Every year, Scuba Diving Magazine asks their readers to “pool their collective knowledge by ranking a variety of categories, like destinations and operators, on a 1 to 5 scale. An independent agency collected their responses in May and June of 2020, analyzing the scores to reveal what the best places the planet has to offer for everyone from wreck divers to beginner divers and more.”
With nearly 6,000 divers “weighing in” for the 28th Annual Scuba Diving Magazine’s Reader Choice Awards, Curaçao was once again named as one of the Best Overall Caribbean and Atlantic Dive Destinations for 2021 ranking highly in the following categories.
Best Dive Operators – Quality
Ocean Encounters, with on-site facilities at both LionsDive Beach Resort and Sunscape Beach Resort, Spa and Casino, is committed to delivering the highest-quality dive experience. The facility is the biggest on the island, catering to the highest number of repeat guests. Divers return to Curaçao and Ocean Encounters for a handful of reasons, starting with the lineup of famous sites, such as Mushroom Forest, Klein Curaçao, Eastpoint and Blue Room, where visitors can’t help but be wowed by the health of the reefs and the density of the fish schools flowing over top. Another big reason that divers get hooked on Ocean Encounters is the staff because they continually deliver above and beyond what is expected to ensure that every guest has the ultimate dive vacation.
Macro Life
As an alternative to Bonaire, Curacao is a macro scuba diving paradise. Shark and Ray (Manta’s, Stingrays, Mobula) sightings are rare but that makes those encounters incredibly special. But all the photogenic small stuff is here on Curaçao. Some fan favorites are the Frogfish, Longlured, and occasionally Occelated, plus trunkfish, banded coral shrimps and much more. These can be great subjects for wide-angle close-ups and of course Seahorses are for the sharp-eyed. Also, if you are good with your camera and buoyancy, the divemasters are more likely to share their little secrets.
Wreck Diving
Whether you are a snorkeler or just beginning your diving adventures or are a seasoned advanced diver, you will be thrilled with the opportunities where you can dive into history on Curaçao. Most notably is Curaçao’s iconic shipwreck, the MV Superior Producer – an advanced dive, or the famous Tugboat of Caracasbaai – an excellent entry-level dive or family snorkel trip.
Cavern, Cave and Grotto
Discovering “The Blue Room” on Curaçao is one of the coolest and most talked about experiences in the entire Caribbean and a perfect place for off-gassing between dives or for a wonderful snorkel trip. Once people started to regularly explore The Blue Room with scuba tanks, they discovered more than just the ethereal light. They found surfaces covered by orange cup coral, filled with micro wonders. And then they saw that images of the blue were complemented by a flamboyant orange. Lurking in the shadows year-round you will find copper sweepers, a small gold-bronze fish that looks like it is swimming upside down. And, in the late days of August through September, The Blue Room fills with silversides, which light up the cavern as they move and flow like mercury. Now, more than just an afterthought, The Blue Room has become an essential Curaçao experience. And, that light… unforgettable.
Shore Diving and Snorkeling
In a sport where you often must charter a boat to see the best of the underwater world, Curacao is a unique shore diving and snorkeling haven for divers looking to take the advantage of a more leisurely schedule. On the south side of the island, the fringing reef in most cases is within 60-feet (20m) from the shoreline which... click here for the rest of the article
