The Diveshop Curacao
The Diveshop Curacao
5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
The place to be in Curacao for all your diving adventures. Highly specialized in PADI Courses and Programs we also offer dive trips from the boat, shore and the ATV-DIVE safari. You expect customer service, someone to assist you with your gear, some tips, trips or ideas, or just a warm towel and a drink when you come back from a dive...And you are absolutely right.
Willemstad, CuraƧao
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
The Diveshop Curacao
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravelers talk about
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
392 reviews
Excellent
380
Very good
11
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Marlene K
Brooklyn, NY50 contributions
Feb 2020 ā¢ Couples
My fiancĆ© and I completed out AOW course and everything was great. Our dive instructor Mitch was very professional and was big on safety. He was very precise with what we needed to know and made sure we were over prepared for our dive. We did two days of diving with him and he made us essentially dive warriors! The shore dives were a blast and to experience drift diving was great. If you are looking to complete you AOW with an amazing instructor and a dive shop that makes you feel like family this is your spot, I canāt recommend them enough. With so many dive shops it really comes down to quality of teaching and safety and this place is oozing with it ! Not only are the instructors great but the people you dive with all have your back which was a great feeling.
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Boogie1594
Falmouth, UK3 contributions
Jun 2020 ā¢ Friends
Myself and some friends completed the Advanced Dive Course with Ivana. I found the communication and planning for the course to be really good, especially the flexibility around our working schedules.
The course was really well run and great fun, helped by Ivanaās infectious passion for diving, the sea and all things that live in it and depend on it. One of my favourite moments was seeing Ivanaās reaction showing us a Sea Horse!š
All the team at the DiveShop are extremely friendly and professional, I would recommend them to anyone and everyone! So much so I have booked another course and, when they come of age will entrust them with teaching my kids the joy of diving!
The course was really well run and great fun, helped by Ivanaās infectious passion for diving, the sea and all things that live in it and depend on it. One of my favourite moments was seeing Ivanaās reaction showing us a Sea Horse!š
All the team at the DiveShop are extremely friendly and professional, I would recommend them to anyone and everyone! So much so I have booked another course and, when they come of age will entrust them with teaching my kids the joy of diving!
Written July 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marcitoooooomba
Manchester, UK12 contributions
Feb 2021
My journey with TDS began at the airport - Ivanna picked me up, bubbly as ever. Having previously ensured I had all the correct paper work and visas needed to arrive smoothly.
It was a Monday and after dropping my bags at the onsite accommodation I was invited to dinner with a few of the divers from the amazingly welcoming dive community in Curacao. What a lovely evening it was, everyone very fun and friendly. I highly recommend the restaurant De Visserij.
The next day we were straight in the water for some fun dives and skills circuit after a tour of the dive center and being given access to a secure place for my gear. A couple of days later the IDC started. . .
It's quite an intense 12 days, water sessions, class room sessions, mock exams and home work. There was still plenty of time to have at least a beer whilst the sun was setting on the secluded beach that The Dive Shop shares with a couple of bars though, then back to study ;)
I went into the IDC with 7 strangers and came out with 7 good friends, really. You build incredible bridges, learning and making mistakes together as the instructors guide you through the process of becoming perfect candidates.
The course instructors Ivanna, Gerome and Thor each have their own charm and personality which is great for different learning styles the one thing they all have in common though is that they all went above and beyond their call of duty to ensure everyone was ready for theory and practical, staying with candidates well into evening for tutoring if it was necessary. Also special thanks to Jane the shop manager, who was more than happy to help at any time and an all round legend.
The exam weekend came and went and everyone nailed it, there were no surprises as we'd practiced everything in the IDC.
That evening there was a really nice party organised for us all in town, the perfect end to an intense but truly enjoyable experience in Curacao.
I obviously couldn't recommend these guys enough. I had a beautiful time on the island and the location of The Dive Shop is disgustingly perfect!
Thank you TDS so much! :D
Oh yeh, Ivanna also organised an epic fun day for us all to learn how to hunt and prepare lionfish on the beach!
It was a Monday and after dropping my bags at the onsite accommodation I was invited to dinner with a few of the divers from the amazingly welcoming dive community in Curacao. What a lovely evening it was, everyone very fun and friendly. I highly recommend the restaurant De Visserij.
