Page 278 - The Dutch Caribbean Isles

ivers’ Leap - This is a drift dive where the current will sweep for phenomenal diving. Especially when the conditions are right
and you can drift the windward side of the island.
D you along the reef. The steep wall is home to many small reef
M ushroom Forest & The Cave (Blue Room) - The area of San
fish, as well as the more rare elkhorn and staghorn coral. Nicolas offers a number of excellent sites, several days could
easily be spend on this area just diving and exploring. Look for
H undu - A small secluded beach on the west side of the island. the sign on the main road, follow the dirt road to the plantation
The drive to this side is an experience by itself. Hundu means house and blow your horn, someone will come out to collect your
deep and the reef of Hundu drops off pretty deep only 40ft away entrance fee. A four wheel drive is strongly recommended, espe-
from the shore. Hundu has a nice steep drop off wall, but has an cially in the rainy season. There are no facilities. Entering the water
amazing shallow reef too. is difficult, due to the high cliffs, so contacting one of the local
dive operators for a boat dive is an option. The site is called Mush-
K lein Curacao - Klein Curacao is a small banana shaped island room Forrest because the large number of mountainous star coral
located 16 miles South East of Willemstad. It offers some really growing vertical on an sandy plateau for a “Forrest of mushrooms”.
spectacular diving around its two points. The currents that run The mushroom shapes occurred because the the coral heads have
here provide excellent visibillity and there are usually schools of been bio-eroded at their base to narrow columns by boring clams
larger fish. The white sandy beaches are a nesting ground for sea and sponges. They make great hiding places for tiny sea creatures.
turtles and these beautiful animals can be seen here year round. There is a large cave along the cliffside where you will often spot
For scuba diving Klein Curacao we require a minimum certification schools of fingerlings, and from time to time a nurse shark can be
of advanced open water and recent dive experience. The only way found sleeping under the ledge. Visibility averages 26 m (85 ft);
of getting there is by a two-hour boat ride, and most dive centers the depth is from 12 m (40 ft) to 18 m (60 ft). Numerous species of
offer this as a separate day-trip that includes lunch on the island. fish and coral can be spotted here; flower corals, giant brain cor-
Klein Curaçao is an attractive place for both snorkelers and divers, als, anemones, turtles, porcupinefish, smooth trunkfish, yellow-
offering beautiful coral formations, a vertical drop-off, and plenty tail snapper, parrotfish, grouper, spotted drums, spotted morays,
of fish life. Everything is bigger at Klein Curacao. Ocean triggerfish green morays, lobster and conch.
are abundant and seeing 5 turtles on 1 dive is not rare. Fish life is
uninhibited with the absence of local fisherman. This and other
uninhabited islands away from the mainland will invariably make