Dive Review of
Habitat Curacao in
Curaçao

Palau, Papua New Guinea, Truk, Yap, Fiji, Cozumel, Grand Turk, Sea of
Cortez, Provedenciales, USVI, Barbados, Solomon Islands, St. Lucia,
California, Bonaire, Bahamas (Walker's Cay, New Providence, Bimini),
Florida, Aruba....

Dive Conditions

Back on board with 500 PSI.  

No particular accomodations for the photographer other than a small rinse
bucket that overflowed with cameras, strobes and video gear.  

Overall Rating

Habitat Curacao is a great place about thirty minutes west of Hato airport.
 It sits by itself on a little penisula.  The house reef is as good a dive
spot as most on the island.  The facility is built on a cliff with the dive
operation situated below.  Lots of stairs to climb.  Weather hot and
oppressive in September but the constantly blowing trade winds made it
bearable.  Shore diving is available 24 hours a day.  Get you tanks and go
with your rental vehicle.  Be advised that shore diving is NOT as easy and
convenient as in Bonaire.  Sites are further away and apart, and the reef
further.  Access and entries are more difficult for the most part and some
sites are fee charging.  

The on-site "Oceans" bar and restaurant is a first class
operation.  The food is excellent and the menu is large.  Service is
courteous and responsive, and it's a good thing too because there is not
much else around for miles if you don't like it.  Breakfast is included in
most packages.  The dive operation is okay.  "Easy Divers" has
three or four boats but they seem reluctant to use more than one no matter
how many divers there are.  On a couple days we had twenty-four divers on a
boat and it was all you could do to shuffle around and moo.  We wanted to
dive the Superior Producer but got nothing but excuses about why they
could't make the run East until I requested they book us with an operation
that would take us.  Miracle:  We went the next day.  Divemaster
"Carlos" was a riot.  A real comedian and good man.  Can't say as
much about "Christian" and "Angela," two facisistic
environmental guardians of sand bottoms, coral rubble and rusting decking.

Sites not to miss are Mushroom Forrest, the Superior Producer, and Seldom. 
All sites dived were good to excellent and, I hate to have to say this, but
I have been to both and to my mind, Curacao has the edge on Bonaire for
quality of diving.  Habitat has lockers (bring a small lock).  Tank fills
were at or a bit less than 3000 psi.  No gloves allowed but this appears to
be a house dictum, not a government fiat.  There is no need to rent a car
unless you want to shore dive, then mandatory.  Do so by using an internet
source like Cheap Tickets or Priceline to save money.  Not much to see on
this desert island except thorn bushes and goats along the roads. 
Wilemstad is worth a days excursion and Habitat runs a shuttle in three
times a day.

The diving was as good as anything we've seen in the Caribbean.  Habitat
Curacao, on balance, is a meritorious property and all in all, the trip was
wonderful.   

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