Curaçao has many different dive sites and shore-diving locations that can be reached directly from shore. From Duikcentrum van de Ven in Jan Thiel we make guided shore dives at different locations along the south coast, from the well-known Tugboat and Caracasbaai to Director’s Bay, Marie Pampoen / Car Pile and quieter local reefs.
Is this your first dive with us? Then we start at Caracasbaai or Tugboat for a check dive. After that, depending on your experience, preferences and the conditions that day, we can choose other dive sites in Curaçao. On this page, you can compare the different locations and read more about each one.
If this is your first dive with us, we choose Caracasbaai or Tugboat. After this check dive, depending on your experience, preferences and the conditions, we can choose other dive sites as well.
Caracasbaai or Tugboat
Here, we first complete a check dive together and see how comfortable you are in the water.
La Palapa, Jan Thiel, Director’s Bay or Boca Simon
After a check dive with us, we can choose another reef site together.
Marie Pampoen / Car Pile or a drift dive
After your check dive, when the site and dive suit your experience.
Barracuda Point or a night dive
We only make these dives after you have first completed a check dive with us.
A quick comparison of the locations where we regularly make guided dives.
| Dive site | Character | First dive with us? | Good for | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tugboat | Wreck + reef | Yes · check dive | Exploring both wreck and reef | Small tugboat wreck |
| Caracasbaai | Calm reef | Yes · check dive | A relaxed first dive with us | Versatile local dive site |
| La Palapa | Reef dive | After check dive | Relaxed reef diving | Calm character |
| Director’s Bay | Reef dive | After check dive | Exploring reef and marine life | Varied reef |
| Director’s Bay → Tugboat | Drift dive | After check dive | Divers with suitable experience | Two dive sites in one route |
| Marie Pampoen | Artificial reef | After check dive | For something different from a regular reef dive | Car Pile |
| Jan Thiel | Reef dive | After check dive | Relaxed diving close to Jan Thiel | Close to the dive center |
| Boca Simon | Local reef dive | After check dive | A quiet local dive site | Local character |
| Barracuda Point | Drift dive | No · check dive required | Experienced divers | Distinctive drift dive |
| Night dive | Night dive | No · check dive required | Diving after sunset | The reef after dark |
Every dive site has its own character. Below, you can see what makes the different locations distinct.
Would you mainly like to know how a guided dive with us works and what the prices are? Explore our guided dives in Curaçao.
Tugboat is one of Curaçao’s best-known dive sites. The small tugboat wreck lies close to shore and combines an easy-to-recognize wreck with reef scenery and tropical marine life.
Together with Tugboat, Caracasbaai is one of the two locations where we start when you have not dived with us before. Here, we can get acquainted at a relaxed pace and complete your check dive before possibly visiting other sites.
La Palapa is a great location when you mainly want a relaxed dive and time to enjoy the reef and underwater world.
Director’s Bay is a distinctive dive site with varied underwater scenery. It can be a great choice when you want to explore a different reef site after your first dive with us.
Instead of returning to the same place, this route takes you from Director’s Bay toward Tugboat. That gives the dive a very different character from a regular shore dive.
Marie Pampoen stands out because of the Car Pile artificial reef. This makes it an interesting location when you would like to see a different type of underwater landscape in addition to natural reefs.
You can also make a beautiful reef dive in Jan Thiel itself. This location is close to our dive center on Caracasbaaiweg.
Boca Simon is a local dive site on the south coast with a quiet character. It can be a good alternative when we want to choose a less obvious reef site together.
Some dives require more preparation than a regular guided dive. That is why we first assess whether the dive suits your experience.
Barracuda Point, locally known as Punt’i Piku, is a distinctive drift dive across extensive shallow coral fields. A check dive with us is required beforehand.
Explore Barracuda Point →Once it gets dark, the reef changes. With a dive light, you see a different side of the underwater world and marine animals become active that are less likely to be seen during the day. A check dive is also required before a night dive.
Explore the night dive →Superior Producer: this well-known wreck has its own information page, but we are not currently offering guided dives to the Superior Producer. Learn more about the Superior Producer →
Your first dive with us takes place at Caracasbaai or Tugboat. After this check dive, we look together at which other location suits your certification, experience, preferences and the conditions that day.
We look at your certification level, how much experience you have and when you last dived.
Wreck, reef, artificial reef, drift dive or a calm, relaxed dive: your preference is part of the decision.
Wind, current and other conditions can vary from day to day. That is why we make the final dive-site choice together.
Then we start at Caracasbaai or Tugboat. There, we first complete a check dive together so we can get acquainted at a relaxed pace and see how you dive. Afterward, we can decide which other dive sites suit you.
Have you not dived for a while or do you not yet feel completely confident? We first assess whether a relaxed refresher dive is enough or whether an SSI Scuba Skills Update would be a better fit.
Explore Scuba Skills Update →Not certified yet? Explore our Try Scuba Diving in Curaçao.
Useful if you would like to know how we choose a dive site and where you can dive with us.
We make guided shore dives at several locations along Curaçao’s south coast, including Tugboat, Caracasbaai, Director’s Bay, La Palapa, Marie Pampoen / Car Pile, Jan Thiel and Boca Simon. We also offer special dives such as Barracuda Point and a night dive when conditions and experience allow. The Superior Producer has its own information page, but we are not currently offering guided dives to this wreck.
Yes. The dive sites on this page are visited as shore dives. We drive from our dive center in Jan Thiel to the selected location and enter the water from shore.
If you have not dived with us before, we start at Caracasbaai or Tugboat. There, we first complete a check dive together. Afterward, we can see which other dive sites suit your experience and preferences.
Yes. Tugboat is one of the locations where we make guided dives and is also one of our two sites for a first check dive with us. Read more on the page diving at Tugboat in Curaçao.
Our dive center is in Jan Thiel and we dive at several locations along Curaçao’s southeast and south coast. Caracasbaai, Tugboat and Jan Thiel itself are all in this part of the island. Which location we use that day depends on your experience, our schedule and the conditions.
Our guided dives are for certified divers. Choose a VIP Guided Dive with only your own party or a Classic Guided Dive in a small group of no more than 4 divers per guide.
Tell us how much diving experience you have and what you would like to see. We will then look together at which dive site and type of guidance suit you best.
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