Which to buy← Curaçao

Checked October 20, 2026 · 37 compared

Diving in Curaçao: which dive shop is right for you?

We found 37 dive shops and dive bases on Curaçao. A first try dive (Discover Scuba) costs $125 to $140, PADI Open Water about $450 to $525, a guided shore dive from $39, and five days of unlimited shore diving from $210. Never dived: look at The Dive Bus or Jan Thiel Diving; experienced and tech: Goby Divers; Westpunt: GO WEST Diving; Dutch-speaking: Dive Center Van de Ven or Unique Diving.

Pick your answers; the top 3 and the list update instantly.

Your top 3

1. PADI 5 Star

Porto Mari Dive Center

4.9★ · 416 reviews

PADI 5 Star · Playa Porto Mari, Sint Willibrordus · Bubblemaker for kids

  • Patient and safety-first
  • Clear water and a good house reef
  • Course explanations sometimes too long

2. PADI 5 Star

Dive Center Scuba Do

4.7★ · 549 reviews

PADI 5 Star · Jan Thiel Beach · Groups of 6 max · Kids programs

  • Patient, friendly instructors
  • Small groups
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3. PADI 5 Star IDC, shore diving

The Dive Bus

5.0★ · 2,075 reviews

PADI 5 Star IDC, shore diving · Marie Pampoen, Willemstad · $129 from, PADI Discover Scuba · Shore diving since 2005 · 2-tank guided dive from $109 · Max 6 to 8 divers per guide · Pickup in Punda and Jan Thiel

  • Patient teaching for beginners
  • Friendly, professional team
  • House reef guide sometimes too fast for macro

Everything compared

Porto Mari Dive Center

PADI 5 Star · Playa Porto Mari, Sint Willibrordus · Bubblemaker for kids
4.9 ★ 416
  • Patient and safety-first
  • Course explanations sometimes too long
All pros, cons and scores
  • Clear water and a good house reef
  • Works for beginners, kids and experienced divers

Tripadvisor 4.9 (416)

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Dive Center Scuba Do

PADI 5 Star · Jan Thiel Beach · Groups of 6 max · Kids programs
4.7 ★ 549
  • Patient, friendly instructors
All pros, cons and scores
  • Small groups
  • Good for beginners and Open Water students

Tripadvisor 4.7 (549)

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The Dive Bus

PADI 5 Star IDC, shore diving · Marie Pampoen, Willemstad · $129 from, PADI Discover Scuba · Shore diving since 2005 · 2-tank guided dive from $109 · Max 6 to 8 divers per guide · Pickup in Punda and Jan Thiel
5.0 ★ 2,075
  • Patient teaching for beginners
  • House reef guide sometimes too fast for macro
All pros, cons and scores
  • Friendly, professional team
  • Clean gear and a well-stocked shop
  • Lots of marine life at Car Pile and Tugboat
  • Shore dives mean carrying gear to the water

Tripadvisor 5.0 (2,075)

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Scubaçao Diving Adventures

PADI 5 Star · Willemstad · $140 from, intro shore dive (1 dive) · 2-tank guided shore dive $165 · Hotel pickup
5.0 ★ 1,262
  • Calm and patient with new divers
  • Shore entries and exits take some effort
All pros, cons and scores
  • Well organized and safety-minded
  • Hotel pickup and healthy reefs
  • Dead coral at one snorkel site

Tripadvisor 5.0 (1,262)

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Jan Thiel Diving

PADI, in a resort · Livingstone Jan Thiel Resort · $39 from, 2-tank guided shore dive · Open Water from $525 · Discover Scuba from $125 · #1 of 427 in Willemstad
5.0 ★ 832
  • Patient, knowledgeable instructors
All pros, cons and scores
  • Calm vibe that suits nervous divers
  • Flexible when flights are delayed
  • Good rental gear

Tripadvisor 5.0 (832)

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Dive Center Pietermaai (Scuba Lodge)

PADI 5 Star IDC · Pietermaai, Willemstad · Travelers' Choice 2026 · At Scuba Lodge City Beach
4.9 ★ 1,280
  • Warm, professional team
All pros, cons and scores
  • Small groups with personal attention
  • Quick replies, including on WhatsApp

Tripadvisor 4.9 (1,280)

