Showing posts with label Dive Bus News & Specials. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dive Bus News & Specials. Show all posts

Wednesday 31 August 2022

Fun, USEFUL ways to make a difference this PADI AWARE Week


Make a difference this PADI AWARE Week 
with these fun, simple ways to protect and sustain our reefs and oceans
get more from EVERY dive you make
AND save 15%! 

It’s not “new” news that coral reefs – and the massive, diverse and vital eco-system of which they’re the backbone – are rapidly declining. 

According to NOAAcoral reefs are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth, supporting more species per unit area than any other marine environment. That’s about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species – and who knows how many more millions are more yet to be discovered / identified. 

Scientists are discovering that animals and plants within the reef ecosystem are key to finding potential cures for cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, viruses and diseases. 

And clean, healthy coral reefs make for great diving, too. So while we don’t take life too seriously at The Dive Bus, diver safety, sustainability, and ocean protection are notable exceptions. 

Protecting our underwater office has been a cornerstone of The Dive Bus since hitting the road back in 2005. So don’t be surprised if you see your Dive Bus Divemaster or Instructor pocketing trash or unwrapping fishing line from corals during your #seriouslyfun guided dives and trips .

Divers regularly cite our Eco Policy as a key reason for diving with us, so they can make a difference too - on regular dives, as well our monthly PADI AWARE clean up dives. Beer o'Clock is a close second on the list of top reasons to return to The Dive Bus.  

So to celebrate, take action, and make a difference during this year’s 5th annual PADI AWARE Week, we’ve selected 3 PADI Specialties that will enable you help you protect and sustain our reefs and oceans, and make a positive difference – confidently, safely and correctly, without inadvertently doing more harm than good. 

On every dive you make. 

While having a ton of fun. 

AND while adding 6 dives and 3 PADI Specialty Certifications to your logbook, making your dives and your vacation truly memorable.

                        

Here’s how: 

Over 3 fun days of diving around some of our favourite Curacao shore diving sites, you can:
  1. Better understand and appreciate just how amazing our underwater world is – and why it’s so important to protect it.

  2. Understand the “so whats” and “hows” to protect and sustain our reefs and oceans.

  3. Learn dive skills to increase your confidence, reduce your air consumption - and ensure you do more good than harm, and get the most out of every dive you make - on all your diving adventures, wherever in the world they may take you… 
     
  4. Add 6 more #seriouslyfun dive adventures to your logbook 
     
  5. Earn 3 PADI Specialty certifications, which also count towards to your PADI Advanced Open Water course and Master Scuba Diver rating.

  6. Explore even more of Curacao’s underwater world while you learn.  


Here’s what you’ll learn on your shore-diving adventures: 

Day 1: PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty


This is the perfect, smart and fun way to kick off your Curacao diving adventures. 

During fun games and exercises, you’ll learn and practice simple skills to manage your movement and position underwater and your breathing, so that:
  • you dive more confidently, comfortably and easily (and are less likely to accidentally damage the reef – or yourself)
  • your tank lasts longer 
The more dives you make, the sooner your buoyancy skills become ‘automatic’, so just keep divin’!

                            


Day 2 : PADI Dive Against Debris Specialty Course 


Jump onboard the Bus for a
2 tank Dive Bus Trip to another of Curacao’s best shore diving sites. On the drive, you’ll learn where marine debris comes from - and how to prevent it reaching the ocean in the first place. 

Once you’re on-site, you'll learn what trash to look for, how to remove it without doing more harm than good, and - one of the trickiest and most important skills - how to get the trash into your clean-up bag! 

After the dive, sort and report the debris on the PADI AWARE app to complete your PADI Dive Against Debris Specialty certification.

                        


Day 3: PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty Course 
 

Have you ever seen a fish or critter behaving ‘oddly’ on a dive and wondered what the heck you were looking at? 


You’ll get so much more from every dive once you know and understand what you’re looking at – and where to look for it. 

On another 2 tank Dive Bus Trip, you'll explore a new dive site while identifying marine vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants, and their interactions & behaviors.  

And, since you’ll probably cover less distance while you 'hang out with the locals’, you might find that your tank lasts longer. So if you have a regular dive buddy that you’d like to keep, it’s a smart idea to take this course together. 

                        

Here’s why you might want to do this 

Besides the sense of achievement that comes from protecting and sustaining our reefs and oceans, these courses will help you get more from EVERY dive you make. 

