Sweet Alice at Playa Forti
Sweet Alice is a diving and snorkeling site located at the historical landmark of Playa Forti. This site is situated at the far northwest end of Curaçao, in the fishing village of Westpunt.
This scenic location, especially known for its incredible sunsets, is worth checking out. The dive site is known as “Sweet Alice”, located roughly 35 feet below the beautiful surrounding cliffs and just a short swim out from the beach at Playa Forti.
Park in the lot at the top of the cliffs and then take the stairs down to the water.
Dive or Snorkel Tip: The volcanic black sand can get very hot, so don’t forget your booties. Enter at the beach and swim straight out to the drop-off, about 150 yards from shore. It is recommended to do a surface swim to conserve air for your dive and for the return trip.
What to look for at Sweet Alice
Due to a good bit of boat traffic and mostly a sandy bottom, this is not a great snorkeling location. The reef starts at around 30 feet of depth and drops gradually to approximately 120 feet.
Both directions are good, depending on the current. The currents are unpredictable but generally light. The fringing reef here is in good condition – you will find Sea Whips, Sea Rods, Cup Corals and wonderful Plate Corals growing along the gentle wall. Look for plenty of Morays, Spotted Drums, Hamlets and of course, Sea Turtles!
Dive Site Recommendations
- Dive Type: Shore
- Snorkel Site: Yes
- Experience Level: Open Water (Min)
- Depth: 0 -120ft (0 – 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 Sweet Alice
Playa Forti in Westpunt
Westpunt is the name of the westernmost point of the island of Curaçao and is also the name of a nearby small town, the island’s northernmost settlement.
The island’s northernmost point, Watamula, that lies two kilometres to the northeast. Close by you will find the incredible coral beaches of Playa Kalki, Playa Piskádo, Grote Knip and Kleine Knip.
Westpunt is known for excellent scuba diving, and is home to several shore and boat dive sites including a submerged airplane wreck and beautiful reefs. Most of tourist accommodation in Westpunt caters to scuba divers and offers excellent infrastructure such All West Apartments.
GO WEST Diving at Playa Kalki is the recommended Dive Shop in the Westpunt area and it is also Curacao Tourist Board approved.
Restaurant at Playa Forti
This restaurant was built in 1958 on the ruins of a fortress, constructed by the English, during the Napoleonic era. The original canons in front of the restaurant still reflect that adventurous period. This beautiful and historic site high up the rocks, offers the visitor a superb view of the most western part of the island and also a wonderful sunset view.
Playa Forti Restaurant serves a variety of local and international dishes. The specialties include red snapper à la Curaçao, stewed goat, tenderloin and even cheeseburgers. Playa Forti invites you to try the fantastic Pina coladas while enjoying the sunset.
Top 5 Dive Sites in Western Curacao
The West side is a bucolic haven for boat and shore diving that offers near perfect conditions year-round. The calmness of the area is due to the natural shielding from the easterly trade winds offered by the mountain range running through the middle of the Christoffel National Park.
The top 5 dive sites that lie along the western coastline, such as Watamula or Mushroom Forest, are world class scuba diving locations that offer you exceptional boat diving, shore diving and even snorkeling opportunities.
However, this is just to get your feet wet because to truly “sea” the BEST of the WEST, then you need to dive into these essential dive experiences to feel it for yourself!
