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Dive Review of Dive Charter Curacao/Judibana Apts in
Curaçao

Dive Charter Curacao/Judibana Apts, Sep, 2010,

by Mark A. Magers, CA, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 20 reports with 28 Helpful votes). Report 5706.

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 3 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Accom: Judibana Apt was nice, comfy, decent location, decent value. Near Marriott, with access to Marriott beach, pool, and beach bars (and yes, they have Havana Club)

Driving: easy, lots of roundabouts, signage is spotty, nav by feel, it's an island.

Diving: DCC had Zodiac style boat, came to each launch point by trailer in the morning, we were never sure we were in right spot until trailer arrived. Very cozy with 8 divers + captain & DM. Entry easy, back roll, back on boat a challenge, got hang of it Day 3, wait for swells and rolls and fin up. Neils and Kevin very good, attentive,knowledgeable. Most dives require advanced cert. Dives all over 1 hour. Best part is avoiding sites where the big boats are, and going to locations most boats do not, including north coast (Playa Kanoa), and back side of Klein Curacao. KC dives were lucky for us as ocean was calm enough (still rattled teeth on trip out) to take Zodiac. Pristine, very much a place where few dive. Otherwise KC is 2 hr boat ride on big boat with snorkelers and beachgoers. Did not see dive sites on leeward side, so can't vouch for quality of that, but think shore dives from Dive Bus (see below) would be better than KC in that circumstance.

Westpunt highlights, Watamula nice coral, Mushroom OK, Blue Room at end of dive was lovely. Eat at Jaanchies, it is awesome. All dives were drift, by the way, which is always nice. North Coast saw a school of wahoo.

Net is extra work to get to sites, on boat, etc. but the work pays off. Neils and Kevin were calm, professional, one of us needed O2 after one dive (computers and safe profiles notwithstanding), O2 equipment looked challenged but it worked and they made everything great, and they called that evening to check up. They treat you with respect, expect you to be responsible, and are very professional.

We also did some great shore diving with Dive Bus, great shop, very knowledgeable staff, told us where we might find a frogfish and indeed we did. Pierbaai is very nice, multiple dive profiles right off the beach, and cold beer when you are done. If we had more time we would have spent more time doing these shore dives.

Other: Take TP in ziploc, all facilities at dive launch points are spartan, sometime just bushes. Lunch was meat cheese bread soda water, bring cookies & fruit if you need it. Willemsted is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, go to Kura Hulanda Museum, and the Maritime Museum, and the Curacao Museum. Drive out to Nena Sanchez Gallery at Daniel Landhuis, see a landhuis, flamingos, and local paintings created by Miss Curacao 196X. And be sure to have an Amstel and watch the Queen Emma (Pontoon) Bridge open in Willemsted. Even makes cruise ships seem OK. Aloe Vera farm is cool, too. Avoid the Sea Aquarium, captive fish and animals for cruise shippers.

Curacao is delightful. Ignore the refinery and enjoy the island. And while there, try to imagine what it was like to come to the island 500 years ago in a wool military uniform...and no ice for the beer.
Websites Dive Charter Curacao   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Caribbean, Hawaii, GBR, WA, RI, CA
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-100 Ft/ 12-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Follow your computer, more or less follow DM
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 2 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]
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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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