Westpunt is the name of the westernmost point of the island in of Curacao.
For a reason or another it is not on many cruisers list to go, but it is well worth to leave Spanish Waters and sail along the leeward coast. You’ll get to enjoy a view of Christoffel National Parks peaks, as well as Seru Kabaye looking over the dive site.
Curacao, just as its neighbour Bonaire, is famous for it’s shore diving opportunities, but there is defiantly space for boat exploring and taking a plunge from your own floating platform!
We did this next mentioned dive from 40 ft monohull.
In September, the water temperature was around 29 C°, visibility around 25 metres.
Elvin’s Plane Wreck / The West Punt
12°22.687’N 69°09.731’W
Anchor:
Anchor:
Closest over night stay spot is in the Playa Piskadi, a low key fisherman beach filled with sea turtles in the Westpunt Baai. You’ll find the best spot to anchor in the Southernmost point of the Bay in front of the beach. Northern in the bay you go, you might find good anchoring spots, but also yourself avoiding little fishing boats, mooring balls, and patches of coral. Easy entry. Curacao is an island on a slope / wall. The depth drops fast on the edge. Once past the wall contour line stay on the sandy areas.
Note: Port Captains office in Williamstead (upstairs of the building next to immigration office building in Otrabanda side of the bridge, in Havenkantoon) is in charge of anchor permits to all Curacao. You can apply up to 3 month anchoring permit either in Spanish Waters or in Williamstead. All the other anchorages (including Piskadi) are subject for an extra fee 25$ per anchorage. One anchor permit is valid for 2 night stays. You’ll need to be able to tell the Port Captain the exact dates of travel, however, when we sailed on the coast we were never checked by authorities, and met many cruisers who hadn’t heard of the permits. (Writers notes are from 2021 COVID times, double checking current regulations is advisable!)
Good holding. 2.5-8 metres depth, small island gives a little shelter from E, SE and NE winds. You can really get close to the beach and cliffs
Snorkel:
Swim towards the fishing village (careful with local boats!) along the coast line, and fine pier with schools of fish surrounded by green turtles! This is a great snorkel spot, with easy access and good clarity. There is some coral a little deeper, and to have a good look at the formations, you’ll need some breath holding skills.
Dinghy:
You can ride 1.1 nm just North of the bay towards the WestPunt peninsula to the dive site marked with a buoy, if you have a good enough dingy. We moored 40ft monohull to this mooring after deciding the mooring line was in good condition and strong enough. That being said, I believe we were trying the limit and would not moor anything bigger to the line! Swell can wrap little bit around the point, calm conditions advisable.
Dive:
Current check advisable. Recommended only for advanced divers. Medium to strong currents on this dive site are not uncommon. Drop and head North East (Looking from the Kaliki beach, it is directly west) from the mooring to find the parts of Elvins Plane Wreck lying in the middle of coral patches in 17 meters depth.
Explore the reef around the plane parts, dive shallower towards the island it self or follow the wall that keeps dropping to the depths. There is plenty more than the wreck to explore on this dive site!
Don’t expect to see big marine life, or multiple different species when diving in Curacao. It is a macro diving heaven for those who like spotting the tiny things. Take in the beauty of underwater scenery! The coral gardens and underwater forests with different shapes here are something else. We spotted nudibranchs, massive eels, schools of surgeons and jacks, as well as eagle ray!
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Sailing Divers 