April 23rd - Troubled start
We fly at 9:10 from Düsseldorf, so an early rise (4:30) to be on time. We check in: Diving Bag 23 kg, duffel bag with clothes 16 kg. Hmmm, did we really pack all we intended to bring? We'll see - no worries.The direct flight with Airberlin to Curaçao was quite comfortable. An hour before we land I remember I hadn't de-blocked my bank card for use outside of Europe. And we didn't bring enough cash for the taxi. Luckily the free WiFi at the airport works fine, so I can de-block using the bank app. The ATM is around the corner and the NAFs (Netherlands Antilles Florins) are popping out without an issue.
We get in Juriena Frans' - a friendly lady - taxi and arrive at Scuba Lodge in no time. A very friendly welcome from Dalies at the desk. Ah, Petra and Jos. Oatmeal!
On the way to our room Dalies smiles and says we have been given an upgrade. Nice! Curious what the upgrade will be? Where are we going? Totally outside? We first take the left, but there is some restructuring ongoing, which we can't get passed. What a noise and dusty mess?!
The upgrade happens to be the owners apartment, next to the actual Boutique Hotel. Big, yes. Sea view, yes. But it's run down and lacks the special atmosphere the Hotel is known for and why we booked it. Not happy!
As I start to slowly unpack, Petra is back to reception to inform for other room options. We are shown room 18. Nice, but a bit dark and no sea view. We don't know what to do. We are tired and feel cheated. We booked less than 5 weeks ago. No mention of any reconstruction and the room we booked is not available due to that reconstruction ... .
// While Petra was gone I was trying to open our luggage. I found a small kitchen knife and used that to cut through the tie-raps I used to secure our bags. I use some force and direct the knife towards myself (yes, stupid - but I was tired .. ) and plant it straight into my other arm! Auw. A flesh wound and in this climate, in this climate and in combination with my medication. NOT good. We call for a doctor. F.D. Da Costa Gomez. He takes care of the wound. Cleans it. Glues the flesh together. Packs it in bandage. And finally, better safe than sorry, gives me a Tetanus injection. //
What to do? Room 18 or stay? We head back to reception. Dalies can also offer room 6. But that is a regular room. Not what we booked and not what we want. Finally we choose room 18. It feels like the best of the 3 - not so preferable - options. Had they given us room 18 from the start, I doubt there would have been an issue. The room isn't very bright, but clean, new, has a small kitchenette and is bigger than what we expected.
Let's unpack. It's okay now.
April 24th - Bank Card - ATM
We wake up early. We decide to have breakfast at Bijblauw, next door. They open at 7:00 (iso 8:00). We pass by PM78 going there. Yep, we could have booked that one as well. Maybe next time? The breakfast is very good!
At 9:30 Patricia gives us a little tour / introduction of the hotel. We also drop by the in house dive shop to sign in. A nice, cozy, easy going atmosphere. Tomorrow we'll do our first dives with Daan. Starting at 8:30.
Time to get some cash so we can do some shopping. Hmmm. Transaction not possible! I try again. And again. And again. Nothing. The Dutch folks behind me, same bank as us, have no issue. Strange. Back at Scuba Lodge I contact my back via their app. They can't find any issue. All should work. When I ask if they can activate Petra's bank card for use in Middle America, they say they can only do that Online or by Phone. As we forgot the bring the Bank Dongle it will be the latter. I call them and 5 minutes later all has been arranged.
Back at the ATM, this time with Petra's Card. Again, no money! Damn. What to do now? We find another ATM, from the same local Bank, a little further down the road. No issue - money! Hmmm, maybe the Dutchies in front of me took the last 400 NAF, and the 500NAF I tried simply wasn't in the ATM anymore? We'll never know, but it doesn't matter now.
Lunch and chilling at Scuba Lodge. The day slowly passes by. We both haven't found the holiday feel yet. Maybe tomorrow when we go diving. Otherwise maybe rent a car and have a look outside Pietermaai.
April 25th - 1st Diving Day
Meeting at 8:30. Two-tank with Daan today. Another 5 persons are joining today! After a quick briefing all stuff is shoved into a minivan and off we go. Marie Pampoen is the 1st dive site. Once underwater we are happily surprised. Nice reef, and soo clear - great viz! As we are joining a group the dive is not to deep and we still have plenty of air when we get out, despite starting with 180 bar only.
2nd Dive is at Tugboat. Also a beautiful site with lots of life. The dive ends under a pier, which is gorgeous.
