Azure-blue seas, stunning white beaches, and hidden coves: Curaçao has it all. The perfect holiday destination for those who want to enjoy sun, sea, and sand. But while many relax above the water, even more awaits to be discovered beneath the surface.
At Casa Bohemian Curaçao, we believe a holiday is more than just relaxing. Planning to dive in Curaçao? You’ll enjoy beautiful beaches, perfect weather, and a great atmosphere—but also a touch of adventure. Dive into the Caribbean Sea and discover a colourful underwater world full of coral reefs, tropical fish, sponges, starfish, and other fascinating marine life.
Hi, we are Frank and Femmie!
We live in Curacao and run our small-scale adults-only resort here. We like to share our favorite insider tips, away from the crowd.
Why this island is a paradise for every diver
Curaçao is no coincidence a hugely popular diving destination. On almost every well-known beach, you’ll find dive schools offering everything you could want: a first trial dive, earning your Open Water certification, renting just a tank, or even completing a full dive instructor course.
When you go diving in Curaçao, the clear and calm waters immediately stand out. In many dive areas, visibility reaches 20 to 30 metres—perfect for admiring colourful reefs and marine life. The water stays pleasantly warm all year round, with temperatures between 26 and 29°C.
The island is perfectly set up for divers, with over 70 official dive sites, many of which are easily accessible from the shore. Not in the mood for crowds? Curaçao also has plenty of quiet beaches where you can relax in peace.
Discover our tips!
The best diving spots in Curaçao
Not sure where to dive in Curaçao? Don’t worry! We’ve put together a list of the best dive sites. There’s plenty of choice for both beginners and experienced divers.
Tugboat Beach (Caracasbaai)
From this beach, you can step straight into the sea in search of a sunken tugboat just a few metres deep! The wreck, which has rested there for decades, lies flat on the seabed and is covered with stunning, colourful coral. You may encounter a variety of marine life, including blue tangs, yellow goatfish, trumpetfish, trumpetfish, French grunts, brown chromis, blue damselfish, and arrow crabs. And if you’re lucky, you might even spot seahorses.
Playa Porto Mari (Westpunt)
Double reef lines, turtles swimming by, and direct access from the beach—what more could you want? Perfect for a morning dive, a tasty lunch, and relaxing in a hammock.
Playa Kalki
This stunning dive site is also known as ‘Alice in Wonderland’. The seabed is hilly and slopes gently, featuring a wide variety of coral species. You can encounter many types of moray eels, including the longtail, chain, spotted, and green morays. Other interesting marine life includes the slender snipe eel, sharp-tailed eel, and schoolmaster snapper. Both green and hawksbill turtles are frequently seen here, and with some luck, you might spot seahorses as well. Frogfish have also been observed, though they are difficult to find due to their excellent camouflage.
Playa Piscado
In the 1990s, this beach was very quiet. It was truly a fisherman’s beach, and it still is, though now there are sunbeds everywhere. The fishermen still arrive daily with their catch, which you can buy fresh on the spot. As they clean the fish and return the waste to the sea, many turtles come to feed here. Nowadays, some offer the chance to pay for a turtle to swim over you, lured with food. It may sound fun, but we don’t recommend this kind of attraction. Divers usually know to respect everything in the sea—look with your eyes, not your hands. Of course, it’s still a great place to dive, and there’s a good chance of seeing turtles. This spot doesn’t have a dive school, so you’ll need to rent and bring your gear from elsewhere.
Mushroom Forest
One of Curaçao’s iconic dive sites: large mushroom-shaped coral heads, crystal-clear water, and an abundance of fish. Swim around calmly and admire the reef.
Playa Lagun
Playa Lagun is a beautiful small beach with high cliffs on both sides of the bay. The drop-off starts at a depth of 12 metres and then plunges steeply to around 40 metres. Between 20 and 30 metres, you can see stunning giant barrel sponges—an ideal spot for a deep dive. You may also encounter peacock grouper, garden eels, green razorfish, flying gurnard, and seahorses. If you leave the bay on the left side, you’ll find a small cave at a depth of 3 metres. The cave isn’t very large, but it’s fun to explore.
Practical tips for diving in Curaçao
Frank, co-owner of Casa Bohemian Curaçao, was a dive instructor on the island for many years. He has extensive knowledge of the best dive sites and is happy to share his tips.
- Best time to dive: While diving is possible year-round, the months from January to September are often the calmest in terms of weather and sea conditions.
- Essentials: Here are the most important items you’ll need.
- Equipment: Bring a wetsuit or rent one from one of the dive schools.
- Dive fees/licenses: These are often checked in advance. Don’t have a diving certification yet? No problem—you can obtain one at various dive schools in Curaçao.
- Shore diving: Diving from the shore is especially relaxing. A big advantage of Curaçao is that many dive sites are accessible without a boat.
- Eco-friendly diving: Unfortunately, the coral around Curaçao is declining, so it’s especially important to respect nature. Do not touch the coral and avoid damaging it with boats.
Casa Bohemian Curaçao: the ideal base
Frank was a dive instructor in Curaçao during the 1990s. He no longer teaches, but he and Femmie still dive very regularly.
Divers are very welcome at Casa Bohemian Curaçao. At most beaches, you can rinse your diving gear at the dive school, but if you plan to dive somewhere without facilities, Frank and Femmie also offer the option to rinse and hang up your equipment.
You’ll be staying with us at a small-scale resort. You will be staying at our boutique resort. After a morning dive, unwind by the pool, have a barbecue, or enjoy our tropical garden.
Frequently asked questions
We have found that good diving and snorkelling equipment is available for hire at most beaches. So it’s not strictly necessary to bring your own gear, although the quality and fit of hire equipment can sometimes vary.
Snorkeling and diving in Curaçao are possible year-round under good conditions.
Our favourite places, experiences, and tips
