Currently the dive shop and bar are closed. The apartments are no longer available for rent because they are partly destroyed by hurricane Omar in 2008.
Characteristics
Shore dive
Wreck dive
Bar / Retaurant
Entrance fee for divers only
Advanced Diver (for wreckdiving)
Description
Originally Vaersenbay was only accessible for (family of) members of the police. That has changed and the bay is now open for the general public. Divers have to pay at the bar before the dive. Beach visit is free.
There are three apartments on the beach that are for rent. At the left hand side there is large building where the bar is located.
There are several options for diving. For the less experienced diver or if you don't want to go deep, you can do a normal dive along the reef. Another option is a dive to the pontoon (around 20- 35 meters) or you can do a deep dive to the car wrecks (starting at about 25 meters to beyond 40 meters. There is also a small boat wreck beyond 50 meters but it is not advised to go that deep.
The drop-off is close to shore. Coral density is quite high and the coral is looking healthy. There are several large Elephant Ear sponges and most of the time there is a lot of fish.
If you want to visit the pontoon you can swim along the reef to the left until you see the pontoon beneath you. The top of the pontoon is around 20 meters and the deepest part is at about 35 meters. So watch your bottom time if you go deep.
For the car wrecks you need to swim at the surface for about 20 minutes until you see under water the concrete block where in the past the buoy was anchored. There you go under water. The first wrecks can be seen at 20 meters. They extend to beyond 40 meters. The boat is even deeper. So watching your bottom time is even more important than when you visit the pontoon.
How to get there
First you have to go in the direction of the village of St. Michiel. Driving on the road to Bullenbaai there is a sign that directs you to St. Michiel. Don't go into St. Michiel but continue on the road to Bullenbaai. After a while you pass the salinas where often flamingos can be seen. As soon as you see the sign with Vaersenbaai on it turn left and follow this road till you see the entrance gate. Pass through the gate and park the car near the beach.