Travel Tips & Trends

Curacao Divers

Curacao: an island for divers and diversity

A favorite stop for cruise passengers, Curacao (pronounced "cure-a-sow") is located 35 miles north of Venezuela, and is the most populous island in the Netherlands Antilles.

The island was inhabited by the Arawak Indians before becoming known to Europeans in the 15th century. The Spanish empire ruled the island until 1634, when the Dutch took over. Today the local community has roots in Dutch, African, Jewish, Spanish and several Caribbean cultures, and is noted for its diversity and tolerance.

The capital city of Willemstad offers striking, colorful Dutch-style homes and buildings, including many restored colonial landmarks. A popular story told amongst residents of the island concerns a former governor of Curacao whose migraines were brought on by the color white. He ordered buildings to be repainted in the pastel colors that can be seen in Willemstad and the surrounding cities to this day.

Scuba diving and snorkeling draw many visitors to Curacao. More than 60 named dive sites cover almost every type of diving, with around 40 of them accessible from shore. Wreck dives include a tugboat, an airplane, a cargo ship and the unusual but popular "Car Pile," a wall of sunken 1940s-vintage vehicles.

Other attractions on the island are its numerous art galleries, restaurants, casinos and other nightlife, and the largest duty free/tax free shopping precinct in the Caribbean— the 57-acre Harbor Free Zone.

For more information on Curacao, visit www.curacao.com or talk to your AAA Travel professional.