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/Lions Dive Resort in
Curaçao

Ocean Encounters/Lions Dive Resort, Feb, 2008,

by Claire Kennedy, OK, USA (Reviewer Reviewer 4 reports). Report 4110.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 1 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments The operation (Ocean Encounters) was fabulous. They did not change your gear between dives (said it was up to divers' personal preference and didn't want to mind read!?!) But that is the only complaint. Even though no tub for cameras on board, they quickly got one and kept it separate from mask rinsing. Clear, concise on dive briefings, could request "critter or fish" on dives and would do their utmost to find divers' requests. We stayed next to the diove operation and kept our gear in their lockers overnight, which made it easy for our gear upkeep. Nolo & Monica were outstanding. Two dives in morning and one in evening, and if you wanted to do shore dive, would set you up with tank. For the week, price included one night dive - which was OK. There wasn't an anemone that didn't have a shrimp in it - very healthy and abundant reef. Mushroom forest OK, but worth the trip; if you haven't done dolphin dive, it's fun - but nothing spectacular. When we were there in February, 2008, surge, currents were calm, easy to get back on boat and will visit Nolo & Monica again.

Lion's Dive is a clean, well-kept operation, but lousy service. The restaurant(s) were slow, inefficient and often rude. So we ate across the canal (south at Alfredo's) every breakfast and lunch, and traveled up the beach (northwest) for dinner spots, but don't expect fast service - it's just not done in Curaçao. Best advice: request rooms EAST OF OE, this way you are close to the diving, and it's easy to go back and forth - also only two levels. Electrical is European, request adapters, which they have for battery recharging. They charge per dieum (rip-off) for wi-fi, but if you eat at Alfredo's you can get it for free there.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Nassau (Bahamas), Abacos (Guana Cay, Bahamas), Cozumel, Roatán,
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-75 Ft/ 15-23 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions After they discovered we were expert divers, they let us do our own thing. Had check out dive to begin.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments Had to request separate tub on boat for cameras and no rinse tub on shore - group hose to wash cameras with on shore. But were accommodating when asked.
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 221 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