Dive Tourism Industry in Curaçao
Dive Curaçao, from the very beginning, was created to be an online platform that supports a responsible dive tourism industry in Curaçao. Our mission is simple – continue to evolve and deliver the most comprehensive dive destination resource in the Caribbean that promotes the Curaçao diving industry and supports sustainable dive tourism initiatives in Curaçao.
Why? Because Curaçao, the largest of the ABC (including Aruba and Bonaire) Islands, is still relatively unknown as a world class dive vacation destination, especially in North America.
Therefore our goal is to create awareness of our “hidden gem” and to build an atmosphere that both educates and fosters the enjoyment of sharing the amazing underwater experiences that are available in Curaçao.
The fact is that some of the most bio-diverse reefs in the Caribbean exist right here in Curacao. The sheltered southern coast is rich in coral, and suitable for divers of all levels, with little in the way of adverse conditions at any of the popular dive sites.
Divers and snorkelers never seem to be able to stop talking about the beauty of scuba diving Curaçao. Let us assure you this is with good reason.
The main focus of Dive Curaçao will always be centered on scuba diving. But Curaçao is a very unique island that offers travelers so much more than the typical Caribbean “eat, sleep and dive” vacation destination because history, culture, language, food, music and on-island events play a major role for our island too.
There is no denying that Scuba Diving in Curaçao is the number one thing to DO – but of course there are plenty of things to do in Curaçao and no right way to experience any of them.
Dive in and explore the endless possibilities here in Curaçao so that you can make our island your own experience while embracing our authentic and certainly unforgettable spirit.
Investing in Sustainable Dive Tourism in Curaçao
Global media platforms often overuse the phrase “sustainable tourism” to create buzz for brands and destinations alike that simply want to “green wash” and now “blue wash” you into thinking your support could have a lasting effect on our global fight against environmental issues.
Whether the issues are coral reef degradation, plastic pollution, global warming, excreta – the list is literally endless, right? But we can only control what we can control within our bubble and that is one of major reasons that Dive Travel Curaçao exists today.
Honestly, from a private sector point of view, if we do nothing to support the environment we will eventually have an unsustainable dive tourism industry in Curacao. This will lead to an inability to deliver you exceptional dive travel and vacation experiences in the future. Bottom line is that apathy can no longer be embraced.
Therefore Dive Curaçao and Dive Travel Curaçao is 100% committed to support, and continually invest our available resources into valuable sustainable tourism, initiatives that make a real difference for Curacao not only from an environmental perspective but also from a socio-economic perspective too.
But we are only able to do that because of like minded tourism partners, and our clients trusting patronage plus an unrelenting desire to Dive Curaçao!
Curaçao Sustainable Dive Tourism Partnerships
Dive Curaçao and Dive Travel Curaçao is appreciative of the sustainable tourism partnerships developed with Reef Renewal Curaçao, Green Fins, Reef World Foundation, the PADI AWARE Foundation, Stream2Sea, the Caribbean Shark Coalition, and so many more.
These sustainable tourism partnerships in collaboration with environmentally responsible Dive Shops and Dive Resorts in Curaçao has created a symbiotic relationship that allows Dive Travel Curaçao to offer the best overall value for dive vacation packages that supports the protection of coral reefs in Curaçao for future generations.
Supporting Coral Restoration in Curaçao
“At the heart of Dive Curaçao and now, Dive Travel Curaçao, is an unwavering commitment to provide exceptional value, high quality and personalized service to ensure that you, as our client, can have the opportunity for the best Curaçao dive vacation experience”, says Bryan Horne, the Managing Director.
To further underline this commitment he says; “our coral reefs are a vital component of our island’s tourism product, therefore we are also proud that 1% of Dive Travel Curaçao’s net annual proceeds will be donated to Reef Renewal Curaçao so they can re-invest it in restoring corals for the future of Curaçao.”
“The significance of Reef Renewal Curaçao (RRC) is that together as a community here on Curaçao, we are restoring our shallow water reef system while educating our youth about the importance of protecting and preserving our natural ecosystem,” according to Pol Bosch, Operations Manager of RRC, who adds: “I am proud of Dive Travel Curacao’s commitment for coral restoration and believe that supporting initiatives like this further solidify a natural path to sustainability for future generations.”
Supporting Green Fins and the Reef World Foundation
Green Fins is the world’s first independent certificate to stop the environmental impact from marine-based tourism, implemented predominantly through its membership available for marine tourism operators everywhere. Green Fins memberships are managed through a centralized platform – the Green Fins Hub. This allows all operators easy access to a personalized action plan, a library of environmental solutions as well as connection to other operators and conservation experts through the Community Forum.
