Connect with us
background

News

Sustainable Dive Tourism in Curacao

Bryan Horne

Published

on

Dive Curaçao, from the very beginning, was created to be a sustainable online platform to strengthen the dive tourism industry in Curacao. Our mission is simple – continually deliver the most comprehensive dive destination resource in the Caribbean that promotes the Curaçao diving industry and supports sustainable tourism initiatives in Curaçao.

Why?  Because Curaçao, the largest of the ABC (including Aruba and Bonaire) Islands, is still relatively unknown as a world class dive vacation destination, especially in North America.

Therefore, our goal is to create awareness of our “hidden gem” and to build an atmosphere that both educates and fosters the enjoyment of sharing the amazing underwater experiences that are available in Curaçao.

Photo: Turtle and Ray Productions HD

The fact is that some of the most bio-diverse reefs in the Caribbean exist right here in Curaçao. The sheltered southern coast is rich in coral, and suitable for divers of all levels, with little in the way of adverse conditions at any of the popular dive sites.

Divers and snorkelers never seem to be able to stop talking about the beauty of scuba diving Curaçao.  Let us assure you this is with good reason.

The focus of Dive Curaçao will always be centered on scuba diving. But Curaçao is a very unique island that offers travelers so much more than the typical Caribbean “eat, sleep and dive” vacation destination because history, culture, language, food, music and on-island events play a major role for our island too.

There is no denying that Scuba Diving in Curaçao is the number one thing to DO – but of course there are plenty of things to do in Curaçao and no right way to experience any of them.

Dive in and explore the endless possibilities here in Curaçao so that you can make our island your own experience while embracing our authentic and certainly unforgettable spirit.

Investing in Sustainable Dive Tourism in Curaçao

Global media platforms largely overuse the phrase “sustainable tourism” to create buzz for brands and destinations alike that simply want to “green wash” and now “blue wash” you into thinking your support could have a lasting effect on our global fight against environmental issues.

Whether the issues are coral reef degradation, plastic pollution, global warming, excreta – the list is literally endless, right? But we can only control, what we can control within our bubble and that is one of major reasons that Dive Travel Curaçao exists today.

Honestly, from a private sector point of view if we do nothing to support the environment here in Curaçao we will not be able to deliver you exceptional dive travel and vacation experiences in the future.

Therefore, we are committed to support and continually invest in sustainable tourism initiatives that truly make a difference for Curaçao, not only from an environmental perspective but also from a socio-economic perspective too.

But we are only able to do that because of your trusting patronage and your unrelenting desire to Dive Curaçao!

Curacao Sustainable Tourism Partnerships

Dive Curaçao and Dive Travel Curaçao is appreciative of the sustainable tourism partnerships developed with Reef Renewal Curaçao, Stream2Sea, the Caribbean Shark Coalition, the PADI AWARE Foundation, and so many more.

These sustainable tourism partnerships in collaboration with the Dive Shops and the Dive Resorts in Curacao has created a symbiotic relationship that allows Dive Travel Curaçao to offer the best overall value for dive vacation packages that supports protecting the coral reefs of Curaçao for future generations.

Photo: Bryan Horne

Supporting Coral Restoration in Curacao

“At the heart of Dive Curaçao and now, Dive Travel Curaçao, is an unwavering commitment to provide exceptional value, high quality and personalized service to ensure that you, as our client, can have the opportunity for the best Curaçao dive vacation experience”, says Bryan Horne, the Managing Director.

To further underline this commitment, he says; “our coral reefs are a vital component of our island’s tourism product, therefore we are also proud that 1% of Dive Travel Curaçao’s net annual proceeds will be donated to Reef Renewal Curaçao so they can re-invest it in restoring corals for the future of Curaçao.”

The significance of Reef Renewal Curaçao (RRC) is that together as a community here on Curaçao, we are restoring our shallow water reef system while educating our youth about the importance of protecting and preserving our natural ecosystem,” according to Pol Bosch, Operations Manager of RRC, who adds: “I am proud of Dive Travel Curacao’s commitment for coral restoration and believe that supporting initiatives like this further solidify a natural path to sustainability for future generations.”

