Cornelius Bay at Bapor Kibra
Dive in and discover Cornelius Bay! This magnificent dive site, located in the area of Bapor Kibra, is nestled into beautiful undeveloped bay next to the Curaçao Sea Aquarium Park between Shipwreck Point and Saba Tugboat at Jan Thiel Bay.
Cornelius Bay is a “boat dive only” reef that has remained unchanged for more than 50 years because they are found in the remote areas of the Curaçao Marine Park. This is a MUST dive site and a perfect reason why sites along the south-eastern coastline of Curaçao are so special!
This area, around Cornelius Bay, has long been a part of maritime history; however, not much can be found today of the wreckage that this area is famous for. As in most of Curaçao, within a hundred yards or less from shore, the sea floor drops deeply to sloping walls of coral, limestone, and volcanic rock.
Large coral colonies and coral species currently listed as threatened in the wider Caribbean can still be found in large numbers at these remote locations plus interesting sea life such as Sea horses. Look for them around the many gorgonians along the wall.
Dive Site Recommendations
- Dive Type: Boat
- Snorkel Site: No
- Experience Level: Open Water (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 Ocean Encounters for additional details & recommendations.
Location of Cornelius Bay
About the Curaçao Sea Aquarium Park
According to the Curaçao Sea Aquarium, back in the early 80’s, Adrian “Dutch” Schrier dreamed of bringing his passion for the sea closer to the general public. Equipped with acute insight and specialized knowledge, Dutch became very aware that the rare beauty and health of the Caribbean Sea surrounding Curaçao would not last forever.
For Dutch, he believed that the public lacked a greater understanding about the underwater world and that the community in general needed access to marine education that was reasonable and affordable.
Therefore, in 1984, Dutch founded the Curaçao Sea Aquarium and now, 35 years later, it has evolved into the Curaçao Sea Aquarium Park which is one of the most unique examples of marine education and tourism facilities in the Caribbean.
Now, dive in and learn more: Postcards from Curaçao – Episode 14 – Curacao Sea Aquarium