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Central Dive Curaçao

local, small · Willemstad, midden van het eiland · All sites within 50 minutes · Airport pickup · Car rental on site
5.0 ★ 169
  • Patient, knowledgeable instructors
All pros, cons and scores
  • Personal, you are not a number
  • Lionfish hunting dives
  • Airport pickup and car rental handled

Tripadvisor 5.0 (169)

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B Diving & Watersports

PADI 5 Star · Cas Abao Beach · Also freediving lessons
4.9 ★ 586
  • Friendly, professional staff
  • No night dives: the beach gate closes before sunset
All pros, cons and scores
  • Patient with beginners and students
  • Safety-minded, with a house reef off the beach
  • One dispute over filling small tanks

Tripadvisor 4.9 (586)

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Curaçao Divers

German-run base · Sun Reef Village, Sint Michiel · German-speaking team · House reef at Sun Reef Village
4.9 ★ 279
  • Calm, patient instructors
All pros, cons and scores
  • German-speaking
  • Good, complete gear
  • Good value

Tripadvisor 4.9 (279)

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Blue Bay Dive & Watersports

PADI 5 Star IDC · Blue Bay Resort, Sint Michiel · $525 from, PADI Open Water (2 days) · Discover Scuba from $125 · Guided shore dive from $40 · House reef: The Wall
4.8 ★ 489
  • Patient instructors who make you feel safe
  • Some call it one of the pricier shops
All pros, cons and scores
  • Rental gear in good shape
  • Walk straight from the beach onto the reef
  • Dive computer costs extra

Tripadvisor 4.8 (489)

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Coral Divers

PADI 5 Star, also freediving · Coral Estate, Rif Sint Marie · $125 from, PADI Discover Scuba · Guided shore dive from $40 · Multilingual instructors
4.8 ★ 392
  • Very patient instructors
  • Sometimes one guide for seven divers
All pros, cons and scores
  • Well-maintained rental gear
  • House reef with octopus and moray eels
  • Slow email and no hotel transport

Tripadvisor 4.8 (392)

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Divers Republic

local, small groups · Daaibooi, Sint Willibrordus · Courses capped at 4 students
4.8 ★ 145
  • Small groups, often one-on-one
  • One complaint about a skipped briefing
All pros, cons and scores
  • Personal, relaxed teaching
  • Thorough briefings
  • Guide takes photos

Tripadvisor 4.8 (145)

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GO WEST Diving

PADI 5 Star · Playa Kalki, Westpunt · $53 per day full rental gear · Travelers' Choice 2026 · Boat trips to Watamula, Blue Room · Rental $48/day after 3 days
4.7 ★ 588
  • Patient, friendly instructors
  • Not full service: you haul and rinse your own gear
All pros, cons and scores
  • Clean, well-maintained rental gear
  • Strong dive sites on the northwest coast
  • Good with first-timers and families
  • Add-on fees add up
  • Few loungers and limited showers

Tripadvisor 4.7 (588)

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Dive Nas Dive Center

local · Picks divers up
4.9 ★ 60
  • Takes time to explain things
All pros, cons and scores
  • Relaxed and professional
  • Flexible scheduling

Tripadvisor 4.9 (60)

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Ocean Encounters

PADI 5 Star IDC, largest · Lions Dive Beach Resort, Bapor Kibra · $210 from, 5 days unlimited shore diving · Also at Sunscape and TUI BLUE · 7 boats, 6 locations · Discover Scuba about $140 · Refresher course from $110
4.6 ★ 1,209
  • Friendly, knowledgeable divemasters and boat captains
  • Isolated complaint about dirty or faulty rental gear
All pros, cons and scores
  • Roomy, well-kept boats
  • Guides adjust pace and depth to each diver's level
  • One complaint about rude staff

Tripadvisor 4.6 (1,209)

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Elite Diving Curaçao

local, new · Willemstad · Dutch, Spanish and English
5.0 ★ 32
  • Calm, clear instruction
All pros, cons and scores
  • Puts nervous divers at ease
  • Brand-new gear

Tripadvisor 5.0 (32)

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Carrero Diving Curaçao

local, small · Bij Mambo Beach, Willemstad · Also Rescue and Divemaster · Free parking
5.0 ★ 30
  • Calm, patient instruction
  • Sign is hard to spot from the road
All pros, cons and scores
  • Safety first
  • Personal, often one-on-one

Tripadvisor 5.0 (30)