PADI AWARE Foundation in Curacao

Reefs worldwide are facing threats including climate change, overfishing, water pollution and marine debris from human waste like single use plastics. While the effects of climate change must be addressed on a global scale, local communities can give their reefs the best chance of survival.  They can start by reducing pressures such as fishing responsibly and reducing land-based pollution that is entering the ocean.

Many Caribbean reefs, like those in Curaçao stand a good chance of surviving if local pressures can be minimized. Several organizations on the island are working diligently to help restore and protect Curacao’s reefs by tackling these issues.

“The diving community in Curacao are true leaders in the fight to protect what we love. Together dive centers on the island have united to protect their local dive sites from the onslaught of trash. They realize that conservation cannot be done in isolation and that it takes the collaborative efforts of all to really make change.” says Jack Fishman, PADI AWARE Foundation

Plastic pollution is affecting the oceans across the world, and some reports estimate that by 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Marine life like fish, birds and sea turtles can mistake plastic for food and eventually starve or become entangled and suffocate.  

Sadly, many islands did not take-action quickly enough and their reef systems have collapsed. Collapsed reef systems result in losses in tourism, fishing revenue, floods, deteriorated water quality, and less resistance to storms.  Luckily, Curacao still has the chance to protect itself if action is taken immediately.

Stream2Sea in Curacao

Dive Curacao is a proud partner of Stream2Sea and Caribbean Organic Beauty, trusted eco-conscious brands, that offers reef safe biodegradable sunscreen and body-care products that are backed by the most thorough testing for coral and aquatic safety in the industry.

Stream2Sea sunscreen and body care products are completely reef safe and biodegradable.  In fact, Stream2Sea is the FIRST and the ONLY brand that “walks the talk” to ensure that all their sunscreen, skincare and body care products do not contain Oxybenzone, Octinoxate and Octocrylene. To ensure this, rigorous testing is conducted to prove their products are safe to fishes and coral larvae (Protect Land + Sea Certified)!

To underline our commitment to sustainable tourism, Dive Travel Curacao in collaboration with our partners, we offer Stream2Sea products in Curacao so you can protect yourself against the raw elements and protect the coral reef against toxic ingredients.

Sustainable Dive Tourism News

Sustainable Tourism in Curacao is of immense importance to conserve our ocean. Equally important is the real commitment that is required for our island, located in the heart of the Dutch Caribbean.

Our island’s subaquatic life is one of the many things that sets Curaçao apart from the other islands in the Caribbean. The commitment of Dive Travel Curaçao, and our sustainable tourism partners, to Reef Renewal Curacao and the PADI AWARE Foundation initiatives are first steps in sustaining and spreading awareness of our island’s ocean life.

With the assistance and teamwork of the entire community we are creating change to provide future generations an opportunity for a healthy and sustainable environment, both above and below the waterline.

Click here for the latest Sustainable Dive Tourism News from Curaçao.

Header image:  Frank Do

Bryan Horne wasn’t born in Curaçao; he’s a Canadian native, drawn to the Island “out of a passion for scuba diving and the underwater world.” Moving was always going to be a life-changing decision, but in diving, Bryan had found his calling. As the founder and owner of Dive Curaçao, he spends his days showing off Curaçao’s hidden undersea treasures – and does his part to preserve them for future generations.

News

Seahorse National Park announced on Eleuthera in The Bahamas

Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown

Published

on

This week has seen the announcement of the designation of Seahorse National Park at Hatchet Bay Cave and Sweetings Pond on Eleuthera. This monumental announcement comes after years of efforts from the BNT and its partners in advocating for the protection of Sweetings Pond and its surrounding areas as an official national park under the BNT’s management.

Sweetings Pond is a large, land-locked saltwater pond in Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera. It has many unique natural features, but the most notable of them all is its incredible seahorse population, which is believed to be the densest population of seahorses in the world. The new 548-acre national park protects the entire one-mile-long pond and the surrounding terrestrial area. The land surrounding Sweetings Pond is a blend of intact coppice, mangroves, and farmlands. In addition, the new national park includes the extensive Hatchet Bay Caves system. This historic cave system is a popular attraction and contains a number of impressive geological features. It is one of the longest dry cave systems in The Bahamas.