Jos: 22.6 [m] / 59 [min] | Petra: 22.6 [m] / 58 [min]
Jos: 18.0 [m] / 65 [min] | Petra: 15.8 [m] / 65 [min]
Yes, we have the taste of it now. So back at Scuba Lodge we ask for the plan for the coming days. Thursday is no issue, but after that they are FULLY BOOKED! What? After complaining for a minute or 3 we decide to let it be, rent a car and dive with the two of us. We do 'book' for Saturday afternoon however, to go to thé dive spot: the Superior Producer!
The rental car is confirmed soon after. A Kia Picanto in stead of the Suzuki Jimmy we asked for. That one was not available anymore. Bummer, but can't help that. We go to Bijblauw for dinner. Excellent! Let's do that again before the holiday ends.
April 26th - West Point
Today the "West Point" Day Trip. Adriaan is our guide today. And it's only 4 of us. Next to us 2 and Adriaan MaryAnn from Toronto joins. Nice and relaxed, such a small group.
The 1st dive is at the West tip of the Island: Playa Grandi (Piskadi). This place is famous for its Green Turtles. They are attracted by the spills from the local fisherman that clean the fish, and throw the cut off bits and pieces in the water. Once you stick your head under you can spot at least one. Safety Stop playmates. We first do a tour over the nice reef. Back at the beach we see the baitfish in the shallows being hunted by the Jackfish. We spend some time with the beautiful turtles. Than I remember Adriaan talking about a brown seahorse on a piece of rope. It took some time, but we did find it! What a bonus! A long and nice dive.
Jos: 17.7 [m] / 88 [min] | Petra: 17.1 [m] / 87 [min]
For lunch we drive to Playa Porto Marie. A few photo stops later we arrive. Once we have finished our burger and most divers have surfaced, it's time for us to go under - searching for the Frogfish. It doesn't take Adriaan long to find it. A very beautiful yellow one. After an hour checking out the reef we return to see if Mr Frogfish is still around. He is, but decided to go for a little walk. Such an odd looking fish.
Jos: 19.8 [m] / 68 [min] | Petra: 19.8 [m] / 68 [min]
Back to Scuba Lodge. King's Night tonight.
A very short visit of the festivities. Towards Punda and back. The both of us are way too tired (up at 5:00), so back to Scuba Lodge for dinner. At the time the party really started (22:00) the both of us were already tucked in and dreaming of turtles. Zzzzzz
April 27th - King's Day
Today is a good day to sleep in. (well it should be, but ... Petra was awake before 5:00, I myself at around 7:00) Breakfast at Scuba Lodge today. Maybe not the best day as it took long and wasn't that special. They did make Petra's oatmeal though, with cinnamon. Even I liked it! Time for a pre-siesta (for sure Petra needed one) and than off to the Nieuwstraat.
It's hot and busy on the Nieuwstraat, with all the King's Day festivities - mainly for children. We browse through until we reach the Pondjesbrug. It just opens, so we have to wait. We check out the other side (Cruise ship side), not so our thing. We return after 2 hours back at Scuba Lodge. Tired and hungry. Time for a late lunch. The rest of the day we spend doing as little as possible. Floating in the pool, staring over the ocean ... as the day slowly comes to an end.
April 28th - BBQ
Today Bob will be pour guide. Next to us another 4 ladies join, Swiss (2 divers) and Dutch (1 diver 1 snorkeler). Looking around it is clear that Jan Thiel is the Dutch hotspot on the island. Bob used to work here for a few years, so he can find his way blindfolded if needed.
After a long swim out we go down and to the left. Again a very nice dive site.
Jos: 21.6 [m] / 64 [min] | Petra: 21.6 [m] / 64 [min]
During the safety interval I get a notice from the local diveshop owner as I left my tank standing on the table. "Next time you have to bring apple pie for all!". When he learns we are from Maastricht he rather has Rijstenvlaai. The 2nd dive is the same, but now we do the reef to the right. Nice.
Jos: 18.0 [m] / 67 [min] | Petra: 18.9 [m] / 68 [min]
We're still full from lunch, so we skip the diveshop's happy hour. We do join the BBQ, which is very good.
April 29th - Rental Car
As of today we are going to go our own way with 'our' Kia Picanto. It may be a small car, but all our dive gear fit in without a problem. Off to Directors Bay, a gorgeous dive spot. It even has a real wall. Again the water is super clear. The reef is beautiful and full of life.