Dive and snorkel operators here in Curaçao are uniquely positioned to enact positive, lasting changes within our island community and among our customers.
By educating and empowering island communities, including the diving and snorkeling tourism, to use alternatives to unsustainable practices, we can develop a sustainable dive tourism industry in Curaçao and protect local marine habitats.
That’s why the Green Fins initiative works with the global marine tourism industry and its governing bodies to drive environmentally friendly diving and snorkeling practices.
Reef-World hopes to inspire a shift towards sustainability; making sustainable diving the social norm globally by supporting the diving and snorkeling industry on its sustainability journey.
PADI AWARE Foundation in Curacao
Reefs worldwide are facing threats including climate change, overfishing, water pollution and marine debris from human waste like single use plastics. While the effects of climate change must be addressed on a global scale, local communities can give their reefs the best chance of survival. They can start by reducing pressures such as fishing responsibly and reducing land-based pollution that is entering the ocean.
Many Caribbean reefs, like those in Curaçao stand a good chance of surviving if local pressures can be minimized. Several organizations on the island are working diligently to help restore and protect Curacao’s reefs by tackling these issues.
“The diving community in Curacao are true leaders in the fight to protect what we love. Together dive centers on the island have united to protect their local dive sites from the onslaught of trash. They realize that conservation cannot be done in isolation and that it takes the collaborative efforts of all to really make change.” says Jack Fishman, PADI AWARE Foundation
Plastic pollution is affecting the oceans across the world, and some reports estimate that by 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Marine life like fish, birds and sea turtles can mistake plastic for food and eventually starve or become entangled and suffocate. Sadly, many islands did not take-action quickly enough and their reef systems have collapsed. Collapsed reef systems result in losses in tourism, fishing revenue, floods, deteriorated water quality, and less resistance to storms. Luckily, Curaçao still has the chance to protect itself if action is taken immediately.
Stream2Sea in Curaçao
Dive Curaçao is a proud partner of Stream2Sea and Caribbean Organic Beauty, trusted eco-conscious brands, that offers reef safe biodegradable sunscreen and body-care products that are backed by the most thorough testing for coral and aquatic safety in the industry.
Stream2Sea sunscreen and body care products are completely reef safe and biodegradable.
In fact, Stream2Sea is the FIRST and the ONLY brand that “walks the talk” to ensure that all their sunscreen, skincare and body care products do not contain Oxybenzone, Octinoxate and Octocrylene. To ensure this, rigorous testing is conducted to prove their products are safe to fishes and coral larvae (Protect Land + Sea Certified)!
To underline our commitment to sustainable tourism, Dive Travel Curaçao in collaboration with our partners, we offer Stream2Sea products in Curaçao so you can protect yourself against the raw elements and protect the coral reef against toxic ingredients.
Caribbean Shark Coalition
Dive Curaçao proudly joined the Caribbean Shark Coalition to become its newest member in 2021 to represent the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao, along with over 45 new members from NGOs, governments, and local businesses from nearly 30 countries, which have formally joined the CSC to build capacity around research, policy, and education efforts for these threatened species in the region.
The Caribbean plays a key role in advancing the global target of protecting 30% of the worlds’ ocean by 2030. Under this vision, the CSC has three primary goals, which will be carried out through collaborative work and CSC-member projects. Firstly, the CSC will foster collaboration in shark and ray research, policy, and capacity building for conservation among stakeholders, and provide opportunities for knowledge transfer and data synthesis.
The CSC will also seek to explore ways in which transboundary protections can be made to better safeguard the long-term health of shark and ray populations. Finally, the CSC aims to promote a sustainable future for these species as well as the human livelihoods who depend on them, by engaging local businesses, stakeholders, and private sector corporations.
The Importance of Sustainable Dive Tourism in Curaçao
Sustainable Dive Tourism in Curaçao is of immense importance to conserve the 104 square kilometers of fringing coral reefs that surround the island. Equally important is the real commitment between the public and private sectors to collaborate on dive sector business licensing that incorporates mandatory environmental criteria (supported by legislation), liability insurance, and Global Dive Industry Standards (ISO). By doing so, this will legitimize the Curaçao Dive Industry as a valid contributor to Curaçao’s annual GDP by creating measurable results within the islands taxation framework.
With measurable results within the taxation framework, it will then be impossible to ignore the immense economic importance of Curaçao’s Dive Tourism Industry, and thus the immense economic importance to protect Curaçao’s subaquatic life.
With the assistance and teamwork of the entire community we need to create change in order to provide future generations an opportunity for a healthy and sustainable environment, both above and below the waterline.