The next day we were straight in the water for some fun dives and skills circuit after a tour of the dive center and being given access to a secure place for my gear. A couple of days later the IDC started. . .
It's quite an intense 12 days, water sessions, class room sessions, mock exams and home work. There was still plenty of time to have at least a beer whilst the sun was setting on the secluded beach that The Dive Shop shares with a couple of bars though, then back to study ;)
I went into the IDC with 7 strangers and came out with 7 good friends, really. You build incredible bridges, learning and making mistakes together as the instructors guide you through the process of becoming perfect candidates.
The course instructors Ivanna, Gerome and Thor each have their own charm and personality which is great for different learning styles the one thing they all have in common though is that they all went above and beyond their call of duty to ensure everyone was ready for theory and practical, staying with candidates well into evening for tutoring if it was necessary. Also special thanks to Jane the shop manager, who was more than happy to help at any time and an all round legend.
The exam weekend came and went and everyone nailed it, there were no surprises as we'd practiced everything in the IDC.
That evening there was a really nice party organised for us all in town, the perfect end to an intense but truly enjoyable experience in Curacao.
I obviously couldn't recommend these guys enough. I had a beautiful time on the island and the location of The Dive Shop is disgustingly perfect!
Thank you TDS so much! :D
Oh yeh, Ivanna also organised an epic fun day for us all to learn how to hunt and prepare lionfish on the beach!
Written April 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nlscham
Washington DC, DC12 contributions
Aug 2021
We decided to rent SCUBA gear from The Diveshop Curacao because of the great prices we found online and the convenient location. We couldn't have been happier with the experience! Jane was happy to help set us up first thing in the morning and gave us a great dive site recommendations. The gear was in perfect condition and the full dive set rental deal is hard to beat!
I highly recommend The Diveshop Curacao!
I highly recommend The Diveshop Curacao!
Written October 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shayla D
Miami, FL8 contributions
Mar 2020 ā¢ Friends
I had the experience of a lifetime at The Diveshop Curacao! Jane was incredibly funny and personable and she made sure that she went through all the rules and guidelines thoroughly. I felt prepared going into the water but once we actually started going underwater and performing our newly learned skills, I realized that I was terrified and began to let anxiety get the best of me. Iām so thankful that we had Mitch with us, the most amazing, kindest, and patient instructor, because he calmed my nerves and made me feel extremely safe. I was able to release control and trust in the process because of him and I couldnāt be more grateful. Diving is such a serene and indescribable experience, that Iām so glad I decided to take part in. Thank you for the unforgettable experience!
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenzy V
1 contribution
Feb 2021
I am living on the island and I know the Diveshop allready for a bit.
February 2021 was finally the time I joined the Padi IDC, led by Jeroen and Ivana and assisted by Thor.
We started out with 10 strangers who became in the next 10 days buddies, fellow instructors, and even some friends.
Ivana, Jeroen and Thor were fantastic in preparing us for the big exam, they shared all their knowledge and they were not only teaching but they were also our mentors.
They helped us out with anything.
But it would be a shame to stop here and only thank them, also Jane and the rest of the Diveshop crew made this wonderfull experience possible.
It was really a joy spending time there even next to the IDC because they organize so much other cool events.
Defenitely a must visit when you go to Curacao.
February 2021 was finally the time I joined the Padi IDC, led by Jeroen and Ivana and assisted by Thor.
We started out with 10 strangers who became in the next 10 days buddies, fellow instructors, and even some friends.
Ivana, Jeroen and Thor were fantastic in preparing us for the big exam, they shared all their knowledge and they were not only teaching but they were also our mentors.
They helped us out with anything.
But it would be a shame to stop here and only thank them, also Jane and the rest of the Diveshop crew made this wonderfull experience possible.
It was really a joy spending time there even next to the IDC because they organize so much other cool events.
Defenitely a must visit when you go to Curacao.
