Dive FAQ
Conditions
What is the average visibility?
The average visibility is 100 feet
Are there currents?
Usually there is only a very slight current or none at all.
What is the average water temperature?
The average water temp is about 80 F
Are there seasonal differences in the water temperature?
In the winter the water is 2-3 degrees colder
Reefs
What is your house reef called?
The name of our house reef is "Nos Cas", which means "Our House" in Papiamento (the local language).
What do you do to protect the reefs?
We never anchor the boats, gloves are not allowed, and in our orientation we try to make the divers aware of the fact that the reef is very fragile.
At what depth do the reefs start?
All the reefs in Curacao are along the coastline. Most reefs start at 15-20 feet.
Do you have wall diving?
We have some wall diving, like Bullen Bay, but most reefs do not have walls.
Marine life
What makes Curacao's marine life different?
We have very healthy reefs with high coral density, a lot of sponges and over 141 species of marine life including millions of colorful tropical fish.
What type of fish is it possible to see?
We have tropical fish such as Parrotfish which are highly visible even from land in the crystal clear water. Many Eels are present including our house mascot, Chester the Moray. Depending on conditions and the luck of the dive it is often possible to spot seahorses in a multitude of colors. Frogfish and schools of Bleu Tangs and Creole Wrasses are also commonly seen. We also have a lot of graceful Spotted Drums. However there are too many to cover just in this website we have so much fish come and look for yourself.
Rental Equipment
What brands of rental equipment do you supply?
We carry BCD's regulators, fins, and masks by Mares and Sea Quest.
Shorty's by Bare. Metric and Imperial sizes are in stock.
Do you have computers for rent?
Yes, we have the Aladin Sports metric and imperial gauges.
What kind of suits do you rent?
3 mm shorties with long sleeves
What kind of fins do you rent?
Full foot fins, because when you dive from the boat or from the house reef it is very easy to go in and out of the water with no sand or stones.
Do you rent lights for a night dive?
Yes we do.
What kind of cameras do you rent?
The Sea & Sea MX 10 with several lenses and we also have digital camera's for rent such as the Sea & Sea DX3000.
Do you have digital cameras for rent?
Sea & Sea DX3000.
Packing
What kind of a suit do you recommend?
A 3-mm long suit will do normally here, and a lot of divers are wearing shorties as well.
Can I charge my dive light in my room?
Yes you can.
Boat Dives
Is there a guide on the boat?
Yes, there is always a dive guide in the water.
Do you have towels on the boat?
We don't provide towels, but you can get beach towels free of charge at the front desk of the hotel
How long does the boat trip last?
We do 2 tank dives and the maximum time is 4, hours.
Does the Dive Master give a briefing on the dive site?
Yes, the dive master loves to share his knowledge about the reefs with you
How many different boat dive sites do you have?
We visit up to 30 different dive sites by boat. Specific site availability depends on the season and prevailing weather conditions.
How big are your boats?
We have two 42-foot custom-built dive boats.
What is the capacity of the boat?
One boat takes 25 persons and the other 22, but normally we don't take more than 20.
Do you provide refreshments on the boat?
We have water and fruit and you can pack extras as well.
Is there any shade on the boat?
Yes there is
Is there a toilet on the boat?
No I'm sorry
Do you have special rinse tanks for cameras?
Of course
Shore Dives at Habitat
How accessible is the shore diving?
One of the many excellent features of Habitat Curacao Resort is the exceptional accessibility of the house reef. Entry into the water is via the dive dock down the stairs or with a giant stride. When you go underwater you will find a rope nicknamed "the diver's highway" that guides you to the reef. The rope goes down to 90 feet. Therefore, it is always easy to find the rope to guide you back to shore.
What is 24 hour shore diving and diving freedom?
At Habitat Curacao Resort, certified divers can get a full tank and go shore diving at any time of the day or night. The only limits are your own personal skill and physical abilities. Our philosophy is, that everybody with a certification he or she knows their limits and limitations.
This unprecedented freedom is particularly enjoyed by our most avid divers and provides an exceptional experience as well as extraordinary value for money.
Can I rinse my equipment?
Yes, on the dive dock we have two big rinse tanks, and we change the water at least two times a day.
Can I store my equipment on the dive dock?
We have secured lockers right on the dive dock, so you don't have to carry your equipment from your nearby room.
How easy is the diving on the house reef?
Well, our name is Easy Divers @ Habitat Curacao.
Shore dives around Curacao
How many shore dive sites are there in Curacao?
We have about 35 different dive sites here in Curacao that you can reach from shore.
They are all marked with a painted stone that looks like a dive flag.
Can I get tanks at Habitat to go shore diving around Curacao?
We have a air filling station at the parking lot to make it as easy as possible for you
Is it a long drive to other shore dive sites?
Drive times vary between 3 minutes to 1 hour away by car.
At what depth do the reefs start?
Mainly at 10/20 feet
How are the dive sites marked?
With big stones whom are painted red with a with stripe (the alpha flag)
Do I need to rent a four-wheel drive vehicle to reach the sites?
No, most dive sites you can reach with a "normal" car.
Are there facilities on the beaches?
We have a lot of beaches with facilities, so you can rinse your equipment and take a shower, but we also have undeveloped beaches without facilities.
Night Dives
Is the reef suitable for night diving?
Believe us, Habitat Curacao Resort has best reef on the island for night diving.
What kind of nightlife is it possible to see?
At night you have the possibility to see Lobster, a lot of Morene's Crabs Octopuses and many more night dwellers.
Do I have to arrange tanks when I like to make a night dive?
No, our air filling station is open 24 hours a day and you can grab a tank any time you like.
Diving Kids
Do you have small tanks and BCs?
Yes, we have 63" tanks, especially for kids and also BCs.
At what age can a child begin certification at Habitat Curacao?
10 years of age
Nitrox
Do you have Nitrox?
Yes, we have our own Nitrox filling station.
Photography
Do you have special rinse tanks for cameras?
Yes, on the boats and on the dock
Do you sell film?
Yes, Kodak and Fuji.
Do you develop film?
Yes, we do E6 processing.
Safety
Do you have Oxygen and first aid on the boats and dive shop?
Yes, no doubt about that.
Do you have a decompression chamber on the island?
Yes, in town we have a hospital with a decompression chamber.
Courses
What type of courses do you offer?
We give PADI and TDI courses. From Open water up to instructor level certification..
We also offer several specialties like photo, night Nitrox, Boatdiving, Drift diving, Buoyancy peak performance.