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Dive Review of Ocean Encounters West/Kura Hulanda in
Curaçao

Ocean Encounters West/Kura Hulanda, Apr, 2010,

by MICHAEL GITTERMAN, ON, CA (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 5435.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 2 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Ocean Encounters West were terrific. On site at Kura Hulanda but managed by Brian who was great. Management does a great job and the dive masters are helpful and responsive. Dives are all about 60 minutes and the hard coral is very nice. It was choppy and cool during our stay. Dives leave on time, masters provide assistance as needed and we saw something on each dive. Mushroom forest is really neat. This was an easy dive trip with few challenges.

Kura Hulanda is pretty. We had an oceanfront room which was very spacious. However, service was atrocious until we complained three times about our room not being cleaned until 4:30 in the afternoon and we complained about waiting well over an hour for dinner one night and at one point, 45 minutes before we even saw a drink. The problem is - you are pretty much "hostage" there unless you have a car or walk into town but the only restaurant in town closes at 7! Another is open on weekends only. That being said, once we complained (twice), service completely turned around. They can do it - they just don't unless they have to. There is also a very strong smell of septic tank at the end of the resort - not good at all. The menu is nice but limited and if you are going for a week it could be a bit tired. We will go again, but next time we will rent a car and sometimes drive into town for dinner or lunch.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Roatan, Guanaja, St. Lucia, Palau, Komodo, Wakatobi
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather windy, rainy, cloudy Seas choppy
Water Temp 79-84°F / 26-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-75 Ft/ 15-23 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Few restrictions but to stay with the group and do a 1 hour dive.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 2 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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.

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