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Goby Divers

PADI and SSI, tech center · Dreams en Zoetry Curaçao, Piscadera · Trimix and CCR support · Superior Producer wreck dives
4.8 ★ 252
  • Safety comes first
  • Boats sometimes full, up to 9 divers per guide
All pros, cons and scores
  • Current, well-kept rental gear
  • Strong in technical diving
  • A leaking regulator was handled slowly

Tripadvisor 4.8 (252)

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No reviews found yet (19)

Dive Center Lagun (Scuba Lodge Lagun Beach)

PADI 5 Star IDC · Playa Lagun, Lagun · On site at beach apartments
–

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The Diveshop Curaçao

SSI, shore diving · Piscadera Bay, bij CARMABI · 416 reviews, 404 rated excellent · No boat dives
–
  • Professional and safety-minded
  • Some rental wetsuits are worn
All pros, cons and scores
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Gear included in the price
  • No boat dives

no reviews found

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Atlantis Diving

PADI, 25+ years · Willemstad · House reef out front · Packages with an apartment
–

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Prices are "from" prices we saw at the source on the stated date; they vary by season.

Booking through a middleman

Tripadvisor

Books try dives and guided dives from The Dive Bus, Jan Thiel Diving, Blue Bay Dive and others, usually with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

PADI Travel

PADI's booking site for dive trips and courses at PADI centers, with rental prices per item.

Dive Travel Curaçao (divecuracao.info)

Sells week packages with lodging, diving and sometimes a rental car; recommends its own partners.

Bluewater Dive Travel

US dive travel agency with packages at Ocean Encounters and partner hotels.

Good to know

  • A single tank runs about $12 and a full gear set with tank $49 to $50 a day. For a week of shore diving, an unlimited-air package is cheaper, from $210 for five days at Ocean Encounters.
  • If you plan to shore dive on your own, rent a car. Sites run from Playa Kalki in Westpunt to Directors Bay near Jan Thiel.
  • Guided dives often require a dive in the last 12 to 18 months. If not, the shop asks for a refresher, from $110 at Ocean Encounters.
  • Ask how many divers each guide takes. Reviews complain about 1 to 7 and 1 to 9; small shops like Divers Republic cap courses at 4.
  • Check what the price covers: some shops charge extra for a dive computer (GO WEST lists $53 for a full rental set).
  • Get dive insurance. DAN offers stand-alone cover for 7, 14 or 30 days.

Frequently asked questions

How much is an Open Water certification in Curaçao?

Expect $449 to $525. Jan Thiel Diving and Blue Bay Dive charge from $525 for a 2 to 3 day course.

How much is a Discover Scuba dive?

Usually $125 to $140: Blue Bay Dive, Coral Divers and Jan Thiel Diving from $125, The Dive Bus from $129, Ocean Encounters about $140.

Can you shore dive on your own in Curaçao?

Yes. There are more than 38 shore sites. You rent tanks from a dive shop and drive yourself in a rental car. A certification lets you dive independently.

What are the best dive sites in Curaçao?

Well-known sites include the Tugboat at Caracasbaai (wreck at 16 ft), Mushroom Forest and the Blue Room (by boat), Playa Kalki or Alice in Wonderland in Westpunt, the Superior Producer wreck at about 100 ft, and Klein Curaçao by boat.

Is the Tugboat dive good for beginners?

Yes. The tugboat sits in about 16 feet of water at Caracasbaai and is easy to snorkel too.

What is the best month to dive in Curaçao?

Any month. Curaçao is outside the hurricane belt and the water is 79 to 82°F. January through August has the calmest shore entries; September to November can be a bit windier.

How do you get to Mushroom Forest?

Mushroom Forest is a boat dive on the west side, often paired with the Blue Room. Westpunt shops such as GO WEST Diving run trips there.

Can kids scuba dive in Curaçao?

Yes. Porto Mari Dive Center offers Bubblemaker for kids and Scuba Do runs kids programs. The Dive Bus sets a minimum age of 10 for guided dives.

Where can you do technical diving in Curaçao?

Goby Divers is the best-known tech center, with trimix, nitrox and CCR support. Unique Diving offers extended range dives.

How we compare

We looked up every provider in Curaçao on Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Trustpilot, travel forums and the providers’ own sites. For each we show the score and number of reviews per platform and summarize, in our own words, what keeps coming back in reviews. Providers do not pay for a spot.

Sources (41)