Learn to dive in Curaçao

Have you always wanted to know what it’s like to breathe underwater? Or have you been thinking about learning to dive for a while, but aren’t sure where to start?

Curacao is one of the most beautiful and relaxed places in the world to have your first diving experience. The warm, clear water, calm conditions, and easily accessible reefs make the island ideal for beginners.

Whether you just want to try what it feels like to dive, or want to get certified right away: there’s always a way to get to know the underwater world calmly and safely.

Want to try first? Do a try dive

For many people, it all starts with one simple question: would diving be something for me?

A try dive is the perfect first step. You don’t need any experience and there are no obligations. Together with an instructor, you enter the water and make your first real dive, while being guided step by step.

A try dive usually takes about two hours in total and is built up calmly.

The first hour: preparation on land

The first part takes place above water and is all about getting to know diving in a relaxed way.

In this first hour:

• you read a thin booklet of a few pages with the basics of diving;
• you learn how the equipment works;
• the most important safety rules are explained to you;
• you hear which exercises you will do in the water later.

Meanwhile, the instructor usually assembles the dive set for you and then calmly goes through everything with you again. There is plenty of room to ask questions, and only when everyone feels comfortable do you head towards the water.

There are a maximum of four participants per instructor. In practice, introductory dives are often done with smaller groups, for example one-on-one or with two people. This ensures a lot of personal attention and a calm, relaxed atmosphere.

The second hour: into the water

Then the ‘wet’ part begins. You always start in very shallow water — literally shallow enough to stand. There you first practice a number of basic skills, such as:

• breathing calmly underwater;
• clearing your regulator;
• clearing your mask;
• getting used to the feeling of weightlessness.

These exercises are not difficult, but they are important. They help you feel comfortable underwater, gain confidence, and know what to do if something unexpected happens.

Can’t do an exercise right away? That’s no problem. The instructor adjusts the pace and takes their time. The goal is for you to have a pleasant and relaxed first experience.

If everything goes well, you’ll then make a beautiful dive over the reef, up to a maximum depth of 12 meters. In total, you’ll usually spend about 40 to 45 minutes actually underwater during a try dive.

If it still feels a bit exciting, the dive can always be made shorter or less deep.

Where do you do such a first dive?

Introductory dives are usually done at locations where a calm, sheltered bay is combined with a beautiful reef within a short swimming distance. Places like Tugboat, Kokomo, Porto Mari, and Cas Abao are particularly suitable for this: you start in calm, shallow water and then swim to a part of the reef where you can quickly see lots of fish and coral.

For many people, this is a special moment. The silence underwater, the calm rhythm of breathing, and seeing fish up close often make an immediate impression.

And often it doesn’t stop there. Many people spontaneously decide to continue with a course after a try dive.

That’s why it’s often smart to plan a try dive early in your holiday. If you enjoy it, you’ll still have plenty of time to continue with a course if you want. If you only do it on the last day, that chance is gone.

Getting your diving certification in Curacao

Want to continue after that first experience? Then the Open Water course is the most popular next step. With this certification, you can dive independently with a buddy anywhere in the world.

The course consists of three parts:

• Theory;
• Exercises in confined water (pool or shallow sea);
• Open water dives in the sea.

Because many dive sites in Curacao are so easily accessible, the first exercises and all training dives simply take place from the beach. This is clear, calm, and ideal for building confidence step by step.

The warm water (usually around 26–29 degrees) and good visibility make learning here extra pleasant.

Doing your theory at home

Many people choose to do the theory part at home in advance via e-learning. This saves time on holiday and ensures that you can focus on what’s most fun here: getting into the water.

You can therefore prepare most of the course before you travel to Curacao.

Referral: part at home, part in Curacao

Another option is to do part of the course in your own country.

Some people take the theory lessons and pool training at a local dive school and then complete only the open water dives in Curacao. This is often called a referral program.

This can be nice if you want to practice calmly at home but don’t feel like cold and dark water, and want to do the sea dives during your holiday.

How long does an Open Water course take?

That varies a bit depending on the schedule and the dive school.

Some courses are offered quite compactly and completed in two days. Others take a bit more time and spread the course over three days or longer. In the latter case, there is often more room to do everything at a relaxed pace.

Many people choose a flexible schedule, for example with a rest day between dive days. This is often a nice approach, especially for children.

When comparing courses from different dive schools, also check whether they offer a two- or three-day schedule and how flexible they are with this, if that’s important to you.

What if you have less time? Scuba Diver

Not everyone has the time to complete a full Open Water course right away. In that case, there is also an intermediate option: the Scuba Diver course.

This is essentially the first part of the Open Water training. You learn the basic skills and make several dives, but in a shorter program.

With a Scuba Diver certification, you can then continue to dive under the supervision of a professional to a limited depth. Later, you can easily upgrade this to a full Open Water certification.

This option is often chosen by people who have less time during their holiday, have to stop halfway through the course, or want to continue later.

SSI, PADI and other organizations — does it matter?

During your search, you’ll probably come across names like SSI and PADI. These are international training organizations active all over the world. Both are represented in Curacao, as well as some smaller organizations.

For you as a student, it usually makes little difference in practice. The basics of the training are similar and your certification is recognized worldwide.

What’s more important is that you feel comfortable with the instructor and that you learn in an environment that suits you.

Who is learning to dive suitable for?

Almost anyone can learn to dive. You don’t have to be extremely sporty, as long as you are reasonably comfortable in the water, healthy, and open to a new experience.

The minimum age for an Open Water course is 10 years. For young participants, they receive a Junior Open Water certification, with some extra rules and adjustments.

Children aged 10 and 11 may dive to a maximum depth of 12 meters and must always enter the water under the supervision of a dive professional.

Youths aged 12 to 14 may already dive to 18 meters, but must dive together with an adult, certified buddy, such as a parent.

From the age of 15, you are considered ‘adult’ in the diving world. You then receive a regular Open Water certification without junior qualification and may dive with a buddy within the normal limits.

From first dive to new hobby

Many people come to Curacao for a holiday and spontaneously decide to do a try dive. For a large part of them, it doesn’t stop at just one time. What starts as a first experience often grows into a new hobby that you can continue to do all over the world.

And that’s what makes learning to dive in Curacao so special: you often take the first step here in an adventure that can continue for years.

Once you’ve been underwater, you often look at the reef and sea life differently. On our page about coral reef and nature conservation in Curacao you can read more about how the ecosystem works and which initiatives are committed to preserving this special underwater world.

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