Since 2014, the BNT has been leading efforts to have the area declared as a national park. This included years of public outreach and stakeholder consultations in communities across Eleuthera; education presentations in local schools; science and research efforts; and engaging consecutive government administrations. In 2018, the BNT submitted the “20 by 20 Marine Protection Plan” to the government, which included the recommendation to declare Sweetings Pond and other areas in The Bahamas as protected areas.

During the lease signing ceremony for Seahorse National Park, Minister Clay Sweeting, said, “This lease agreement for Sweetings Pond has been a long time coming. It represents a milestone in our journey towards sustainable development. It symbolises our collective responsibility to safeguard our natural heritage and create a harmonious relationship between economic progress and environmental preservation.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all stakeholders in this process of drafting and finalising this lease agreement. Their dedication, expertise, and commitment has been crucial in ensuring that this agreement falls in line with our vision of creating a thriving ecosystem while promoting responsible usage. Let us continue to preserve the jewel that is Sweetings Pond for many generations to come.”

The BNT invites the public to stay tuned for more news about its plan for the country’s newest national park: Seahorse National Park at Hatchet Bay Cave and Sweetings Pond!

To learn more about the role the BNT plays in managing terrestrial and marine national parks, conserving wildlife, and informing environmental policy, please visit its website: www.bnt.bs

Follow/subscribe to its various social media channels: FacebookInstagramTwitter, and YouTube.


Banner Image: A lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus), female, clining to algae in an alkaline pond in The Bahamas by Shane Gross

Continue Reading

News

PADI Club invites Ocean Lovers on exclusive dive trip to Bonaire this September

Caribbean DTA Team

Published

on

Following the popularity of the PADI Club trip to Belize at the end of July, a second “dive trip of a lifetime” has just been announced by PADI Club to Bonaire this  September 23-30, 2023.

Offered exclusively for PADI Club members as part of their yearly benefits, attendees will get to seek adventure while staying at the all-inclusive Buddy Dive Resort, one of PADI’s premier members on the island. Other PADI Members in Bonaire – including Toucan Divers, Divi Flamingo, Wanna Dive, Dive Friends and Scuba Do – will also be hosting various dive experiences throughout the week.

“Bonaire is a unique and beautiful gem in the Dutch Caribbean and we want to show our Club Members this little island looms large as a dive destination,” says Zach Pavkov, PADI Club Operations Manager. “This trip offers participants a chance to not only explore a world-class diving destination but do so through some of the very best PADI Operators.”

PADI Club members will receive a generous discount for this seven-day diving adventure, with packages starting at $1,739 per diver for double occupancy.

Included in the package are:

  • social events that include hosted dinners, cocktail parties and live music
  • transportation in Buddy Dive Resort’s famous pick-up truck
  • daily shore diving and boat diving
  • accommodation, with the option to share a room with another solo diver or rent out one, two and three-bedroom apartments to host larger groups of divers
  • surface interval activities that include PADI Seminars and island excursions like hiking and bird-watching.

“Because the water surrounding Bonaire has been an established marine park for 44 years, Bonaire is now a top-ranked destination with abundant marine life that includes scorpionfish, flounder and frogfish, moray eels, hawksbill turtles and eagle rays, ” continues Pavkov.

With limited spots available, the list of participants will be decided on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who are not yet PADI Club Members but are interested in joining the trip can sign-up, which will also give them access to:

  • 20% of PADI eLearning® programs and PADI Gear™
  • a free ReActivate® online refresher
  • a free DAN® Prepared Diver course
  • a subscription to Scuba Diving® magazine
  • access to the PADI Club Celebrity Speaker Series webinars
  • brand partner benefits from GoPro, Uber, Salt Life and more

To further support ocean lovers to create positive ocean change, five percent of the PADI Club membership fee will go towards supporting conservation efforts around the globe.

“PADI Club benefits are designed not just to empower divers to explore the ocean, but also enable them to play a pivotal role in saving the ocean too,” says Pavkov. “This year’s additional expedition to Bonaire gives our community the chance to come together and explore our shared blue planet in a truly meaningful and connected way.”

Click here to sign up for PADI Club and reserve your spot here to join the Bonaire dive trip.

Continue Reading

E-Newsletter Sign up!

Trending