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Dive Review of
Seascape Dive/Sheraton in
Curaçao

in 2002/10
an Instant Reader Report
by
Susan Sampson, WA, USA
Report Number 238

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N/A means "Not Applicable" or "No Answer" given

Reporter
Dive Experience
101-250 dives
Where else diving
Mostly Caribbean islands

Dive Conditions

Weather
sunny, dry  
Seas
calm, noCurrents  
Water Temp
82   to 0    ° Fahrenheit  
Wetsuit Thickness
0
Water Visibility
100   to 150    Feet  
 
Dive Policy
Dive own profile
yes  
 
Enforced diving restrictions  
1 hour or 500psi  
Liveaboard?
no 
Nitrox Available?
N/A 
What I saw
Sharks
None 
Mantas
None 
Dolphins
None 
Whale Sharks
None 
Turtles
> 2 
Whales
None 
Ratings 1 (worst)- 5 (best):
Corals
  3 stars
Tropical Fish
3 stars  
Small Critters
  4 stars
Large Fish
3 stars  
Large Pelagics
  3 stars
 
 
Underwater Photography  1 (worst)- 5 (best):
Subject Matter
3 stars  
Boat Facilities
3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's  
3 stars  
Shore Facilities  
3 stars  
Comments
No camera tanks on boat  
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
4 stars  
Shore Diving  
3 stars  
Snorkeling
N/A  
 
 

Overall Rating

Value for $$
N/A    
Beginners
4 stars   
Advanced
3 stars    
Comments  
 The Diving:  The lee side of Curacao offers a reef no more than 100 feet
from the shore, dropping off quickly into nearly a wall. The reef is
healthy, with little evidence of bleaching, algae or battering from
hurricanes.  The reef is decorated with a broad variety of corals and
sponges and populated by mostly smaller fish:  durgeons, chromis, damsels,
parrots, squirrels, rock hinds, gobies, and a few rock beauties and angels.
We saw several hawksbill turtles, many trumpets, a school of hundreds of
needlefish near the surface, more burr fish and balloon fish than we have
seen in any other Caribbean location, the largest seahorses I have seen (5
to 6”), spiny urchins, puffed urchins and other urchins, and a school of
squid. But to a photographer, the real wealth of the reef was its abundance
of feather duster and Christmas tree worms in every color, and a variety of
anemones. There is abundant fire coral to remind the diver not to touch
anything.
	Next, the Dive Shop and Boat: Seascape Diving at the Sheraton near
Willemstad offered friendly service, a 30’ boat with drinking water, shade,
and a dive step at the stern.  A dive master was in the water, and the
captain remained on board to offer a hand to divers returning to the boat.
Rides to dive sites varied from 5 minutes to 45 minutes. We saw six or
eight divers on board at the most (usually fewer, but we picked up a group
from the Marriott when its boat had engine troubles.) The dive master
offered close guidance and care to the divers on our boat who lacked
experience, but allowed the experienced divers to dive their own profiles
with a request that they return to the boat within l hour.
 On shore, the dive shop offered a large clean locker room with a rinse
tank, clothes lines, shower, individual lockers, and access to tanks. 
Tanks were aluminum 80s, neat and clean looking, but bearing no marks to
indicate internal inspection.  Keys were issued to night divers to use the
locker room. The dive shop offered a fairly small array of retail goods,
more along the line of souvenirs than dive products in case a diver had
equipment failure. A restroom offered a changing area for those who chose
to suit up in the dive shop area.
The Sheraton offers an excellent night dive—the new dock make for easy
navigation and supports a host of creatures of the night.  We saw octopus,
lizard fish, scorpion fish, peacock flounder, orange ball anemone, and
tube-dwelling anemones.	
The Resort: The Sheraton hotel is a full service resort with tennis courts,
fitness gym, spa, pools, restaurants and chocolates on the pillow at night.
Electricity is 110 volts, like American, but only 50 cycle, not 60 we use.
After diving, downtown Willemstad offers historical Dutch architecture,
gambling casinos and cruise ship shopping.  In the countryside, see wild
flamingoes and herds of goats. 
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. It is presented here to provide Undercurrent readers with timely information on dive operations worldwide. The material may contain errors, typos, ... Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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