Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Ocean Encounters West/Lodge Kura Hulanda in
Curaçao/Westpunt

Ocean Encounters West/Lodge Kura Hulanda, May, 2006,

by Dave Padowitz, CA, US . Report 2455.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Lodge Kura Hulanda, located at the less developed west end of Curacao, is a casual sister to the outstanding Kura Hulanda hotel in Willemstad. The new resort combines the quality and style of the original Kura Hulanda with proximity to the some of the best diving on the island. The resort had recently opened and a few details needed to be smoothed out - we should have brought snacks for quick breakfasts and confirmed our airport transportation sooner - but it's a beautiful place to stay. Ocean Encounters West is a few steps away from the resort at the end of Playa Kalki beach. It's a new branch of Ocean Encounters, run by the friendly and professional Jim and Lisa. The house reef at Playa Kailki is easily accessible from the beach or the dock at Ocean Encounters West. The reef begins a few dozen yards offshore at 25' with a moderate slope and good diving from 35' down. Close to the beach the reef get heavy use, but it maintains a heathly coral community with diverse and abundant fish populations. Two small turtles, green and hawksbill, lived just off the dock. Playa Kalki was popular for night dives. While there were plenty of fish in shallow water off the beach, the reef edge was a little too deep for easy snorkeling. The famous Mushroom Forest is about 40 minutes away, but it was overshadowed by the spectacular Watamula, a pristine site at the very end of the island, just a few minutes from the resort and dive operation. Watamula had mild current and gradual slope with lush soft corals transitioning to dense and varied hard coral both at a comfortable 35-45' depth. Lodge Kura Hulanda and Ocean Encounters West offer an excellent combination of accomodations and diving.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 0-25 dives
Where else diving Cozumel
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 81-0°F / 27--18°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 60-100 Ft/ 18-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 500 psi return
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
Was this report helpful to you?
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 216 dive reviews of Curaçao and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 

Want to assemble your own collection of Curaçao reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.07 seconds