Diving in Curacao

[Speckled Grouper]

What an awesome place....2 1/2 hours from Miami...
Unlimited vis, no current, 65 shore diving possibilites, boat diving locations 10 to 20 minutes away, all diving within 30 to 50 feet from shore, great food, friendly people and lots of non diving activities aswell...
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Bonbini%20-%20Diving%20in%20Curacao/CU105.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Bonbini%20-%20Diving%20in%20Curacao/CU120.jpg
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http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Bonbini%20-%20Diving%20in%20Curacao/CU104.jpg

[SoLiD]

Absolutely Stunning!!! If you have anymore pictures don't hesitate to post more.

[Speckled Grouper]

No problem :)
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Bonbini%20-%20Diving%20in%20Curacao/CU134.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Bonbini%20-%20Diving%20in%20Curacao/CU138.jpg
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http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Bonbini%20-%20Diving%20in%20Curacao/CU72.jpg

[SPCLMANAGE]

I had heard that the diving was not as great as in the Bahamas because of depleated reefs but your pictures look great. Hopefully I heard wrong or Curacao is making a comeback

[SoLiD]

Man, I had no Idea that Caribbean Reefs looked so nice. Amazing pictures... I know you have more... :)

[jnguyen4007]

The family and I went to Curacao last month for vacation with me spending half of the time diving. I took many of the same similar pictures as you did. Great place to go diving. Shore diving there was fantastic. Even in 10' of water, it was teaming with life. Your photos are incredible. What camera and strobe did you use?

[Speckled Grouper]

The family and I went to Curacao last month for vacation with me spending half of the time diving. I took many of the same similar pictures as you did. Great place to go diving. Shore diving there was fantastic. Even in 10' of water, it was teaming with life. Your photos are incredible. What camera and strobe did you use?

My beloved Canon D10 :D - No Housing - No Strobe :D

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Miscellanous/CanonD10.jpg

[jnguyen4007]

At what depth were you taking these photos at? Less than 30'?

[Speckled Grouper]

At what depth were you taking these photos at? Less than 30'?

Mostly between 40' and 60'

[MechEng99]

Hubby and I went there for our honeymoon and got open-water certified. What an amazing amazing place!! I just wish our photos turned out half as good as yours! Did you eat at the ostrich farm? That was one of our favorite non-scuba things there. I think we enjoyed the shore diving more than the boat diving simply b/c of how much we saw for how little we had to do!

For the comment above about the Bahamas, I just got back from diving the Bahamas as well. I was only able to dive once, but there was absolutely nothing. Curacao has some of the best Caribbean diving (next to Bonaire and Belize...and a few others).

[ousnakebyte]

Wow - those are some great shots! Curacao is wonderful.

That pic of M. cavernosa that is orange-ish... Cavernosa is usually a greenish-brown, but I've read that these orange morphs exist b/c cyanobacteria is in the tissue along with zoox - though I don't know if that research is still current...??? I wonder if that was a colony like that?!

That's also the most RED Mussa angulosa colony I've ever seen - AMAZING!

Nice P. yucatanicus shrimp too - wonderful macro. I'm a sucker for an invert living on an invert...

Keep 'em coming if you have more.

Cheers
Mike

[robcampman]

I'm going to Curacao this Christmas. Do you have any tips for diving schools and the best spots?

[jnguyen4007]

I'm going to Curacao this Christmas. Do you have any tips for diving schools and the best spots?

You should get your certification before you go. Unless you arrange it ahead of time with a local dive shop there, they may not have classes slot open.

[robcampman]

I wil arrange avout 3 months before.. already have my padi openwater license and would like to go for the advanced course. Here in holland diving conditions are bad, 2 meters visibility is max.

[jnguyen4007]

I wil arrange avout 3 months before.. already have my padi openwater license and would like to go for the advanced course. Here in holland diving conditions are bad, 2 meters visibility is max.

You will definitely have a great time in Curacao. My wife and my 5 year old daughter love it there. We're hoping to go back again next year.

[snorvich]

Yes, excellent diving. Some interesting above water activities as well, IMO better than Bonaire. I think that the diving is better than the Bahamas.

[jd474]

Where's all the A. palmata?! Kidding, great pics. When I was there last year there was massive bleaching everywhere, good to see it is looking better. I never saw any Colpophyllia that looked like that one, however.

[AquaAgua]

Thanks for sharing the pictures. I hope to go there sometime soon, is there much for non-divers to do?

[kevl]

WOW, awesome pics! and with the Canon d10? I have one of those but have been scared to use it past 30' but apparently that's not an issue?! I dove Curacao last September and it was absolutely stunning! Can't wait to revisit!

[kevl]

I'm going to Curacao this Christmas. Do you have any tips for diving schools and the best spots?

My GF got certified at Caribbean Seasports next to the Marriott. It was an awesome experience. She got all personal 1 on 1 training and I got to just dive alongside and enjoy the sights. This was last year. Also, the dive shop is within 50' of the hotel, easy to walk to and friendly staff.

http://www.caribseasports.com/

[Speckled Grouper]

WOW, awesome pics! and with the Canon d10? I have one of those but have been scared to use it past 30' but apparently that's not an issue?! I dove Curacao last September and it was absolutely stunning! Can't wait to revisit!

Well, be careful taking the camera below 30'. I did it in Australia and when it performed flawlessly, I did it again in Curacao....Fortunately, Canon's customer service is great....just got to know how to talk yourself into a new or newly refurbished replacement.....:)

But now I got a new camera, Canon Elph 300 with Ikelite housing, that is dying to get wet!

I hope to take it down to try it out before we go on our next adventure in September....This trip should be a GOOD one.....!!!! Can't wait!

[kevl]

Well, be careful taking the camera below 30'. I did it in Australia and when it performed flawlessly, I did it again in Curacao....Fortunately, Canon's customer service is great....just got to know how to talk yourself into a new or newly refurbished replacement.....:)

But now I got a new camera, Canon Elph 300 with Ikelite housing, that is dying to get wet!

I hope to take it down to try it out before we go on our next adventure in September....This trip should be a GOOD one.....!!!! Can't wait!




Awesome! Ya, never know if one of those times the camera will just shut off for good. I have a feeling that the true depth restrictions are past 30', just a marketing ploy to sell a 50' depth camera for more money in a year or two.

PLEASE post some pics using the Canon Elph 300!! Would love to see how they come out. Like yourself, I can't wait to go diving again either (October to Cozumel)

Enjoy!!!

[Speckled Grouper]

Ok, I dug up a few more pictures

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Curacao/CU64.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Curacao/CU48.jpg

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http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Curacao/CU27.jpg

[Speckled Grouper]

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Curacao/CU69.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Curacao/CU110.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/SpeckledGrouper/Curacao/CU131.jpg

[kevl]

awesome, I wish we got to dive Mushroom forest but since our boat had some beginners we went to easier sites. Will have to go back! :)

[reefme]

The ABC islands are great and are not far from the SE states.