Showing posts with label Curacao News & Specials. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Curacao News & Specials. Show all posts

Sunday 31 January 2021

A Month in Curacao: Your Great Escape

Picture this: you make your morning coffee while staring out the window at blue sky and palm trees.  During the day you take full advantage of the aircon, whilst trying your best to remain focused on work.  You have that big project you promised would get done if your boss let you work from Curacao.  

On your lunch break, you go for a dip in the swimming pool.  Maybe bring your laptop out to the poolside – where the Wi-Fi still works great – to answer your afternoon emails.  At the end of the day, you take a 10 minute walk to popular Mambo Beach for an outdoor dinner with the perfect sunset-over-the-beach view.  

Finally it's the weekend!  With keys to a rental car in hand, you pick up dive gear and tanks for a full day of diving and relaxing at Cas Abou.  You arrive early enough to claim a couple beach chairs under a palapa, and you get yourself set up for the day. 

Descending on your first dive after a short surface swim, you start out exploring the reef wall.  You find some garden eels on the sandy bottom, an elusive frog fish hiding in the soft coral, and immerse yourself in the marine life of Curacao.  After your dive(s), head over to the beach bar for a couple cold beers to toast a great day.  

Photo Credit: Turtle & Ray Productions

But one day just wasn’t enough, so you do the same thing the very next day, visiting Piskado and everyone’s favorite sea turtles!  

Living and working in a tropical paradise is clearly a life The Dive Bus crew chose.  Currently, the whole team is from colder much less tropical areas of the world (the UK and Washington state).  Each of us also lived in many other paradises before choosing Curacao.  Here are just some of the reasons the crew call Curacao home: 

  • Beautiful reefs, easily accessed from shore all around the island
  • Picture perfect beaches – totally Instagrammable (check our feed)
  • Delicious restaurants, with cuisine from around the world 
  • Other activities like kite surfing, SUP, wakeboarding, hiking, rock climbing to name a few – just in case we want a break from diving (a rare case)
  • Did we mention the diving is insanely good?  It’s important to us

Direct flights from many airport hubs also make getting to and from Curacao simple (you know, unless there’s a global pandemic hindering travel).  Direct flights operate from Miami, Newark, JFK and Charlotte in the US, also from Toronto, Canada, and Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.  Various central and south American countries also offer direct service into Hato International Airport (CUR).  These, of course, are subject to change.  Search for flights from your home on Google Flights or your favorite search engine!  

If presented with the opportunity, the crew here assume most people would also choose to live in paradise.  If you disagree, this post might not be for you.  Maybe try this one about planning a Curacao dive vacation.

For those of you who would LOVE to live here, we know what your next thoughts are: 

  • I have to work
  • I can’t move, my [kids, family, friends] are here 
  • Is it really that great?  (Yes.  Yes it is.)
  • Maybe when I retire or when the kids graduate…

Or the most common response when we ask people why they don’t live here – 

I WISH.

It’s seems idyllic.  But stick with us here…because we also know a lot of you are working from home.  

Maybe you have a laptop on your kitchen counter, maybe you’ve remodeled your home office, or maybe you work from your smart phone in bed (no judgement).  Whatever your WFH situation is, we’re willing to bet the scenery is starting to get old.  

So...did you ever consider asking your manager if “working from home” meant you must stay in your own home?  If you haven’t, we encourage you to check.  You’re working remotely already – what’s the harm in making it slightly more remote?  

Somewhere like…Curacao!  

You had to see that coming 😉

Making this a reality is where we come in.  Working with some friends and partners we’ve made over the last 16 years, we created some new packages we call Your Great Escape.  Live and work in paradise for a month – or more!  There are several package options, but in general they include a month fully furnished accommodation, scuba diving, and options for car rental.  We started with the basics and can fully customize a package to fit your needs and group!  

New to diving?  That’s one customization we’re well prepared for.  At The Dive Bus we teach the full range of PADI dive courses, all in warm Caribbean waters.  You simply can’t beat learning to dive in calm, clear seas.  

Imagine taking your first breaths underwater and seeing a cute little butterfly fish swim by, or exploring the reef up close instead of snorkeling at the surface.  You’ll learn scuba dive theory, in-water skills to keep yourself and your buddy safe and comfortable, and with the Open Water course you make 4 full dives at our beautiful house reef.  

Once you’ve completed your first course, carry on with additional dive courses, or join us for Dive Bus trips to see some of the best of the rest of our shore diving sites.  Remember that dive experience at Cas Abou mentioned earlier?  With your new certification under your belt, that day is within your reach.  You, too, will become obsessed with finding a seahorse or frog fish on every dive.  They’re great at camouflage, but we’ll do our best to help you find one!  

