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.<br><br>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'.

Tugboat Beach

Extremely easy entry...good for a beginner.  Enjoyed diving under the pier, but having a huge freighter docked there and overhead was a bit unnerving for even me as an advanced diver...just different!  We did see an octopus and some nice sea life...it was like diving in an aquarium!

#2 - Tugboat Beach

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

Directors Bay

The dive was great...easy steps to the beach and good markers to guide your way.  We rented tanks with Hans at Curious2Dive and he showed us the lay-out of the dive which was very helpful!  Lovely dive…just make sure you don't take any valuables and leave the car unlocked and windows down, as the location is remote and has been known for smash and grabs.

Susski's Dive Log

@susski

2 dives