Nestled along the stunning coastline of Vaersenbaai on Curaçao’s southwestern shores, Kokomo Beach is a true Caribbean gem. This popular dive site invites shore divers to explore crystal-clear waters, a fascinating submerged pontoon barge, and vibrant marine life. Beyond the underwater wonders, Kokomo Beach offers incredible amenities for non-divers. These amenities include a beautiful sandy beach, shaded palapas, a beachside restaurant, and a lively bar. All in all, this makes Kokomo Beach the perfect destination for both adventure seekers and relaxation lovers alike.
Diving and Snorkeling at Kokomo Beach
Underwater Landscape
As divers descend into the azure depths of Kokomo Beach, they are greeted by a diverse underwater landscape. The site features a combination of shallow coral gardens and deeper reef formations, creating a kaleidoscope of colors and textures. The sandy bottom is occasionally interrupted by coral outcrops, providing refuge for various marine species.
Marine Life
Kokomo Beach is a haven for marine biodiversity. Divers can encounter a dazzling array of tropical fish, including parrotfish, angelfish, and schools of vibrant reef fish. The coral formations host a plethora of invertebrates. This includes colorful nudibranchs and delicate sea fans swaying with the gentle currents. Lucky divers may even spot larger species like turtles, rays, and possibly the occasional nurse shark.
Visibility and Conditions
The visibility at Kokomo Beach is typically exceptional, often exceeding 100 feet (30 meters). The calm, warm waters make this dive site suitable for divers of all experience levels. The average water temperature hovers around 78-82°F (25-28°C), providing a comfortable and inviting environment for exploration.
Dive Experience
Whether you’re a novice or seasoned diver, Kokomo Beach offers a memorable underwater experience. The shallow portions are perfect for beginners, allowing them to gain confidence while surrounded by vibrant marine life. More experienced divers can venture to deeper sections, to explore the sunken Pontoon Barge and/or the Vaersenbaai Car Wrecks.
Logistics
Kokomo Beach is easily accessible from the shore, with entry points marked by buoys. The site is well-maintained, and on-site dive facilities provide rental equipment and professional guides. After a rewarding dive, divers can relax on the pristine beach, taking in the panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea.
Conservation Note
To preserve the beauty of Kokomo Beach for future generations, divers are encouraged to follow responsible diving practices. Please avoid contact with marine life and respect the fragile coral formations.
Shore Diving Kokomo Beach in Vaersenbaai
Dive Site Recommendations
- Dive Type: Shore diving
- Snorkel Site: Yes
- Experience Level: Open Water (Min)
- Depth: 30 – 120ft (10-36m)
Special Notes
- Please dive responsibly in Curaçao.
- Explore the top 10 eco-diving tips for Curaçao.
- Due to recreational & commercial boat traffic, an inflated surface marker buoy is mandatory when shore diving.
- Discover the essential Shore Diving Safety Tips.
- Consult Trunk Divers, the onsite dive shop at Kokomo Beach, or other recommended Curaçao Dive Operators for additional details and local advice.
About Kokomo Beach
Vaersenbaai is home to the Kokomo Beach Club. Here you will find a restaurant and bar, public restrooms and showers. The Kokomo Beach House Reef is a very nice and pretty reef dive that is easily accessible from shore. The sunken Pontoon Barge and the Car Wrecks are located east of the Kokomo Beach House Reef at Vaersenbaai.
Kokomo is the ideal beach to enjoy a quiet day with the whole family. As mentioned above, you can enjoy a great lunch, dive into one of their delicious cocktails or just fall in love with the crystal clear water!! They have lounges available to relax if want to, or read a book, or just hang out with an ice cold beer with your friends!!
Simply Kokomo Beach is the place on Curaçao to make your own experiences into anything you want.
Traveler Tip: Kokomo has no entrance-fee, 24/7 secured parking and is very child friendly. To increase your enjoyment of the beach, it must be said that they probably have the best beach chairs on the island. If you decide that a weekend visit is better, that’s great! Because on Sunday’s they have their famous happy hour from 17:00-18:00 with the best live music combined with a DJ spinning the golden oldies.
Coral Reef Conservation
Kokomo Beach in Curaçao is a vital hub for coral reef restoration. Here, Trunk Divers leads the efforts to regenerate fragile reef systems at Kokomo Beach. Through a dedicated partnership with the Branch Coral Foundation, they manage underwater coral nurseries. In turn, they cultivate then outplant endangered coral species like Staghorn and Elkhorn. This helps to rebuild the reef’s structure, increase biodiversity, and strengthen the marine ecosystem.
As part of their commitment to marine conservation, Trunk Divers offers the PADI Coral Restoration Specialty course. This hands-on experience allows divers to learn coral gardening techniques, assist with nursery maintenance, and contribute directly to reef restoration efforts. Whether you are a visiting diver or a local enthusiast, this course is a meaningful way to give back to the reefs you love to explore.
Visitors to Kokomo Beach are encouraged to embrace eco-diving and snorkeling standards. This includes never touching marine life, maintaining proper buoyancy, and avoiding standing on the reef. In addition, we urge all guests to use reef-friendly sunscreens and body-care products to help protect the delicate coral polyps from harmful chemicals.
By diving responsibly and supporting coral restoration, you become part of the solution. Join Trunk Divers at Kokomo Beach and make a positive impact on Curaçao’s reefs today—because together, we can protect what we love.
Car Wrecks at Vaersenbaai
Check out what Natasha Brown says from HotCars.com in her article titled “19 Photos Of Tanks And Trucks Found Underwater“. She writes; “This former military truck is located off the coast of Vaersenbaai on the island of Curaçao in the Caribbean, a popular diving spot with lots of vehicles and a few shipwrecks for more advanced and experienced scuba divers”.
Amazingly, these vehicles were deliberately placed on the ocean floor. This was part of an artifical reef project meant to provide a habitat for the fish, corals and sponges. Although much of the coral has been destroyed, these trucks and cars make for an adequate replacement. Additionally, the placement has encouraged flora and fauna to return to Curaçao.
The Car Wrecks is a fun, deep shore or boat dive site. It contains dozens of car wrecks plus it is a great spot to take some unique souvenir photos.
Location of Kokomo Beach
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Header image courtesy of Kokomo Beach Curaçao