Dive Review of Ocean Encounters Diving/Sunscape Resort in
Curaçao/National Underwater Park

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Ocean Encounters Diving/Sunscape Resort, Oct, 2012, by Randy Kettering, IL, US ( Contributor 14 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 7122.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	The hotel was under renovation and owner transfer but that was known and not really problematic. The resort had numerous free water sport activities, a climbing wall and even a trapeeze! for those so inclined. The food was served both buffet style in the main dining area and sit down style at the 3 specialty restaurants. Seating and reservations were not a problem. Beverage service was unlimited and free (top tier liquors and beer included). Rooms were spacious but dated and like regular hotel rooms (no frig or microwave) but undergoing renovation in other areas of the resort. As for the diving I found the dive staff to be engaging, fun, professional and very laid back. We visited ten unique dive sites. We dove our own profiles and did not have to remain bunched up. Dive master did point out seahorses and other hard to spot critters. One of the highlights occurred when we encountered a pod of dolphin on our way back to the dock. The captain turned the boat around and eventually stopped allowing us to don our masks and snorkels (for those who had them...now I know why we should have them handy) and allowed us to interact with a pod of 30+ dolphin for probably 20 minutes or so. Very accommodating! I dove the Superior Producer as a shore dive (101 max depth) and encountered a huge grouper that allowed me to video him. Shore diving from the resort dock was very satisfying in both the afternoon and at night; I was lucky enough to encounter two squid mating and video the 5 minute encounter. Though the dive shop would closed at 5pm, they would leave tanks available and the drying room open for night dives. There were drying racks on the dock to hang your stuff after diving; the ever prevailing breeze dried stuff quickly. Lockers with locks were available for valuables (bring your own lock if you are security phobic). They encouraged you to retrieve your gear and take it to your room but if something is left hanging at 5pm they secured it in a locked room. I found the diving and the water visibility as good as Bonaire. The reefs appeared to be in very good shape at least in the protected National Underwater Park area. The resort is located right next to Lion Dive Resort, the aquarium and Mambo beach. In all, it was a wonderful experience. In fact, it was so good and the value for the dive dollar so unparalleled ANYWHERE, that our group is returning 10/13. The dive staff was relaxed, the diving nonrushed and I got the impression they really wanted us to have a varied dive experience. They do have a set schedule of dive sites they visit each day but it probably does vary based upon weather conditions. The water was like glass the week I was there so we were not "confined" to repeating any dive site.
Websites	Ocean Encounters Diving Sunscape Resort
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Grand Cayman, St Vincent, Bequia, Mayreau, Roatan, Utila, Bahamas, Cozumel, Mahajual MX, Dominica, Oahu, Maui, Key West, Sea of Cortez, Bonaire
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	82-85°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	70-100 Ft/ 21-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	No restrictions!
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	There was a small rinse bucket on board that would not accommodate a rig with two strobes. They did not instruct others that it was a CAMERA ONLY bucket and others used it to rinse masks.

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Dive Review of Ocean Encounters Diving/Sunscape Resort in Curaçao/National Underwater Park

Ocean Encounters Diving/Sunscape Resort, Oct, 2012,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Ocean Encounters Diving/Sunscape Resort in
Curaçao/National Underwater Park