Before the pandemic, we never dreamed of people relocating to the island for a month or two while continuing to work their normal jobs.  Over the last year, we’ve seen it happen several times!  Whether people came down with the intention to stay for a month, or they got here and didn’t want to leave, travelers have consistently been enjoying life in Curacao.  

If you asked us to describe the perfect couple or group of friends to take advantage of Your Great Escape, we’d say: 

  • You have flexible working or school arrangements – you can work or learn from anywhere that has an internet connection.  
  • You love diving, or you want to learn from one of our awesome PADI instructors
  • International travel is a possibility for you.  
    • At the time we write this, Curacao is open to any visitor with a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to departure.  We also have testing facilities on island if you need a negative test to get home.  Find the latest details on The Dive Bus COVID info page.  
  • You’re keen to experience life on a tropical island for a month (or more) 

You might be wondering what life is like here at the moment, considering there’s still a pandemic happening.  We have restrictions, of course, but you get the feeling that we’re in our own bubble, almost a whole world away.  Businesses require masks be worn indoors, there’s an island-wide curfew of 11pm, and social distancing is practiced everywhere.  You’ll also pass by hand sanitizer on practically every corner.  

On the other [sanitized] hand, with so many outdoor spaces and the warm weather to match it, people are socializing, friends are laughing together – the vibe is happy.  Grocery stores are also well stocked, and restaurants are safely welcoming visitors.  

The Dive Bus crew love our life on sunny Curacao.  We actively choose this every day, and we work hard to keep it.  With these packages, we hope to share a taste of island life with you.  Just be prepared to use a couple vacation days while you’re here, because once you start diving we guarantee you won’t want to limit it to your weekends!  

So if you'd like to live in Curacao for a month (or two!) while working your normal job “from home,” escape a cold winter, dive on your weekends, and relax into island life...  

Check out all the details here to kickstart your dream.  What could be better?  

Monday 6 January 2020

Dive into Curacao Carnival - for a vacation you'll never forget!


Curacao Carnival is one of the largest and longest Carnival spectacles in the Caribbean
and one of the best times to visit this amazing island.

So if you’re looking for a unique, incredible and highly memorable Curacao dive vacation experience?

 

Check this one out.

Originally a Catholic rite to represent the Christian practice of “Carne Levale,” or giving up meat for Lent, Curacao continues the tradition now known as Carnival, with incredible masquerade parties and and huge, colourful, gigantic Parades ("marches").

Curacao Carnival is the Curacao's biggest party of the year and amazing to experience - and join in.

With fantastic parades, floats, costumes and characters, including Carnival "Royalty" elected during full-scale, island-wide beauty contests, impromptu street parties, dancin' and even more music than usual, it's a wonderful, incredible and unique opportunity to experience the passion of the islanders.

It’s HUGE.

It’s AMAZING.

And you're welcome.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&biw=1408&bih=711&tbm=isch&sxsrf=ACYBGNTC2FYK5bq0BUu3ylFPV0J-K56lhA%3A1578158008198&sa=1&ei=uMcQXvnmC-HL5gLM7L_oAQ&q=curacao+carnival&oq=curacao+carnival&gs_l=img.3..0l6j0i8i30j0i24l3.30203.31808..33585...0.0..0.248.1267.0j9j1......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......35i39j0i30.udmWmMb9LFg&ved=0ahUKEwj5ounbuOrmAhXhpVkKHUz2Dx0Q4dUDCAY&uact=5


You're welcome to join the tens of thousands of road-side spectators and be amazed by the impressive, energetic and amazing array of multi-colored floats and the lavish, intricate, hand-made costumes.

You're welcome to enjoy the music that plays such a huge part in daily Curacao life: "Tumba", which is, effectively, the “soundtrack” for Curacao Carnival.

And you're welcome to dance your flip-flops off to the complex rhythms of the live Tumba bands - or just watch, absorb and enjoy the whole massive, lavish and incredible Curacao Carnival experience.


Whether you're spectating or participating, it's just about impossible to prevent your feet from moving to the complex rhythms of the Carnival music. Originating in Africa and named after a 17th century Spanish dance, Tumba has evolved through influences including jazz, merengue and other Afro-Caribbean beats, to become Curacao's most popular dance and music style:




But participating in Curacao Carnival Parades doesn't come cheap.

