Small Wall at Caracasbaai
Small Wall is located is located on the peninsula of Caracas Bay (Caracasbaai), which is inside Curacao’s National Marine Park, between Barracuda Point and Directors Bay.
This Curaçao boat diving site starts on a sandy plateau that leads to a small wall then to a drop-off that becomes a steep wall going well beyond recreational diving limits. On these walls you will discover many crevices where moray eels, shrimps and lobsters hide.
Small Wall offers sloping drop offs & walls that tend to be more dramatic with lusher coverage because of the constant fresh supply of nutrients being brought in with the currents from the open sea.
Small Wall is just another example of an extremely awesome dive site that should be included in your diving schedule.
Discover the history surrounding Small Wall
As mentioned above, Small Wall is located adjacent to Director’s Bay – one of Curaçao’s historic landmarks and very near to the famous Tugboat wreck. All three of these dive sites are perfectly suited for divers, snorkelers and beach goers alike.
As the local story goes, it is said that the late Queen Juliana who was invited to Director’s Bay, was so afraid of fish that the Royal Dutch Shell Group caged in a section of the bay for her to increase her enjoyment and ultimately to ease her mind so that she could relax. But you know, that’s just the story.
The fact is that starting in the early 1900’s until departing in 1985, this bay was exclusively for the Directors of the Royal Dutch Shell Group and the Dutch Royal family. Since 1985, the beach and the beautiful surrounding area are now open for public use.
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 a recommended Curaçao Dive Operator for additional details & recommendations.
Location of Small Wall
History of Caracasbaai
Caracasbaai is a designated nature preserve with many historic landmarks of Curaçao.
Built in 1882, Quarantine House functioned as one of the parts of the quarantine station at the fortress of Fort Beekenburg. Healthy seamen coming of disease carrying ships were quarantined here for forty days. This lasted until 1925 and nowadays this beautiful house with a splendid view over the Caribbean Sea is in severe disrepair.
Fort Beekenburg was built to defend the Spanish Water in 1703. It was at that time one of the few places where one could easily go from sea to land. The Fort has proven his service, several times, the fort kept the British and pirates out of Curacao. The fort was built with stones from the Walloon region, that is because the stones were used as ballast in the ships.
