Black Coral Garden Dive Site in Soto, Curaçao
Black Coral Garden is located in the area of Soto – Curaçao, between Hell’s Corner and REDIHO. What makes this dive site so unique is in fact the extremely rare and nearly extinct black corals in addition to the beautiful display of sea fans and bottlebrush corals.
The skeletons of black corals are dark; hence the description as ‘black,’ but the polyps have varying colors — red, white, orange, green and yellow. Since they lack symbiotic algae, black corals can be found thousands of feet deep.
This Black Coral Garden dive is generally done parallel with the wall, as an out-and-back to the boat. It’s an easy boat diving site, with little to no current. As with most wall dives, it’s easy to slip down too deep while admiring all of the beautiful rare black corals and the densely populated marine life. So, pay attention to your depth and time.
As always, please be careful around corals to avoid damaging them, but take extra caution in this spot in particular, as black corals take over a century to re-establish. Admire these rare beauties and keep a close watch on your buoyancy.
Dive Site Recommendations
- Dive Type: Boat
- Snorkel Site: No
- 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 a recommended Curaçao Dive Operator for additional details & recommendations.
Location of Black Coral Garden
About the Area around Black Coral Garden
Landhuis San Nicolas is a private estate located on the West side of the island with 3 private beaches. Situated on a hill, it offers stunning panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea and Santa Martha Bay. The pristine natural surroundings of this 300-acre former plantation make it a unique setting.
About Curaçao
Curaçao speaks to the curious explorer in us all!
Home to more than 35 captivating beaches, a diverse heritage spanning 55 different cultures, ‘live and let live’ attitude and unrivaled European architecture; Curaçao remains one of the most exceptional islands of the region. Its capital city, Willemstad — a UNESCO World Heritage site — with its iconic colorful Handelskade backdrop and roster of museums, monuments, flavorful restaurants and shopping, was selected in 2013 as one of the Top 5 Cities in the Caribbean by Condé Nast Traveler’s readers.
Curaçao’s natural beauty, pristine diving and snorkeling sites are a favorite with divers and adventure seekers, and its beaches and idyllic weather, situated on the outer fringes of the Hurricane Belt, has won it further accolade and recognition.
The Best Dive Sites on the Westside of Curaçao
The “Top Dive Sites of Eastern Curaçao” are littered with wall dives, wreck dives, shore dives, and lush coral gardens. More importantly though, these sites have quickly become not only Curaçao icons, but also some of most sought after dives in the Caribbean. BUT there is another side to Curaçao that deserves exploring too. It is the West side, known to locals as “Banda Abou”.
So let’s dive into the Top 10 Dive Sites in Curaçao to give you a complete perspective on the world class diving that awaits you here in the heart of the Dutch Caribbean!
