Alice in Wonderland at Playa Kalki
Alice in Wonderland is not just the the house reef of GO WEST Diving which is located at Playa Kalki. This dive site is also considered the number one shore dive in Curaçao!
There is no easy way to explain this incredible Curaçao shore diving site other than to say it is “mind-blowing”! When you descend on this dive site it is quite a bit like reading Chapter One – “Down the Rabbit Hole of Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”!
As you descend you literally feel yourself getting smaller and smaller as the hard coral formations rise up to become larger and larger, growing in some cases over 60 feet/18m in height encompassing a host of hiding places for the unusual characters we have in our story like the pair of resident frogfish and octopus!
Of course, we regularly see Hawksbill Turtles, Eagle Rays, large schools of Boga’s being hunted by Yellow Fin Tuna and so on… but really the attraction of Alice in Wonderland is the beautiful coral formations and all that hides within!!
The key, to diving this top 10 dive and snorkel site, is to dive it slow because you will be amazed at extreme biodiversity and the large amount of macro life you will find!
Traveler Tip: Visit the Blue Room and the Wreck of the Catherine at Black Sand Beach during one of GO WEST Diving’s afternoon snorkel trips! These afternoon snorkeling trips depart from Playa Kalki in Westpunt every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon! For more information, visit GO WEST Diving.
Dive in at Alice in Wonderland
As mentioned above, visit GO WEST Diving at Playa Kalki to dive Alice in Wonderland. They have complete pay-for-use facilities on-site that includes shaded staging areas for tanks and gearing up, gear cleaning stations, fresh water showers, bathrooms plus a full service dive shop for any last minute shopping needs or equipment rentals.
Of course, you can rent air or nitrox tanks at GO WEST Diving too. If you do choose to rent tanks there then you will be able to take advantage of all the facilities that the dive shop offers free of charge. Now that is a deal because who wants to lug tanks around, right!
To enter the water, simply walk down the pier and take a giant stride in! It is that easy plus they have laid out a massive rope, that starts at the pier, to easily guide you to the edge of the beautiful fringing reef and back.
Dive Site Recommendations
- Dive Type: Shore dive
- Snorkel Site: Yes
- Experience Level: Drift / Advanced (Min)
- Depth: 40 -120ft (12-36m)
Special Notes
Due to recreational & commercial boat traffic, an inflated surface marker buoy is mandatory when shore diving. Consult GO WEST Diving for additional details & recommendations.
Location of Alice in Wonderland
The Underwater Chichi Sculpture at Playa Kalki
If you are a scuba diver, a snorkeler or just a beach lover then you owe it to yourself to visit to the underwater Chichi sculpture at Playa Kalki in Westpunt!
“Chichi is the Papiamentu word for ‘big sister’. She represents the eldest daughter of the family, who binds the family together in a loving and caring way. She is a much appreciated female role model in the Caribbean community of today and a very live part of its colorful heritage.”
Courtesy of Serena’s Art Factory, a beautiful underwater sculpture of a Chichi has been carefully placed underwater at Playa Kalki – giving you one more reason why you should dive or snorkel Alice in Wonderland!
Top 5 Dive Sites in Western Curacao
The West side is a bucolic haven for boat and shore diving that offers near perfect conditions year-round. The calmness of the area is due to the natural shielding from the easterly trade winds offered by the mountain range running through the middle of the Christoffel National Park.
The top 5 dive sites that lie along the western coastline, such as Watamula or Mushroom Forest, are world class scuba diving locations that offer you exceptional boat diving, shore diving and even snorkeling opportunities.
However, this is just to get your feet wet because to truly “sea” the BEST of the WEST, then you need to dive into these essential dive experiences to feel it for yourself!