Written March 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
khfishlady
Texas35 contributions
Dec 2019
I've worked with this dive shop twice this year. The first time was in June, when I was on a reef restoration trip. Most recently was the first week of December, when I was on vacation with my husband. I went back to this dive shop because of the awesome service we had in June, and the service was EVEN BETTER in December. Since I was so familiar with the island, we wanted to do a bunch of shore dives and go at our own pace. We got our tanks from the shop every morning, and asked the crew about the conditions they were seeing, plus got advice on the best dive sites to hit (especially the ones I wasn't as familiar with). At the end of every day, the crew was keen to hear how our dives went, and kept encouraging us to get to my husband's 100th open water dive. They were so enthusiastic and helpful that we spent our dinners talking about them and their advice for the next day's dives. We even ran into the staff at several of the dive sites we ended up diving, so I knew we were diving quality places. Once my husband hit that 100th dive, they were genuinely excited for him. I was sad for our trip to end, because I felt like Ruby, Jane, Mitch, and Chantal became our friends, and I hated to leave them. I can say that I will undoubtedly use the Diveshop every time I go to Curacao, and have no problems recommending them!
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brooke S
1 contribution
Jul 2020
I completed my PADI Open Water Certification with The Diveshop and it was an incredible experience. I had tried and failed on several occasions to become comfortable with diving and I entered the course with a lot of preexisting anxiety. Our instructor, Gaby, was knowledgeable, patient and energetic. She was willing to wait for moments of panic and provide support and suggestions for making the journey more productive. Each class built our strength and confidence, we were never asked to do more than we could handle at a time. By the end of the course, I felt safe and excited to do more underwater exploration.
The Diveshop was also willing to work with our schedules and provide us with options for making sure we completed our courses in a timely manner.
The Diveshop was also willing to work with our schedules and provide us with options for making sure we completed our courses in a timely manner.
Written July 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isla Keesje
1 contribution
May 2022 ā¢ Friends
The team at the Diveshop are a collection of people that instantly make you feel welcome and part of a community. They care about where they are and how you dive in the ocean, always positive about the marine research station they have nearby, and bring joy to any plans you have with them. There's thoughtful attention to detail that makes a difference for those around them and they encouraged the excitement for diving! Kind people with a love and respect for the ocean, the Diveshop rocks!!
Written June 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WDunn
4 contributions
Jan 2021 ā¢ Solo
The IDC course itself was excellent. Every topic was covered with professionalism, expert knowledge and a lot of fun. Every day the classroom was perfectly prepared, drinks and snacks were waiting and we always started perfectly on time (unless I was late, sorry!). The in water sessions were well thought out and all is candidates were very well briefed on where we could improve and what we had done well after each session.
Ivana, Jeroen and Thor went above and beyond to ensure we were all completely prepared. I was sent my study documents as soon as I signed up and Ivana was chasing up mock results within days, by the time the IE came I had absolutely zero doubt that I was ready š¤£
Spending 2 weeks with the staff and my fellow 7 candidates was a really fantastic experience that I would highly recommend. If you have any doubts about where to go then hit up sunny CuraƧao!
Ps. CuraƧao is really beautiful! I spent days off driving round the island visiting beautiful beaches, hiking, spotting beautiful wildlife, lionfish hunting, fun diving and so much more!
Ivana, Jeroen and Thor went above and beyond to ensure we were all completely prepared. I was sent my study documents as soon as I signed up and Ivana was chasing up mock results within days, by the time the IE came I had absolutely zero doubt that I was ready š¤£
Spending 2 weeks with the staff and my fellow 7 candidates was a really fantastic experience that I would highly recommend. If you have any doubts about where to go then hit up sunny CuraƧao!
Ps. CuraƧao is really beautiful! I spent days off driving round the island visiting beautiful beaches, hiking, spotting beautiful wildlife, lionfish hunting, fun diving and so much more!
Written March 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you have a boat for boat dives? We dove Curacao three years ago and have done most of the shore dives.
Written November 16, 2016
thank you for your question and interest in our diveshop.
We don't offer any boat diving from our dive center. Simply because it will be way more expensive, you will join a large group with divers from all kinds off levels and in general dive times are not more than 40 minutes.
We prefer shore diving with you, so we can go anywhere you would like to go (within a reasonable distance), dive for 60 minutes and being way more flexible to even organize custom made trips.
Every day at 08:30am we leave for 2 tank shore diving trips and return at our store around 12:30pm. You will dive 2 different sites and in between enjoy a complementary drink from your divemaster on the beach.
Curacao counts around 60 shore diving sites like Vearssenbay, Snakebay, Cas Abou, Porto Marie, Superior, Double Reef, Tug-Boat and Marie Pompoen. Of course there are many other dive sites to choose from, so please don't hesitate to contact us with any ideas.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Written November 19, 2016
Showing results 1-1 of 1