Piscadera Bay at Dreams Curaçao Resort
Piscadera Bay is situated at the western side of Otrobanda, in the southern part of Willemstad, Curaçao. The historic remains of Fort Piscadera can still be visited on the property of the Dreams Curaçao Resort that is located next to the Caribbean Marine Biological Institute (Carmabi).
With easy shore access to this dive site via the Dreams Curaçao Resort, the crystal clear blue waters and healthy coral reefs are only a few fin kicks away from the beautifully manicured beach.
Curaçao is known as one of the world’s most popular diving destinations largely due to well known dive sites such as the MV Superior Producer, Watamula, Eastpoint and Klein Curaçao to name a few. Include Piscadera Bay into your itinerary as well because this shore dive will not disappoint.
About Piscadera Bay and Surroundings
In order to provide protection to Piscadera Bay, a fort was constructed on the cliffs overlooking the bay in 1744. It was seized by the British army in 1804 for a week in order to bombard Willemstad. This attack was unsuccessful and the invading troops were forced to leave the fort. The ruins of the fort can be found on the property of Dreams Curaçao.
Traveler Tip: In the 17th century, maps of Piscadera Bay showed it to be a popular locale for fishing, with over 400 different species noted. Visit the Carmabi Education Department to learn more about Curaçao’s amazing nature that includes unique species of flora and fauna.
Dive Site Recommendations
- Dive Type: Shore Dive
- Snorkel Site: Yes
- 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 Piscadera Bay
Coral Research at Carmabi Marine Research Station
In 1955, the head of the Petroleum Industry in Curaçao proposed funding for setting up of a scientific institution in Piscadera Bay as it was found to be a perfect location for research, and then plans were prepared to establish the institution.
The research station, known as the Caribbean Marine Biological Institute (CARMABI) was soon established at the open end of the bay to conduct research in the field of ecology—fisheries in particular. Renamed Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity Foundation after a merger with National Parks Foundation of the Netherlands Antilles (STINAPA), but still referred to as CARMABI, or CARMABI Foundation, it is “the largest field station in the Southern Caribbean“.
Piscadera Bay is also the center for SECORE’s research on Curaçao and the capacity-building activities for many years. In close collaboration with the CARMABI Marine Research Station, much of the cumulative knowledge on how and when to collect coral spawn and how to culture the larvae of different species successfully has been built in Curaçao.
IN ADDITION TO KEY, ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS IN DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF SECORE’S DEVELOPING CORAL RESTORATION TOOLS (ENGINEERING CORAL RESTORATION), SECORE’S CURRENT RESEARCH IN CURAÇAO IS FOCUSED ON CORAL EARLY LIFE HISTORY.
