Curaçao Diving Paradise

For this Sunday a dive at Playa Canoa (Northern side of the island) was planned by Trunkdivers, but unfortunately there was far too much wind to continue that plan. As an alternative we went diving at Bachelor's bay. This dive site is the last one before you reach the oil terminal at Bullenbaai. It was my third time at this dive site this year and I have to say that it gets easier each time. With easier I don't mean the dive itself. The dive is easy; the challenge is the steep cliff that you have to climb down before the dive and up again after the dive. It is an almost 7 meter (23 feet) high rock wall with a rudimentary path down. At three places it is difficult either because the step is a bit too high or because it is not easy to get a firm grip on the wall itself or a combination of both. What probably also helps is that I took a smaller tank than the first time so the weight on my back is reduced. And what certainly helps is a group that is cooperating to get everyone safely down and up.

It is quite some time ago that I went diving at this location. That is because a hotel project has started here and that changed the infrastructure. But, as today proved, this site can still be reached although it takes a bit more effort than in the past.

The best place to park your car is near the "Miramar". From there you have to walk along the beach till the end; there you enter the water and swim to the other side of the channel where you can leave the water at another small beach. From there you have to walk till almost the end; look for a place where it is easiest to enter the water (there are a lot of rocks in the water so be careful). If there are waves you better go two by two into the water holding each other at the straps of the BCD. In this way you are more stable.

Today I dove twice. This morning at Tarpon City and this afternoon at Marie Pampun. At both sites the visibility was not what we are used to. And there were jellies in the water.

Indeed, the hurricane season has started on June 1st. But what is the relationship with diving? It means that the wind force is getting lower and that the direction of the wind is turning, which results in a lower wave height at the Northern side of the island. So for us, the "adventure divers" the season has started in which we can dive responsibly at the Northern side of the island. Not something to do for divers with little experience and even not advised for advanced divers without a dive guide with experience with this kind of diving. But the Diving Smurf and other Trunkdivers are looking forward to it.