Planes, Boats and Automobiles – Diving in Curacao

Safe from hurricanes and close enough to the equator for year-round summers, Curacao offers some of the best Scuba diving in the Caribbean. Curacao is a small island located north of Venezuela known for amazing reef formations and abundant marine life. Dive sites near the island range from open, shallow-water dives to wrecks found in deeper waters. Fortunately, many of the most magnificent dive sites around the island can be accessed from shore. No matter which major dive sites you explore, Curacao is sure to send you home with stories to tell.

The Crash
The Crash is a shore wreck dive, that actually has nothing to do with a plane crash. There’s a small plane at this reef that actually feel in the water when the USS Erie was hit by a torpedo. The plane itself is no longer in great shape, and some say isn’t too recognizable, but the surrounding reef is impressive. Expect to see lots of coral heads in this area and to dive between 30 and 100 feet.

SS Mediator
Accessible from shore, this old wreck is a must-see. At a stunning 300 feet in length, this steam ship is older than the Titanic. The only downside to diving this wreck is that it rests in a harbor entrance. You’ll need a guide for this one and Tours are available on Sundays.

The Tugboat
Located near Baya, the tugboat is a one of the few wrecks accessible from shore. Around this dive site, you’ll not only get the chance to the tugboat wreck but also and the remnants of an old pier. Expect to see various types of sponges, columns, parrotfish, eels and much more. Visibility at this site is usually between 30 and 60 feet and the average depth is about 50 feet.

Car Pile
Yet another easily accessible shore dive, the Car pile is as it sounds, a pile of cars dropped atop a healthy reef. Dive down about 60-90 feet and find and take the opportunity to pose with your favorite models of cars from the 1960’s. Even though the current is light in this area, this dive is recommended for advanced divers only due to the depth of the dive site.

Curacao offers a variety of unique and easily accessible dive experiences to be remembered. Whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned pro, put away some time on your next trip to enjoy these once-in-a-lifetime Curacao diving experiences.