Once Curacao Carnival season is officially "opened", islanders set about raising the necessary funds for their favourite Tumba bands to participate in the Grand Parade - by arranging parties!

While their favourite band plays at these "Jump Ups” (parties held outside, in, on and through the streets in mini-Parades of their own) and "Jump Ins" (parties held inside), friends, family and fans sell the band’s official t-shirts to the dancing crowds, to raise the funds.

If you happen upon any of these parties, you don’t need to ask: you are welcome. Make sure to buy a t-shirt or 3 now you know the cool reason behind them - and they make awesome souvenirs to illustrate your cool story of how and why you got them…

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&biw=1408&bih=711&tbm=isch&sxsrf=ACYBGNTC2FYK5bq0BUu3ylFPV0J-K56lhA%3A1578158008198&sa=1&ei=uMcQXvnmC-HL5gLM7L_oAQ&q=curacao+carnival&oq=curacao+carnival&gs_l=img.3..0l6j0i8i30j0i24l3.30203.31808..33585...0.0..0.248.1267.0j9j1......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......35i39j0i30.udmWmMb9LFg&ved=0ahUKEwj5ounbuOrmAhXhpVkKHUz2Dx0Q4dUDCAY&uact=5
 




The Grand Parade (“Gran Marcha”) is the first of the two main Carnival Parades, on Sunday during the day.
 
The second is the Farewell March (“Marcha di Despedida"), the following Tuesday evening, with the floats adorned with sparkling lights.

The dramatic Carnival finale takes place at midnight when King Momo and all that he symbolizes is banished...

(Until Carnival 2020, that is.)


Both the 2 main Parades - and the various others in between, including the hugely popular Kids Parade - are the product of months of incredible amounts of work and preparation, featuring fantastical floats, lavish costumes and head-dresses, as well as traditional Carnival “characters”. 

The Carnival Queen is the most important Carnival character. Representing Mother Earth, she’s a symbol of fertility and peace, elected through a series of full-scale, island-wide beauty contests. 

The Carnival King (Momo) is a symbol of the exact opposite: infertility, sins and bad luck. Momo is a straw–filled dummy - which is fortunate, given that he’s center-stage at the dramatic and spectacular ritual that marks the official close of Carnival at the Farewell March…

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&biw=1408&bih=711&tbm=isch&sxsrf=ACYBGNTC2FYK5bq0BUu3ylFPV0J-K56lhA%3A1578158008198&sa=1&ei=uMcQXvnmC-HL5gLM7L_oAQ&q=curacao+carnival&oq=curacao+carnival&gs_l=img.3..0l6j0i8i30j0i24l3.30203.31808..33585...0.0..0.248.1267.0j9j1......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......35i39j0i30.udmWmMb9LFg&ved=0ahUKEwj5ounbuOrmAhXhpVkKHUz2Dx0Q4dUDCAY&uact=5

The trick to getting a great viewing spot along the Carnival route for the Grand Parade is to get there early. Islanders set up their prime, road-side seating days, weeks and sometimes months in advance, to reserve their favourite spots.

But the best way to experience Curacao Carnival isn’t to sit and watch it pass by.

The best way to experience Curacao Carnival is to hang out in and on the streets, mingling and dancing with and like the locals (who forgot to reserve their favourite spots in time).

And if you are invited to join the Parade? Do it. It’s fun, safe, friendly – and the experience of a lifetime.


The Curacao Carnival route effectively splits the island in two. And with thousands of spectators as well as the floats and participants, it can be pretty tricky crossing the route to head West or East, as you can maybe imagine.

So if you're planning on diving Curacao during Carnival, you may want to prepare for random “delays” or “alternative routes” - and keep a cooler of cold beer and your phone handy.


And if you're diving with us at The Dive Bus, we plan our dive schedule around the Parade routes / days ... and carry cold beer just in case the plan doesn't quite go according to, erm, plan.

(If you’re going to be be here on a Dive Bus DIVE + DRIVE Package, ask to rent one of our coolers...🍺🍺😉.)


With all of the above, plus the Curacao kids and teens Carnival festivities running alongside, the Tumba Festival and awesome diving,
you may need another vacation to recover from your Curacao Carnival Dive experience.

Or an additional week. (Don't say we didn't warn you!)

ENJOY!
 
http://www.thedivebus.com





#feelit #experiencecuracao #discovercuracao #curacaocarnival #divecuracao #scuba #tauchen  #curacaovacation  #dutchcaribbean #rightnowincuracao #followme #travel #wanderlust #carnival #party #thedivebus #divecuraca

Tuesday 24 September 2019

Curaçao Pride: time to dive AND party!

