| Home to over 80 miles of pristine coral reef, myriad | | | | feet long, you'll find this wreck sitting upright on a |
| tropical fish, sponges, sea turtles, seahorses, eels and | | | | sand plateau between two reefs in about 100 feet |
| dolphins, the waters surrounding Curacao beg to be | | | | of water. After 27 years beneath the surface, the |
| enjoyed and photographed. Besides boasting the | | | | ship is completely encrusted with tube sponges, cup |
| clearest water in the Caribbean, with average visibility | | | | coral and patches of black coral, producing a colorful |
| between 80-140 feet, year-round water | | | | garden complete with snails, rays, eels and darting |
| temperatures of 78-83°F allow the ocean to be | | | | fish. Also, the bridge has recently been opened up |
| enjoyed regardless of season. Whether you want to | | | | and is safe to swim through. |
| snorkel or scuba dive, there are plenty of | | | | The incredibly popular Tugboat is a wreck that can |
| experienced dive operators providing daily boat trips | | | | be enjoyed by snorkelers and divers alike. Sitting |
| and tours to all the best locations. From quiet coves | | | | upright in just 20 feet of water, the 30-foot vessel is |
| with shallow reefs perfect for snorkelers and | | | | accessible from shore or by boat. After three |
| beginning divers, to coral walls with strong currents | | | | decades beneath the sea, it is fully encrusted with |
| for experienced drift divers, there are sites in | | | | elaborate formations of brain coral, star coral, |
| Curacao for everyone. In addition to being recognized | | | | sponges and Christmas tree worms. The area is also |
| as the best snorkeling and scuba diving location in the | | | | teeming with such photogenic fish as sergeant |
| Caribbean, Curacao was also named the "3rd Best | | | | majors and parrotfish. |
| Destination in the World" by Scuba Diving Magazine. | | | | Watamula lies off the coast of a national park at the |
| With over 80 unique dive and snorkel sites to be | | | | northwestern corner of the island. The reef starts at |
| explored, this article will merely scratch the surface | | | | 30 feet and runs down to a sandy shelf at 100 feet. |
| of what Curacao has to offer. Porto Marie is a | | | | Sea turtles favor this area, with a huge resident |
| wonderful site for all levels of divers and snorkelers | | | | logger head, the barnacle-encrusted "Crush," regularly |
| with a quiet, scenic beach to relax before and after | | | | spotted resting between 30 and 60 feet. |
| your dive. Currents and swells here are light and the | | | | The Mushroom Forest, regularly cited as one the |
| visibility averages 80 feet. Porto Marie offers a unique | | | | Caribbean's premier dives, is also located on the |
| double reef dive, with a 100-foot wide, 50-foot deep | | | | sparsely populated northwest side of Curacao. The |
| sandy valley separating the inner and outer reefs. | | | | Forest starts close to shoreline cliffs in 40 feet of |
| Klein Curacao is a tiny, idyllic island southeast of | | | | water and runs several hundred yards out into the |
| Curacao. Day trips are available from a number of | | | | sea, reaching a depth of 60 feet. The site earns its |
| dive shops and charter companies. The island offers a | | | | name from the giant mushroom-shaped coral |
| serene day away from civilization with a long stretch | | | | formations sprouting from the seafloor. Formed over |
| of powdery sand, shallow snorkeling areas, an old | | | | many decades as the bottoms of Great Star and |
| scenic lighthouse and the wreck of the Maria Bianca | | | | Plate Corals were undermined by fish, sponges and |
| Guidesman tanker resting against the rocks. | | | | clams, some have grown to over ten feet in |
| Additionally, visibility is usually over 100 feet, allowing | | | | diameter. |
| divers the opportunity to observe sea turtles and | | | | Oswaldo's Drop Off, another of Curacao's celebrated |
| dolphins. | | | | sites, is suitable for all levels of divers with great |
| The Superior Producer is a fantastic wreck dive | | | | snorkeling on a shallow terrace. The drop off is only |
| located near the Mega Pier where cruise ship | | | | 100 yards from shore with the reef wall starting in 30 |
| passengers disembark for daytrips into Willemstad, | | | | feet of water, gradually plunging to a depth of 130 |
| the island's capital. The currents are strong here, so | | | | feet. The remains of the Car Pile, an artificial reef |
| the site is limited to experienced divers. Roughly 200 | | | | created in the 1960s, also rests in this area. |