Airplane Wreck (Santa Martha)
Protected Area
Shete Boka Park
Why dive here
With 310+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, octopuses, orcas, sea turtles and sperm whales - Airplane Wreck (Santa Martha) offers some of Curaçao Southeast's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest September, October, November.
Okay, so the Airplane Wreck near Santa Martha, it’s not exactly a massive shipwreck, but it’s got a real charm. It’s a Cessna, pretty broken up, lying in about 21 metres of water. We love a site with a story, and you can still imagine the impact here, the way the fuselage bent. There’s something a bit eerie about it, but also fascinating. We always approach from the shore, finning out from the old Sunset Waters Resort. It's a bit of a swim, so conserve air. The wreck itself is home to some fantastic creatures. Look for those Atlantic Yellow Cowries tucked away, they’re beautiful. We’ve seen Great Barracuda cruising nearby, and the blennies are everywhere, popping their heads out of tiny holes. The coral has really started to reclaim parts of the plane, especially the wings, turning it into an artificial reef. It’s a great spot for anyone who enjoys exploring a wreck without needing deep certs, and the photographic opportunities with the light filtering through the broken fuselage are excellent. Just keep an eye out for boat traffic, a surface marker buoy is a must.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Airplane Wreck (Santa Martha) Wreck History
Vessel Type
aircraft
Cause
unknown
Just offshore from the abandoned Sunset Waters Resort in Santa Martha Bay lies the scattered remains of a small aircraft. The story of how this Cessna ended up on the seafloor is shrouded in local legend, with the most popular tale suggesting it was a drug runner's plane that ran out of fuel and crashed just short of the island. While the true story is unknown, the wreckage provides a unique focal point for a fascinating shore dive.
The main fuselage and wings of the Cessna rest in shallow water, around 5 meters (15 feet) deep, making it easily accessible for divers and even snorkelers. Over the years, the structure has been colonized by corals and sponges, attracting a host of reef fish. The site is an excellent starting point for a dive, as the wreckage sits on a sandy plateau that quickly gives way to a beautiful, sloping reef wall. Divers can explore the plane before continuing their dive along the vibrant drop-off.
Nearest Dive Centres to Airplane Wreck (Santa Martha)
Dive shops near Airplane Wreck (Santa Martha)
PADI Diving School
Porto Mari Dive Center
Divers Republic
Coral Divers Curacao
Sublime Diving
Go West Diving
Reviews for Airplane Wreck (Santa Martha)
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Airplane Wreck (Santa Martha)
Airplane Wreck (Santa Martha) Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Airplane Wreck (Santa Martha), sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (12.15, -68.97) (2km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
30°C
86°F · Range: 29.4–31.4°C
Current Speed
3.61 cm/s
Direction: NW (326.3°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.068 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
34.91 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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