Boulder Garden - Bay of Islands

Eel Valley is one of our favourite spots in southeast Curaçao, especially for a relaxed afternoon boat dive. Don’t let the name fool you, you’re not really here for the eels anymore – think of it as a historical nod. Instead, we love dropping onto the sandy bottom at around 12 metres, often finding the sand rays lazily sifting for snacks. From there, it’s a gentle swim towards the wall, a lovely coral slope that bottoms out around 20 metres. The real draw here is the sheer density of the smaller reef fish. We’ve seen entire schools of Glassy Sweepers shimmering like liquid silver in the overhangs, and the wall itself is alive with Yellowhead Wrasses, Parrotfish, and plenty of Coney. Keep an eye out for the tiny Four-fin Blennies perched on coral heads and the bright pop of Candy Basslets hiding in crevices. Visibility averages a solid 20-25 metres, making for some great wide-angle photo opportunities of the reef structure. It’s a perfect site for newer divers or those who just want to drift along and observe the details, with current usually being minimal. You might even spot a rogue golf ball or two from the nearby course, an amusing souvenir of the surface world.

Location

Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Australasia

Coordinates

-35.164800, 174.341300

Type

reef

Marine Protected Area: Oke Bay