Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Willemstad

Ready to check out the best sites in Willemstad for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Zentacle has 24 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. No matter what you're looking for, you can find a diverse range of the best ocean activities in Willemstad to suit your needs.
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Oswaldo's Drop-off

#1 - Oswaldo's Drop-off

Curacao, ABC Islands

beginner
(12)
Oswaldo's Drop-off is found off the dive shop dock of the Princess Beach Resort. The site Car Pile is also found here. This is a fun dive with easy entry and exit. About 3 km South East of Punda, wind your way down the coastal roads of Penstraat to the intersection of Dr. MLKing Blvd and Koraalspechtweg.
Bapor Kibra

#2 - Bapor Kibra

Curacao, ABC Islands

Unrated
(4)
The Bapor Kibra wreck, almost 100 years old, is off the Curacao Sea Aquarium. Conditions can be a little choppy, so check the weather before you head out. About 4 km Southeast of Punda, wind your way down the coastal roads of Penstraat, Dr. MLKing Blvd, and then on Bapor Kibra.
Directors Bay

#3 - Directors Bay

Curacao, ABC Islands

beginner
(8)
Steep wall right off the beach. Filefish, Trumpetfish, Juvenile Spotted Drums, Queen Anglefish, Blue Tang, Honeycomb Cowfish and much more. From the beach a very short swim South of Jan Thiel Bay
Superior Producer

#4 - Superior Producer

Curacao, ABC Islands

intermediate
(25)
The wreck of the Superior Producer has been gathering coral since 1977, in about 25-35 meters (80-110 feet) of depth. It's a worthwhile and relatively easy wreck dive, when the conditions are right. Found on the coastal highway of Pater Euwensweg in Otrobanda, just 1.1 km West of the inlet to the harbor area of Willemstad. Parking is at the Holiday Beach Hotel. If it is not too choppy it is easy to enter the water from shore (off the concrete jetty). Boats go there quit often also. If you choose to park abeam the wreck buoy on the Mega Pier, leave someone watching your car. We had our cars broken into twice in a year at this site. Superior Producer is also known as Location Mega Pier.
Tugboat Beach

#5 - Tugboat Beach

Curacao, ABC Islands

Unrated
(6)
After my husband dived from a boat at this site and really liked it, we rented a car and drove out there so I could snorkel. It was the best snorkeling we did on the island. There are huge columns used for tying off ships that have lots of corals growing on them. The coral was pristine and the fish abundant. Coronets, spotted drums, parrotfish, several kinds of butterfly fish, eels, Spanish hogfish, and a very attractive tugboat below.

From Anonymous: Get there early and beat the snorkel boats to this picturesque site! Tugboat is everything you see in the dive Curacao ads. Shallow site, great for photographing the little things! Finish your dive by checking out under the pier. There is a small dive shop there, but the day we went they were out of tanks and have no compressor. The attendant promised to have tanks there in a hour, we waited two hours and still no tanks. Bring your own tanks! From downtown Willemstad go east to Salina and take Nieuwe Caracasbaaiweg all the way out to its end, which is a roundabout, where you take the left turn (east). continue along the road, passing the ruins of Fort Beekenburg and alongside Baya Beach. Follow the unpaved road up the hill and back down to a parking lot below the Quarantaine Building (old, large, yellow building on hill). At the end of the parking lot is a small beach facility. It has a small dive shop, picnic tables, a small cobbled beach, and snack shop, changing rooms, and showers. The shop's name is Tugboat. On the big 'SmartDriving' road map we got from out hotel this divesite is marked as #63, 'Tugboat'.
Grote Knip

#6 - Grote Knip

Curacao, ABC Islands

Unrated
(4)
Grote Knip is another excellent beach for the whole family. The kick-out for the diver is a little far, but if you take your time, and enjoy the scenery, you'll be at the reef edge before you know it! 4.3 km South of the Northernmost village of Westpunt, turn at the intersection below.
Tarpon Bridge

#7 - Tarpon Bridge

Curacao

beginner
(0)
Great dive site with lots of Tarpon (as its name is already indicating).
Tunnel of doom

