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Dive Review of Ocean Encounters Diving/All West Apartments in
Curaçao/Westpunt

Ocean Encounters Diving/All West Apartments, Jan, 2010,

by Bob Abraham, MA, USA (Reviewer Reviewer 4 reports). Report 5340.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food N/A
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling 3 stars
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Our fifth trip to Curacao. Dive sites at the western end of the island are all very nice. Coral and sponges appear to be in good shape and holding their own compared to past visits. Lots of small tropicals, critters, morays and the usual array of parrotfish and grunts. Unfortunately a few small lionfish. Watamula is great but there are others close by that are just as good. Ocean Encounters West is a terrific organization, nice people, nice facility. Sites were visited according to a weekly schedule so you can plan your days to go to specific sites. We booked a pack of boat dives and then did some shore diving. Playa Kalki, the house reef, is beautiful and right at the end of the pier, great for a third dive. This is european style diving expect to load and care for your gear and change your tanks.
We stayed at All West(2 minutes from OEW)in a full apartment which was quiet, spacious and well equipped. Beautiful ocean views. The whole property looks well cared for. Shut the windows at night and you won't hear the dogs when they bark. We weren't bothered at all. There is a nice on-site dive locker with air and nitrox for shore diving. The house reef is home to the fishing fleet so there is a lot of damage from anchors and the like in the shallows. But that does not seem to discourage the critters. The All West facility is brilliantly lit on the shore side so its perfect for a night dives. Being met at the airport with the car rental was quick and easy.
Westpunt is a small town with limited amenities. Plan and time your meals out and trips to the grocery store carefully. Pay attention to the advice about locking things up and not leaving articles in the car and you will probably be okay. We'll be back!
Websites Ocean Encounters Diving   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Virgin Islands, Canada, NE, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Turks & Caicos, Bahamas, Bonaire
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 80-81°F / 27-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 60-120 Ft/ 18-37 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 60 minutes
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments separate buckets on the boat and on shore
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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