Double Reef was our first dive in Curacao and it was a nice introduction. Double Reef is both a shore and boat dive, depending on where and how you choose to enter the water. We went with Caribbean Sea Sports at the Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino, and dove off of one of their boats with a small group of 8 divers or so.
Double Reef is aptly named for a smaller, shallower reef, followed by a sandy area and a larger reef plateau. The second reef holds most of the action. Hard and soft corals — including very large brain coral — lots of green and spotted morays, cowfish, angelfish, tangs, urchins, puffers, anemones and tons of different kinds of parrotfish busily go about their day. We saw a few lionfish on this reef, as well as a couple of turtles gliding by.
As with most sites in Curacao, you’ll want to look closely and pay attention. This small island isn’t known for large pelagics, but rather the abundance of smaller, reef-dwelling critters and the healthy reefs they call home. Take the time to look in every nook and cranny, including the sand in between the two reefs here. In doing so, you’ll be rewarded with the crazy eyes of gobies and blennies, the bustling work of cleaner shrimp, tiny crabs, cute baby and juvenile boxfish, hiding eels, lurking lionfish and more.
Relax here and pause to watch closely while working on your buoyancy, and enjoy the show.
