The East point of Curacao covers roughly 13 % of the total area of the island. Since the 18th century it’s private property and therefore of limits for unauthorized people. This means the dive sites along this shore cannot be reached over land. Because of this the sites were protected from human influences throughout time and this resulted in one of the most beautiful en unspoiled reef systems along the shore of Curacao. In short: more large fish and healthy corals.
The bay you see in the picture above is called 'awa di oostpunt'. This is the only place on the island where you find huge starfish in the wild. We use this bay for our surface interval, a great place to snorkel.
The main current heading east to west reaches the island at ‘Oostpunt’. With it clear and nutrient rich water is brought to the island from the deep sea. This attracts al kinds of sea life that flourishes here.
The current can be strong therefore diving here means drift diving. The boat follows the divers at the surface at all times. We ‘go with the flow’, relax and enjoy everything we encounter on our way.
The reef houses large moray eels, turtles, barracudas, different species of rays and nurse sharks. Near the tip of ‘Oostpunt’ you can find a huge school of tarpons. Here you'll find a huge naturally formed arch-like swim trough called Tarpon Bridge. The tarpon tend to hang out under the bridge. These giant herrings can grow to be one and a half meters long, but are completely harmless. In the blue you can sometimes see Wahoo cruising by.
Just a short swim away from the bridge is a easy to enter cave where you can find nurse sharks and rays dozing off.
Further to the west are several beautiful dive locations, from vertical walls to gentle sloping reefs. These sites are good for spotting turtles and nurse sharks in the shallows.
Click here for an underwater movie of Easpoint.