#8 - Tunnel of doom

Curacao

advanced
(0)
North shore dives in Curacao are very dangerous, due to the strong currents along the rocky shore. Recommended only if windstill(and thus less current) weather, go with a large party, use a standby diver, use dive lights even during daylight. Bring markings to find the tunnel entrance back. Possibility to shore in a nearby small bay. Located between Playa Canao and St Joris Bay. From Playa Canoa follow the big wind mills to the last one on a dirt road. At the last windmill, take a sharp turn north to the shore. You wille see a circulair hole in the rock bottom. the tunnel entrance is at the north pointing toward the see.
Hamrak

#9 - Hamrak

Curacao

intermediate
(0)
Hamrak is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.
Awa Blanku

#10 - Awa Blanku

Curacao

beginner
(0)
Current at site can be strong. Nice coral reef.
The Pipe

#11 - The Pipe

Curacao

intermediate
(0)
Site is short ride from Playa Kanoa. Variety of coral and sealife. Use a broken pipeline on shore as reference point.
Pietermaai

#12 - Pietermaai

Curacao

beginner
(0)
Pietermaai is also known as Scuba Lodge House Reef.
Marie Pampoen

#13 - Marie Pampoen

Curacao

Unrated
(0)
Marie Pampoen is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.
Parasasa Beach

#14 - Parasasa Beach

Curacao

intermediate
(0)
Parasasa Beach is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.
Dolphin Academy Curacao

#15 - Dolphin Academy Curacao

Curacao

beginner
(0)
Dolphin Academy Curacao is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.
Tugboat

#16 - Tugboat

Curacao

beginner
(0)
It is a very nice and easy dive, lot's of fish and very nice: a little tugboat at safety stop depth. Also very nice to snorkel. Avoid this site when cruise ships are in town--snorkel tours keep the site VERY busy. This is an excellent site for kids on a Bubblemakers course. A wreck dive on their first dive in only 15' of water! At the moment, Google Earth shows this in the wrong place. It is actually a few more miles east than the marker listed there, by the Baya Beach marker. Located just beyond the Baya Beach Club on the southeast side of Caracasbaai. The wreck is in the Curacao Underwater Park. Easily accessible from shore( boatdives also available) from a nice coral beach: Baya Beach. All facilities available.
Grote Knip (Playa Abou)

#17 - Grote Knip (Playa Abou)

Curacao

beginner
(0)
Grote Knip (Playa Abou) is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.
Car Pile

#18 - Car Pile

Curacao

intermediate
(0)
Car Pile starts getting interesting at around 80-100ft / 25-30m so it's for Advanced or experienced divers only. Head back along Pierbaai Reef on the return leg. The barge carrying these vehicles was sunk as an artificial reef in 1973 and the 1950's cars and trucks have become totally integrated into the reef by now. There's lots of marine life. Look out for moral eels swimming through car headlamps, and check out your reflection in the chrome bumper Car Pile is also known as Pierbaai.
Playa Kanoa

#19 - Playa Kanoa

Curacao

beginner
(0)
Playa Kanoa is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.
Sandy's Plateau

#20 - Sandy's Plateau

Curacao, ABC Islands

beginner
(0)
This is a great reef dive, also a great second dive. Not very deep, so it is accessible for almost any diver. Relatively easy to find, most dive shops on the island know where it is. (I do not remember the exact location of this site, I have placed an approximate. If someone knows exactly where it is, please let me know to update. Thank you)
Bullenbaai

#21 - Bullenbaai

Curacao

beginner
(0)
Bullenbaai is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.
Lions Dive Housereef

#22 - Lions Dive Housereef

Curacao

beginner
(0)
Lions Dive Housereef is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Curacao which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.
Caracas Bay

#23 - Caracas Bay

Curacao

advanced
(0)
Great spot for a deep dive. After the deep part the shallows have unbelievable numbers of small fish. Parking Lot access to the beach
Tugboat Wreck

#24 - Tugboat Wreck

Curacao

beginner
(0)
Small Tugboat with easdy Penetration. Great for pictures. Swim out just past the large piles and drop down to the Tugboat