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Dive Review of Ocean Encounters/Breezes in
Curaçao

Ocean Encounters/Breezes, Mar, 2005,

by Tracy Ruttan, ONT, CANADA . Report 1618.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 4 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 Ocean Encounters staff are amazing. Family run, super friendly. They remember your name after your first dive. Breezes includes one daily outfitted shore dive, can go with a buddy, or at 2:30pm with the group. They are the 'cadillac' of dive shops on the island, a National Geographic recognized outfit, and the most expensive, but worth it, I reckon. After a week of diving with them, I was invited to a BBQ at their main shop at Lions Dive, down the beach. They even picked a bunch of us up in their boat.
The boat dives were great, though when I booked the Klein Curacao trip (2 hour ride to an uninhabited island), I didn't know we went on the tourist boat 'The Mermaid'. Big old boat, people hurling over the side the whole way:) Diving was done out of a Zodiac, roll out, pulled back in. Turtles 'guaranteed' here. HUGE green moray followed the group - was as long or longer than any diver!
The Mushroom Forest/Watamula (awesome corals!!!!) dive was done on another companies dive boat(All West). Great boat, informative captain. Saw lobster, baracuda and something I think is called a lizardfish.
Didn't do a night dive - was a little pricy without my own gear. ($35 from shore, $47 from boat if the group was more than 5 +$25 for gear), but the Car Pile (100's of old cars, a crane at 100', etc) would be cool at night. Couldn't do Superior Producer, as it is 100' and I had sinus problems, but it's supposed to be one of the best in the Caribbean, as long as the current co-operates, and a cruise ship isn't parked above it.
I researched a lot before going, knew to request Flamingo or Pelican wing of resort. WAY quieter than the Tower, and all rooms are oceanview. They are working on upgrades (Superclubs took it over 3 years ago), some rooms run down. Definitley look for Norma at the bar.
Heavy rain for 10 minutes the first day, and a light rain for 10 min. the day we left. Tradewinds help against the heat, so nice to be able to wear shorts at night! Duty free at the airport not as cheap as I'd hoped. I've been to Dominican, St.Maarten and St.Lucia, this place is by far the most upscale - St.Lucia is only better for the rainforest/lushness.




Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 51-100 dives
Where else diving Ontario, Australia (east and west coasts), St.Lucia
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas noCurrents
Water Temp 22-25°C / 72-77°F Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-100 Ft/ 12-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Suggested staying above 100', 60' on second dive.
If following group, let them know when you're at half tank, so they can head back towards boat. Most divers lasted the whole dive.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments Camera rinse bucket ended up being used for masks, as there were only 2 people with cameras on boat :( Rinse hose for shore dives. Divemaster would call me over for any interesting fish/critters, other divers were pretty good at letting me in.
Oc.Enc. have photographer on staff who will take pics for you/of you. So many fish and corals it's easy to snap off a roll of 36 without realizing!!
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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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