - all the way around - unless you just really want to be downtown and away from the water/beach while visiting Curacao.