Page 9 - The Dutch Caribbean Isles

Antoine Pijpers Weg Naar Bullenbaai Supermarket Moontjeweg Cubaweg Gosieweg Franko’s

WILLEMSTAD CURACAO

Roo BUENA VISTA Guide & Dive Map
Santo Domingoweseveltweg Police Kraamkliniek Andres BellowegMontezumaweg
To Curaçao International Airport Station Rio Canario N oor d Side 2 - Willemstad Area
with Details of Otrobanda & Punda
Kaya SUPERMARKET Visitors are happy to find Franklin D. H Arowakenweg
all the conveniences of home supermarkets Schottegatweg
right here in Curaçao. Visitors staying on

the West End are advised to plan ahead and

stop here to stock up. GROOT H
KWARTIER Caprilles
LEGEND Curaçao Golf
& Squash Club Clinic
Points of Interest
g TRAI CERU
Landhuizen (Plantation House) Schottegatweg West

Ring Road Corriweg
Erosweg
Major Road ROSENDAAL RIO CANARIO EMMASTAD
Secondary Road
Snipweg

SCUBA SITE

Snorkel Site Oil Refineries
Beach

Piscadera GASPARITU ASTENTO We
Baai Naar Santa Catharina
DE HOOP
Emancipatie Boulevard H Taamskliniek
West PARKE TROPIKAL Enjoy an outing at a lovely botanical
garden & zoo with lots of monkeys, tropical birds, and
MARCHENA VALENTIJN Asfaltbaai even some lions. Children love to play on the two
BLEINHEIM
Park Tropical playgrounds, and there is a petting zoo as well.
Botanical Garden

and Zoo

Buskabaai GAITU ROOI g
CATOOTJE
Audubon's Nijlweg Schottegatweg Oost Van Engelenweg
Shearwater

WISHI NEGROPONT

FORT WAAKZAAMHEID This small Rooi Santa Rosaweg
1803 fort defended the island Catootje
against a French invasion. The fort
PISCADERA PLAYA LARGU 40'-100'+ (12m-30m+) This dive is CERU PRETU Landhuis has a nice view over Otrobanda. Baai KONINGSPLEIN Weg Naar Montana
accessible from shore or by boat, but from shore it's a 15- Habaai Guns were mounted on the walls by van
minute swim to the drop-off. The reef's brain coral and star the Americans during World War II. Asiento
coral formations host creole wrasse, parrotfish, needlefish, and The fort now houses a high class Valentijns
surgeonfish. Beware of boat traffic, especially on weekends. international restaurant. Baai

SCALE Hilton World CURAÇAO MUSEUM This spacious CERU DOMI H CURAÇAO CARNIVAL Each February
Fort Piscadera Trade museum is housed in a colonial- Advent colorful parades from Santa Maria to
0.5 CHARO style building and has a diversity Ziekenhuis Otrobanda feature bright cultural
Statute Miles of displays relating to Curaçao costumes and music marking this
0 1 Hilton Center including geology, Indian KURA HULANDA MUSEUM Mansaliña FORT NASSAU Built in 1797 to defend annual event. Along the way there is
0 0.5 1 artifacts, maps and charts, This museum contains a Baai both Sint Annabaai and part of the city also a Harvest Festival, locally called
Beach Marriott antique wooden furniture, and huge collection of African of Willemstad. Within the fortress walls Schottegat Seu, with parade marches and music
Kilometers paintings. The museum also hosts artifacts, and demonstrates is an awesome international restaurant. called the Tumba Festival, featuring local traditional
Marriott concerts. how Curaçao is influenced Rijkseenheid Boulevard s weg
by African cultural heritage. eru Tumba music. The music and
Fort Waakzaamheid (1803) festivities highlight the finish of the
g Curaçao Carnival. At that time they
Beach Landhuis CURAÇAO LIQUEUR DISTILLERY Island-grown, sun- Lorawe burn Rei Momo. Momo is
Zeelandia dried orange peels are turned into world-famous S representative of infertility, which
Fort Nassau Perseu Curaçao Liqueur here at the Chobolobo mansion, must be destroyed by fire prior to a
ZEELANDIA which also has a fascinating tour on weekdays. community fast. The demise of Momo
is celebrated with a grand fireworks
Zakitó Roodeweg Queen Juliana Bridge display.
THE CRASH 20’-100’+ (6m-30m+) In Nov. 1942, a German submarine Kura Hulanda Museum
fired upon an American navy vessel, the USS Erie, and the captain ran the Curaçao Museum Baai
ship into the reef. The ship was towed to the harbor, where it sat for ten van
years. In Dec. 1952 she was sent to her final resting place in 300 fathoms Verali Landhuis
of water. However, there is still wreckage including parts of a plane Chobolobo
strewn along the reef at this site. Pater Euwensweg OTROBANDA

