Double Reef at Mangrove Beach Resort
Double Reef is located next to the MV Superior Producer with shore access close to the Water Factory dive site in Otrabanda. If you are a guest at the new Mangrove Beach Resort, please consult the onsite Curaçao Tourist Board approved dive operator .
This boat or shore dive is aptly named as Double Reef because of the smaller, shallower reef, followed by a sandy area and a larger reef plateau, but it is 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.
How to dive Double Reef
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.
The first reef bottoms out at approx. 45 ft; the top of the outer reef starting at approx. 60 feet and dropping off to….. deep. A beautiful dive site, stay shallow if the current is strong.
Dive Tip: If entering from shore, be sure to check the speed and the direction of the current. Be aware that the currents can be strong and tend to drive hard west towards the Water Factory site. Alternatively, consider doing a boat dive at this location to maximize on bottom-time and then if it becomes a drive dive, it will not be an issue.
Dive Site Recommendations
- Dive Type: Boat / Shore
- Snorkel Site: No
- Experience Level: Open Water (Min)
- Depth: 20 -120ft (6-36m)
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 and local advice.
Location of Double Reef
Mangrove Beach Resort – Curio by Hilton
Right outside the door of the Mangrove Beach Corendon Curacao All-Inclusive Resort (Curio by Hilton) is a lovely private beach with excellent diving opportunities on the house reef. For more information consult Groove Diving, the onsite PADI Dive Center.
From the 24-hour Ultra All Inclusive hotel you can easily walk to the center of Willemstad and the historic, natural harbor. You will also be amazed in the hotel. How about a Food Street with Dutch snacks, pizzas, waffles and ice cream, luxurious rooms, spacious suites and 3 swimming pools?
The aqua park with spectacular slides such as the free fall, rafting slide, blackhole and multi lane is of course completely cool. And to top it all off, the unique, adventurous, revolutionary King Cobra that will give you an adrenaline rush anyway. This is what we call; next level aquafun!
So ‘unplug’ yourself from your busy (work) life, because this is the place to surrender to the relaxed life rhythm of Curaçao.