Dive into Curacao Pride 2019
for a tremendously fun party week in Paradise
that you won't forget!

Curacao Pride 2019 is the seventh edition of this amazing event and - if it's anything like previous Curacao Pride events - it's not to be missed. 

Catered to the LGBTQ community and their friends, everyone and anyone is welcome to dive into in the 5-day event, filled with tons of parties, celebrations, activities and FUN. 

Last year's Curaçao Pride was an overwhelming success. Thousands of visitors came specifically for the event, and a record number of people took part in the Curaçao Pride Walk and the Opening Concert - The Dive Bus Crew very happy to be among them.



One of the reasons for the success of Curacao Pride is the island's melting pot of nationalities, languages, religions, history, skin color, opinions, perceptions, currencies, you name it - that centuries have forged into the “Biba i laga Biba" mentality of the island's people:
“Live and let Live”
Friendly and tolerant, there's no history of gay violence towards LGBT locals or visitors - or even a "gayborhood". According to Gay Travel:
"Curaçao does not have a gayborhood as you would encounter in other major cities around the world. As part of the “Live and let Live” mentality there are plenty of places to go and activities to do that are LGBT welcoming.
You will find that quite a large number of the LGBT community are working in hospitality and they tend to make sure that you have a great time!
Not only that but Curaçao is a great vacation destination by all standards. Beaches, accommodations, activities, culturally speaking and much more."
It's for these reasons that the IGLTA and the Chairman of the Caribbean Travel Association (CTO) honored the Curaçao Tourism Board as a Destination Pioneer, putting Curacao on the map as a leading destination for LGBT travelers in the Caribbean. 


Because, in a nut shell:
  1. Curacao rocks.
  2. Curacao Pride is awesome.
  3. Everyone is welcome.
  4. Come on down.
  5. And the diving rocks. So if you want to fit in a dive or 2, just let us know 😎:
If you're a certified diver,
enjoy the best of
underwater Curacao, too...


 CURACAO PRIDE:
Yet another great reason to vacation in Curacao.
You're going to love it - see you there!

http://www.thedivebus.com
 Hope to dive you in sunny Curacao during Curacao Pride - or whenever you like - soon! 
#rightnowincuracao #curacaopride #gaycuracao #pinkcuracao #thedivebus #divecuracao #curacao #gaytravel #divecuracao #learntodivecuracao #curacaopride

Thursday 22 February 2018

5 really good reasons why Easter's better in Curacao

1. It's warm...


Not hot, hot, hot but lovely, toasty warm. Thanks to the constant trade winds, you shouldn't overheat. And thanks to your refrigerator / cool box, neither should your Easter eggs*.

Average air temperature = 30/86 degrees +  average water temperature =26/80 degrees = toasty :)


*NOTE: If you're not entirely satisfied with your Easter eggs, The Dive Bus Crew will dispose of them FREE OF CHARGE as per our Eco Policy (refuse, reuse, recycle).


2. It won't rain over the entire Easter weekend

It might rain. But if it does, it's like being in a warm shower and will be over in less time than it takes an average adult* to eat an Easter egg. And the rainbows are awesome...

*The Dive Bus Crew. 

Rainbow courtesy of the wonderful Barry Brown



3. It's kite season
The Kite Seller, by Barry Brown
When you get lemons, you make lemonade.

When you're in Curacao and you get winds, you make kites. As colourful as possible - and fly them as high as possible.

They're available from road-side kite sellers all over the island.

Try one out, it's a lot of fun!
More info on curacao.com

Or if you prefer the 'wet' kind of kiting, harness up and go for a ride. (Just make sure you don't need to be able to raise your arms for the following 3 days, or so. (Y'know, a bit like wakeboarding...)





4. It has world-class shore diving

 World class shore divingBoat diving can be pretty "interesting" when it's windy. Mostly because windy = waves. Waves = lots of moving things to deal with = annoying bruises messing up your suntan.

But you don't have to worry about any of that when you dive from Curacao's shore: just walk right into the ocean from the beach, and descend beneath the waves. Very civilised indeed.

With water temperatures around 80 degrees in March, if you haven't tried shore diving yet - and even if you have - this is a great time to do it.

Curacao's most popular PADI 5 Star Dive Center

Dive Packages with Trip Advisor's most popular Curacao's PADI 5 Star Dive Center start from just $604 per buddy team, for 3 days of awesome guided and independent shore diving.  

