Best snorkeling spots on Curaçao
Snorkeling from the beach, with clear water and plenty of marine life
Curaçao is not only a fantastic diving destination, but also one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean for snorkeling. The clear water, calm bays, and reefs that often start just a short distance from the shore make the island ideal for snorkelers of all levels.
The great thing is: you usually don’t need a boat. In many places, you can simply walk into the water from the beach and see fish, coral, and other sea life within minutes.
For families, non-divers, and anyone who loves being in the sea, snorkeling on Curaçao is almost a must.
Snorkeling on Curaçao: possible almost everywhere along the south coast
Almost the entire south coast of Curaçao is suitable for snorkeling. Here you’ll find sheltered bays, calm beaches, and reefs that start close to the shore.
The west and central parts of the island are generally the most beautiful. Here you’ll find more nature, better visibility, and spots where the reef is easily accessible from the beach. Towards the east, the options are a bit more limited and often less spectacular, but there are still some great snorkeling spots to be found.
At many beaches, you can easily walk into the water and see fish even in shallow areas.
Our top 10 snorkeling spots on Curaçao (plus one extra)
There are dozens of beaches on Curaçao where you can enjoy great snorkeling. We’ve tried to put together a top 10 of places where you can easily enter the water and where there’s often a lot to see.
Officially, there are ten. In practice, eleven, because we simply didn’t want to cut any, from east to west:
-
- Tugboat
- Director’s Bay
- Kokomo
- Daaibooi
- Cas Abao
- Porto Mari
- Playa Lagun
- Playa Jeremi
- Kleine Knip
- Playa Piskadó
- Playa Kalki
Many of these beaches are also great places to spend a day with the whole family, with shade, facilities, and easy access to the water. Kokomo, Cas Abao, and Porto Mari are especially popular with mixed groups of snorkelers, divers, and non-divers.
Snorkeling with turtles on Curaçao
For many people, the highlight of snorkeling on Curaçao is seeing a sea turtle.
Your best chances are usually at:
- Playa Piskadó
- Playa Lagun
- Daaibooi
At Porto Mari and Cas Abao, turtles are also regularly spotted, but it’s less predictable.
Playa Piskadó is perhaps the most famous place on Curaçao to see sea turtles. At the same time, it’s also a place where visitors need to be especially aware of what’s happening underwater.
Originally, this was a fishermen’s beach. Turtles were attracted here by food scraps, such as fish waste thrown into the sea by fishermen. As a result, they began to associate this bay with food and often hang around here.
This now attracts many snorkelers and tourists. Some people have even started actively feeding the turtles to bring them closer. This leads to spectacular close encounters, but unfortunately also to unnatural behavior and health problems, such as obesity.
That’s why it’s extra important to treat the animals respectfully here. While snorkeling (and diving), keep at least 1.5 meters distance, don’t touch the turtles, and don’t feed them. This helps keep them healthy and wild.
Want to learn more about sea turtles and their behavior? Then a Sea Turtle Ecology course is a great addition. Part of the proceeds goes to Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao, an organization dedicated to research and protection of sea turtles around the island.
Where is the best place to snorkel?
Many snorkelers stay in the middle of the bay. That makes sense: the water is often calmest there and entry is easiest.
If you want to see more, it’s worth snorkeling quietly along the edges of the bay. That’s usually where the coral starts and where most fish hide.
The sand in the middle can also be surprisingly interesting. With a bit of luck, you might see:
- a well-camouflaged peacock flounder
- garden eels sticking out of the sand
It’s the variety between sand, rock, and coral that makes snorkeling so much fun.
Snorkeling with fins (and possibly a swim vest)
Many people snorkel without fins, but we actually recommend using them. With fins you can:
- swim more easily and calmly
- get a bit further from the beach
- see more with less effort
For those who feel less confident in the water, swim vests are also available. With these, you can float comfortably and still enjoy what’s happening below you.
Night snorkeling: a different side of the reef
If you want to experience something special, consider an evening or night snorkel. With a small group, lights, and possibly a wetsuit, you’ll see a totally different side of the reef.
Many animals that you hardly see during the day become active then. With guidance from a dive school, this is a unique and surprising experience.
Freediving and safety
Some snorkelers also try to dive a bit deeper. Freediving can be fun, but without training and without a buddy, it carries risks.
If you really want to learn freediving, it’s best to go to a specialized freedive center. Some dive schools on Curaçao also offer this alongside scuba diving, but there are relatively few. With the right training, you’ll learn techniques and safety rules that make freediving safer and more comfortable.
And one small but important tip: just like with diving and swimming in general, it’s wise to save alcohol for after snorkeling. After all, you want to be in the water, not the other way around.
Did you know you can also take a snorkeling course?
Many dive schools offer short snorkeling courses. In a few hours, you’ll learn under supervision how to swim more efficiently, breathe better with a snorkel, and what to watch out for in the sea.
Sometimes it’s possible to spread this over several days, for example for children or people who feel less confident in the water. It’s not the main activity of most dive schools, but if you’re interested, just ask. The options vary by location.
Snorkeling for everyone
The great thing about snorkeling on Curaçao is that it’s accessible to almost everyone. You don’t need a course, no complicated equipment, and often you’ll be surrounded by fish within minutes.
For many visitors, snorkeling is one of the most fun and relaxing activities of their holiday. And for some, it’s even the first step towards a later diving experience.
Whether you’re an avid snorkeler, out with the family, or just want to get in the water now and then: along the south coast of Curaçao, there’s almost always a beach where there’s something beautiful to discover.
If you find yourself wanting to look just a bit further than the water’s surface, you’ll often discover that the step to diving is smaller than you think. On our page about learning to dive on Curaçao we explain how a trial dive works and how you can gradually progress to your first diving certification.