H St. Elisabeth
Hospital

DOUBLE REEF 30'-100' (9m-30m) Accessible from shore or boat, the drop-off is Maritime Museum Kaminda Salina
100 meters from shore. A first and second reef are divided by a sandy plateau.
View toward Piscadera Baai from Fort Piscadera The reefs have brain, fire, and finger coral, plus numerous fishes. Strong currents. Holiday Renaissance Floating Market
Beach chairs, diving platforms, great snorkeling, Beach Curaçao Mall
family fun and casinos await visitors to Curaçao's
luxurious hotels along this lovely coastal stretch. SUPERIOR PRODUCER 80'-100' (24m-30m) This fantastic wreck dive is accessible Riffort Jewish Museum SCHARLOO
from shore or by boat. This ship is about 200’ (60m) long and sank upright on the
sandy bottom in September 1977. She is now encrusted with purple tube Cruise Ship Water Fort PUNDA Caracasbaaiweg
sponges, cup coral, orange tube coral, and black coral. Schools of soldierfish,
chromis, and snapper inhabit this wreck. Occasionally barracuda and mackerel Floating Bridge CURAÇAO CLIMATE
are seen. The site can only be dived when there is no cruise ship or war ship at the
Megapier. Advanced divers only due to depth.
OTROBANDA & PUNDA Bramendiweg JFAMaepanrbrirulcuahraryy
Gr ebbelinieweg May
MEDIATOR WRECK This wreck can be dived only on 0F 0C June
Taxi ATM Madurostraat Honchi SnoaSundays. Arachaeological dives are made here. July
Breedestraat Situated behind the Maritime Museum in St. Annabaai. T 100 37.8 ADOSNceueotcgpvoteuebesmetmrmbbbeererr
For more information call Stimana.
Magnificent Penstraat Amandelweg e 95 35.0
Frigatebird Avila m
Beach AIR TEMP
p 90 32.2 AVAAGVV.GGW. .DADATAEILIRLYYTHELIOMGWHP AT SURFACE
e
FLOATING BRIDGE A curiosity since 1888, at OTROBANDA & PUNDA r 85 29.4 AIR TEMP
the St. Anna Bay entrance in Willemstad is the
Queen Emma Bridge, which connects the a 80 26.7
t
Ortrobanda and Punda districts. All day long TARPON CITY This advanced dive site is named for schools of tarpon found u 75 23.9
pedestrians walk across the bridge, but when here. Some of these fish are over four feet long. From shore it is a short
an ocean going vessel needs to go through a MARITIME MUSEUM This interesting museum swim to the reef. The reef isn't very impressive, but the large fish make this
is located in a renovated mansion. The exhibits dive well worth it. There is a pole which you are not allowed to pass
horn sounds, and diesel engines rev up on the display a chronological maritime history of because if you do you will be coming too close to the harbor entrance. r 70 19.7
e
Punda end. Walkers hustle to one side or the Curaçao. Some of what you will find here MARIE PAMPOEN/PIEREBAAI Starts in a little fishermans harbor. Out of the 65 18.3
harbor go left. The turning point is Car Pile, the next dive site over. This
other, and then props push the floating Parking Hotel includes antique miniatures, models of 17th beautiful dive also makes a great night dive. Octopi and large lobsters are often Rainfall:cimn 4.6 2.8 1.1 2.0 2.5 2.0 3.3 4.0 4.6 8.4 9.7 9.9
bridge, which pivots on a giant hinge to the Floating Otrobanda century ships, and maps from the 16th century. spotted. Return to the harbor is facilitated by the lights of nearby restaurants. 1.8 1.8 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.8 1.3 1.6 1.8 3.3 3.8 3.9
open position, and the vessel is able to pass. Bridge Open for Traffic
Ave. Annual Rainfall: 56cm/22in

Minibus Ship
Station
OTROBANDAArubastraat (To Ring) FLOATING MARKET Merchants from
Traffic Plasa Sail Boat Venezuela dock here and sell papayas, BAPOR KIBRA/CAR PILE 65'-100'+ (19m-30m+) A pile of cars was dumped
Circle Brion Insulinde sweet potatoes, red peppers, mangos, on the reef in the 1960's, as well as some trucks, construction equipment,
and freshly caught fish to both visitors and a barge. This is a must-dive for wreck enthusiasts. Advanced dive due
Handelskade and locals. to depth. Breezes
ATM
Pater Police Poi(QnFFutlloeoaaettniinnEggmBBrmirdiagdegBfeor)irdPgeedestrians BrPieddgeestrianShaCaprileskadVeenezuelan OSWALDO'S DROP-OFF/WANDERING BUOY 20'-100'+ (6m-30m+) This Lagun
fantastic shore dive leads to a drop-off in only 30' (9m) of water. Loaded Jan Thiel
EuwenPsawrkeigng Local Souvenir MarketRouviPlalerkwinegg HeereMnPsutorsaseattuaml Model of Ship Used by with corals and colorful fish. This site is popular for night dives, and the fish
Bridge Shopping Amergo Vespucci at the here are rather tame because of being fed by divers. SEA AQUARIUM Curaçao’s marine life is shown in 75
Curaçao Maritime Museum hexagonal aquariums full of 150 coral species, 100 fish
Drawbridge SHIPWRECK POINT To 100'+ (30m+) At this site waswreck of the SS Oranje species, plus turtles. This unique aquarium opened in
Nassau, which wrecked in 1906. Pieces of the wreck sit under the sea aquarium. 1984 and features an 'open-water system', in which fresh
Renaissance Mall De Boats There are some anchors in the sand flats that are not related to the wreck. This seawater is continuously pumped in. The favorite
fine reef has fire, finger, brain, pencil, and pillar corals. Schools of squid are attraction is the dolphins, which not only perform, but you
Traffic Punda often seen here. Suitable for all levels of experience. Technical divers visit two can swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Academy.
Circle District tugboats at 160’ (48m).
Pivot Sea Aquarium