Book well in advance:  they fill up really quickly as they only take small groups and are really popular ;) Heaps more info here.
Start your dive adventures...
Not a certified diver? You'd be crazy to let that stop you diving in Curacao. Check out the PADI Discover Scuba Dive experience, designed exactly for folks just like you.

If (when!) you love it, continue on to become a certified PADI Open Water Diver

It's a lot less fattening than eating Easter eggs and almost as much fun.





5. There's no way you'll be bored

HEAPS to do and discover...
Photos by kind permission of the amazing Mr Barry Brown
If you get bored in Curacao, you're doing something wrong.

There's heaps of things to do, see, discover and enjoy - especially if you get a rental car (highly recommended):


So that's 5 reasons why Easter's better in Curacao. 

But don't just take our word for it - find out for yourself...

http://www.thedivebus.com

#divepackages #divecuracao #Easter #easterbreak #eastervacation #thedivebus #diveeaster #scuba #dive #duiken #tauchen #vacation #holiday #curacao #dutchcaribbean #caribbean #rightnowincuracao  #followme # #PADI  #travel #wanderlust #adventure   #paditv #discover  #fun #CHATA #divecuracao

Wednesday 24 May 2017

5 awesome ways to treat your Dad this Fathers Day, Curacao-style...



1. Take him golfing

You may be surprised to learn that Curacao is an awesome, popular golfing location, because:
Click to order them, from Cafepress, delivered to his door :)
Or treat him to some new funky golf balls...
    I need these
  • it's almost always sunny
  • there's almost always an ocean breeze to keep things cool
  • you can play virtually 365 days a year, from 6.00 in the morning until 7.00 at night
  • there are three golf courses: Curacao Golf & Squash Club, Santa Or treat him to some new funky golf balls...Barbara and Blue Bay.

2. Take him climbing, pottering, wandering, exploring, discovering...

Christoffel Park

You may be surprised to learn that Curacao has a mountain.

Christoffel Park is Curacao's largest national park, and home to Curacao's highest point - Mount Christoffel - and a rich variety of flora and fauna. 

At only 372 metres / 1,220 ft high, climbing Mount Christoffel doesn't sound like much of a challenge.

But trust us: it's no walk in the park (arf, arf).

Starting from the visitor’s center, the hike to, and the climb up and down Mount Christoffel, takes approximately three hours. Or save an hour and park at the foot of the mountain. Beautiful vegetation, wildlife and geological formations will motivate you on the uphill climb, and spectacular views are your reward for reaching the top.

If an easy stroll is more your thing, choose from one of the seven other hiking trails.

You'll still get to enjoy bird and plant species you may not see elsewhere on the island, like wild orchids (Palabrua), the rare native barn owl and the Curacao White Tailed deer (of which there are only about 250 left).

Curacao also has plenty more hiking and walking options - start here...
 Christoffel Park


3. Take him diving...

 
You may be surprised to learn that Curacao is one of the top diving destinations in the Caribbean and one of the top shore diving destinations in the world. 

And The Dive Bus is Curacao's #1 PADI 5 Star Dive Center on tripadvisor, thanks to folks like you - and your Dad.

Whether your Dad is an expert diver or has never tried it before in his life, he'll have an awesome dive experience he'll remember forever. And you can have it captured forever in his own personal dive movie, by our pro-video partners.

Here are just some of his cool, fun and memorable diving options:

Get certified!
If he wants to become a certified diver,
he can start TODAY...

If he's already a certified diver,
he's GOT to try this...




reservations@thedivebus.com


4. Take him out
HEAPS to do and discover...
If you get bored in Curacao, you're doing something wrong.

There's heaps of things to do, see, discover and enjoy - especially if you get a rental car (highly recommended):

Check out the Curacao Tourist Board website for even more info:
Curacao Tourist Board website

5. Go shop
Check out the store
If none of these other ideas are going to work for your Dad, remember: there's TONS of fun Dive Bus stuff in the online store that your Dad will wonder how he ever managed to do without, delivered to his door.
 
So there's 5 awesome ways to treat your Dad this Fathers Day.  But don't just take our word for it - come and see for yourself :)
http://www.thedivebus.com

And if you're a Dad, you
may want to forward or share this Blog to your kids - and there's always next Fathers Day, too...;)
#santabarbarabeachresort #fathersday #christoffelpark #divecuracao #divingcuracao #PADI #openwatercourse #discoverscubadiving #curacaogolf #thedivebus #curacaotouristboard #curacaobrewingcompany