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star, ochre seastar, crowned urchin, eel FRANKO’S MAPS CURACAO DIVE
grass, and giant kelp. This is the most SITE AND FISH IS CARD
complete fish repertoire of any of the kelp
forest fish cards to date. This is a great fish cards because it is a
part of my trio of fish cards for the
Southern Caribbean Sea, which are of
islands known as the “ABC’s” – Aruba,
Bonaire and Curacao. Franko has a series
of mini-map/fish cards consisting of one
for each of these three islands. This fish
card therefore, is all about some of the
world’s greatest coral reef ecosystems,
and the incredible opportunities it offers
to divers and snorkelers. Curacao
(pronounced “Kur-uh-sow), which is the
largest of all of the Netherlands Antilles
islands, is famous for desert island beauty
and it’s wonderful underwater. In fact, the
island has its own underwater treasure
called the Curacao Underwater Park. The
entire leeward side of the island is full of
beaches, bays and points for the ocean
lover to enjoy. From north to south there
are almost 40 miles (54 kilometers) of
beautiful seashore to visit, including
Westput, Punt Halve Dag, Kaap St. Marie,
Punt Kanon, Boca Santa Cruz, Boca St.
Marie, Fuikbaai, Soto, San Willi brordo,
Bullenbaai, Oostpunt, Kniplagun,
Willemstad, Punda Sint Michiel, Cas
Abou, San Juan, San Nicholas, Santa
Crux, Niewport, Barbara Beach, and Rif
Baai Seaquarium. Curacao is the site of
the town of Willemstad, which is the
government seat of the Netherlands
Antilles. Other than its rich undersea life,
Curacao is lacking in most natural
resources, yet its location and its port has
made it militarily important and
economically powerful for hundreds of