Curacao's Coral Reef

Forests of coral mushrooms, eerie blue caves and huge swirling shoals of tiny fish silvered by the sunlight are the stuff dreams are made of and Curacao is indeed a diver’s dream. With over 65 dive sites rich in colorful marine life, caves, wrecks and challenging drop-offs, the island is one of the Caribbean’s top dive destinations. Curacao’s coral scenery is varied, its reefs range from broad shallow terraces to steeper slopes with drop-offs, canyons, walls and stretches of sandy plain. A few miles offshore, indigo blue waters mark the end of the coastal platform and the depths plummet to over 1000 meters. Underwater visibility is generally between 70 and 100 feet and the sea temperature hovers around 80 ºF throughout the year.

Marine biologists have identified 57 species of coral, 400 species of fish and a variety of sponges, algae, anemones, mollusks and invertebrates in local waters. With the exception of the tropical rain forest, the reef is the planet’s richest ecosystem and Curacao’s coral cities live up to their reputation. Shoals of jacks, yellowtail snappers, grunts and pork fish hover over the reef; gaudy parrot fish graze on coral and damselfish and sergeant majors guard their territory. Surgeon fish, angelfish, Creole wrasse, queen triggerfish, blue chromis, spotted drum, the list of exotic names, forms and shades is endless, a kaleidoscope of shimmering scales. The fish share their habitat with lobsters, green and hawksbill turtles, rays and several kinds of shark, dolphins and migrating pilot whales. Diving takes place along the sheltered leeward coast and many of the reefs lie in shallow water and are classified as shore dives meaning that you can literally swim out to them. The Curacao Underwater Marine Park protects a 12-mile-stretch of reef off the southeastern shore.

Other spectacular dive sites include reefs at Banda Abou, Blauwhaal, and the Superior Producer wreck in the Central Area, the Mushroom Forest and Watamula, the northernmost dive site on the island.