Jos: 19.5 [m] / 91 [min] | Petra: 18.7 [m] / 91 [min]
On our way back we spent a lot of time - really a lot - to search the seahorse that may life here. We didn't find it. Bummer. In the evening we drive to the super market to get some nice stuff for diner and to snack. Yes, very handy to have car!
April 30th - Superior Producer
Now that we have a car we can take care of our own breakfast. Not so adventures having your 'home' breakfast from the dutch supermarket, but o so relaxed. As was our morning at the pool.
As planned, Bob takes us to the Superior Producer. There is a huge ship moored right next to the dive site, and the sign says it's not allowed to dive in such case. Bob says that to his knowledge only cruise ships and marine vessels should be avoided. And since this ugly big thing is neither of them it should be no issue to dive .... . Okay?!
Man, what a site. Soo beautiful. Huge wreck, overgrown with corals. The hull full with Tarpons. A big school of baitfish hanging over the bow. On the return squid, octopus and a turtle on the reef. And again, super good visibility.
Jos: 30.8 [m] / 62 [min] | Petra: 30.6 [m] / 62 [min]
The perfect day it seems. But than. Roosendaels, Bob's tip for dinner, is closed. Okay, can happen. Back at Scuba Lodge the gate doesn't open. Ah, your key is expired. This was quickly fixed. But than also the room doesn't open. "There is something wrong with the lock. We're trying to solve it already for some time now". The only option is for the security to open our room. (they try very hard, but several things still go wrong .. ).
We decide to leave Scuba Lodge for a diner and end up at Ginger, in the middle of Pietermaai. Good choice! Back at the lodge the guard, Jimmy, hands over the master key, so we can open our room. Just before we enter the room we bump into Patrick. If we could hand over the key to Gea tomorrow morning at reception. She will take care of the issue. Okay, but first sleep.
May 1st - Pick-Up Trucks are Overrated
I can't get over the practicality of our small car. Whether it is doing our own shipping, or being able to dive when and where ever we want - flip down the back bench and all our stuff can be put in without an issue. It does the job perfectly! First dive is at Snake Bay, a 20 minute drive.
Jos: 21.0 [m] / 71 [min] | Petra: 19.2 [m] / 70 [min]
Back for lunch. Baked eggs with tomato. Than for the 2nd dive we go all the way to West Point, Alice in Wonderland (Kalki Beach). An other very enjoyable dive - pity the sun is not out today. On the way back we take a small detour to see the flamingo's. 17:30 we are back at Scuba Lodge
Jos: 25.0 [m] / 72 [min] | Petra: 23.7 [m] / 72 [min]
May 2nd - House Reef
Last full day at Scuba Lodge. We do our last shopping, full up our "dive truck" and return it - which is nothing more than just dropping the keys at reception, how easy can it be! The plan is to do the House Reef, but there are sizable waves. So we ask Adriaan for advise. He walks to the shore with us and points out where to enter and exit, how to do that and what to look for to find the exit under water. Great! Looking at the waves he admits it will not be easy, but he's sure we're okay.
Once we're back with all gear on it is not to bad at all getting in. And boy, is this again a nice dive site. Lovely corals. Plenty of fish. Ting ting. Petra spotted a lobster. And a Giant Barracuda. And a HUGE coral crab. Another lobster. And another one. If we ever go back here we for sure need to do this site again. A very nice finale of our diving in Curaçao. But now ... we need to get out of the water. And that is not easy at all. The closer we get to the shore the stranger the surge. Once we are trying to climb out on the small beach we are both grabbed by the waves several times and pushed over. Final I am out so I can drop my gear and help Petra out as well.
Jos: 24.7 [m] / 71 [min] | Petra: 23.8 [m] / 71 [min]
With a few scratches, but big smiles on our faces, we walk back to the dive shop. The rest of the day we spent at the swimming pool, and a walk to the Pondjesbrug. We'll have dinner at Bijblauw.
The holiday is coming to an end.
May 3rd - Going Home
It is that day of the holiday again. We start with a breakfast at Bijblauw. When paying the bill is NAF71 where it was NAF55 every previous time. Coffee isn't included anymore and not so cheap it shows. But it was good so .. .
Packing. Settling the bill. Taxi to the airport. Two coffee, a pie and a sandwich with croquet later we're on the plane. Direct flight to Düsseldorf.
Nine and half hours later we land. Pick up the luggage and drive home, back to our two furry friends.