PUNDA De Ruyterkade Beautiful Coral Reef at Cornelisbaai

Central Curaçao Underwater Park THE TUGBOAT SABA 20' (6m) Boat dive to famous wreck called the
Market
BredeAsTtMraatGomez Plein on The Saba, a tugboat that lies just offshore in a protected bay at 20'
Fort Church Columbusstraat Post (6m) depth. It is overgrown with tube sponges and brain corals.
Riffort Synagogue Office
Village Museum
GovPearlnaocre's Snorkelers enjoy the tugboat just as well as the scuba divers.

Punda MIKVÉ ISRAEL EMANUEL SYNAGOGUE AND SANDY’S PLATEAU 15'-80' (5m-24m) One of the favorite dive sites in Curacao.
JEWISH MUSEUM This synagogue was Features beautiful healthy coral on a gentle slope with vertical wall from 15’ to 40’
built in 1732, making it the oldest standing (5-12m ). The wall is full of nooks and crannies with lobsters, eels and sea horses!
Fort synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, and
RIFFORT This fort was built in 1828 to defend Amsterdam next door visitors can see the Jewish JAN THIEL 20'-100'+ (6m-30m+) Enter at the sandy beach on the east side of Jan
the outer section of Willemstad's Otrobanda Cultural Historical Museum. Thiel Bay, and swim out along the breakwater. It's a ten minute swim to the drop-off.
district. Nowadays you'll find the Riffort Village Plaza Taxi Fort Plein The shallower parts are perfect for beginners and snorkelers, with corals and and
Piar gorgonians, plus there is a small boat wreck in the middle of the bay at 18' (6m) depth.
The Floating Market The Tugboat Saba in the
with shops, restaurants, bars, an ice cream and Police Locals and tourists enjoy fresh produce Curaçao Underwater Park DIVER'S LEAP 30'-100'+ (9m-30m+) Named for the jump off the rocks, although Jan Thiel Baai
coffee shop, and a terrace overlooking the boated over from Venezuela each day. CURAÇAO UNDERWATER PARK Established in 1983, 1,482 acres of fine reefs extend jumping in isn't necessary. The reef wall is steep - pay attention to your depth. Divers
harbor. The photo below is from the terrace. Plaza Wilhelminapark Parking Wolksstraat from Breezes Hotel to the eastern tip of Curaçao, and out to 60 meters depth. It also may enter at Diver's Leap, explore the wall, then return via the beach at Jan Thiel Bay.
Court House I covers 1,077 acres of inner bays. Extensive coral reef research by Caribbean
WATER FORT Built in 1634 to Curaçao! Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI) indicated that coastal PIEDRA DI SOMBRE 25'-100'+ (8m-30m+) The site's name means "Stone Hat" Caracas
defend the outer section of Tele Museum development, pollution and overfishing were degenerating the reefs’ fish for a rock outcropping on the coast that resembles a hat. Can be accessed by Baai
Willemstad's Punda district, populations. The need for coral reef management led to the establishment of this boat or a ten-minute swim from shore. This reef has many caverns and cracks
this fort accommodated underwater park. Now, thanks to the studies and efforts of CARMABI, divers and that house lobster, moray eels, and drumfish.
numerous troops during World snorkelers enjoy fabulous corals, sponges, fishes and invertebrates as they enter
War II and featured coastal WaterforWt Aartcehrefosrtstraat Parking ATM the water from boats tied to Curaçao Underwater Park dive site moorings all along KABES DI BARANKA/BEACON POINT 20'-100'+ (6m-30m+) Accessed from
and anti-aircraft artillery Pietermaai this scenic end of Curaçao, as well as from a few beaches. shore with difficulty when the weather is calm, but is usually done as a boat
mounted on the walls. dive. The shallow areas feature hard corals and numerous fish. Below 50 feet
(15 meters) you'll find soft corals and some impressive sponges.

Riffort View Atop the fort at Riffort Village, there Cartography by Franko LOST ANCHOR 15'-100'+ (5m-30m+) Difficult to access from shore, this one is
is a superb view of the Queen Emma Bridge, Please Visit recommended as a boat dive. A chain from a WWII torpedo net descends from
colorful Punda, cruise ship, and the soaring the mooring into the depths. On the left side of the bay there is a sunken tugboat
Juliana Bridge which connects the Otrobanda www.frankosmaps.com to dive or snorkel on at 12' (4m) depth. This site has a lot of elkhorn coral. Great
and Punda Districts of Willemstad. snorkeling in the shallows.