They count as training dives for your PADI Advanced Open Water certification - as well as the coveted PADI Master Scuba Diver rating

But mostly? The knowledge, skills and experience you'll gain on these courses are fun as well as useful, and will for sure enhance your diving adventures.

                        

From 17 September – 31 October 2022, you and your favourite buddy / buddies will enjoy a 15% DISCOUNT, so only US$ 569 per person for all of the above. And a 10% discount any new dive equipment from the Dive Bus shop! 

Get even more out of this great offer and with one more day of diving to become a PADI AWARE Advanced Open Water Diver as well! With just 2 more adventure dives – Deep Diver and Underwater Navigation – you’ll complete this awesome course and be certified to dive to 30m/100ft. 

And if that's still not enough dives for you and your buddy, take your pick from plenty more fun Specialty courses.

Or jump on board one of the Dive Busses for a fun Dive Bus trip or 3 to more of Curacao’s best shore-diving sites, to explore and enjoy with your new skills and knowledge.

Ready to book?! Click here to enter your Booking Enquiry and let's get planning! 

We look forward to seeing you in sunny Curacao, soon!




(Tell your dive buddies, friends, family and colleagues - we'd love to dive them, too!)
#padiaware #seiko #diveagainstdebris #EveryDiveaSurveyDive  #UglyJourneyofTrash
#PADI #AWAREImpact #underwater #sustainability #gogreen #clean #green #recycle #ecotourism #reducereuserecycle #rethinkplastic #cleanoceanmovement #sustainability #seriouslyfundiving #caribbean #keepingitclean #scubadiving #curacao #caribbean #divecuracao

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?  

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 14 February 2019

8 reasons to share the love in Curacao


Just some of the reasons why
Valentines Day is better in Curacao


1. It won't be cold and raining
So your romantic day, evening or both won't get washed out.

And if it does rain, it won't be cold and will be over in less than 10 minutes (ish), like it never happened.  

2. It's cheaper than you might think
According to this Huffington Post survey, Curacao is one of the most affordable getaways in the Caribbean...

3. There are HEAPS of culinary delights to experience - affordably
Enjoy Curaçao's huge range culinary delights with the brand new Curacao Dine Around Plan. Click below to find out how you can enjoy romantic 3 course meals and great service on your Curacao Valentines vacation:



4. Choose from a HUGE range of accommodations
Curacao offers accommodations for every budget. Check out the quality accommodations, committed to safety, quality and eco standards through CHATA, here.

Our current pick is Avila Beach Hotel, just down the road from The Dive Bus They're committed to sustainability like us, and have an all-inclusive option...


https://www.avilabeachhotel.com/curacao


5. Check out heaps of awesome beaches
Many of Curacao's beaches are quite different to what you might expect on a Caribbean island. Like the lovely Pierbaai Beach at Marie Pampoen, right across the road from The Dive Bus, and the access to our gorgeous house reef.


6. There's heaps of evening entertainment

Eat, drink, party, relax ... it's your choice, and there's plenty of it.

Chill's a great place for romantic sun-downers and pretty good food overlooking the ocean, and  one of The Dive Bus Crew's favourites.

2 top tips for wherever you go for dinner:
  • make a reservation
  • go before you're hungry (think "island time")


7. There's heaps to do in the daytime, too
There's plenty of things to do and discover together. Like discovering the island's rich and fascinating history, sailing, climbing, parasailing, wake-boarding, walking, cycling, exploring, surfing, shopping, scuba diving ... or just relaxing on the beach.

https://www.curacao.com/en/directory/do/
 

8. The scuba diving is world class ... 

As divers already know, diving's a great way to meet and make new friends. Some of us are even lucky enough to meet their true-love through diving, too. Which makes a Curacao dive vacation a great way to celebrate Valentines Day for at least a week...

The new Dive Bus DRIVE and DIVE Packages are a great, fun way for you and your favourite buddy to discover and explore some of Curacao's best shore dive sites,  on your own Curacao adventures.


How romantic is that!


https://thedivebus.blogspot.com/2018/05/new-dive-drive-packages-at-dive-bus.html





All in all, some pretty good reasons to celebrate Valentines Day in Curacao for a week or 2 - wouldn't you say?



#avilabeachhotel #love #scuba #dive #diving #duiken #tauchen #vacation #holiday #curacao #dutchcaribbean #rightnowincuracao #caribbean  #padi #travel  #adventure  #divepackages #divecuracao #valentines #thedivebus

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