Daaibooi Baai - Curaçao Southeast

Daaibooi Baai on Curaçao’s southeast coast is one of those shore dives we return to again and again. You walk in right off the beach, which means zero fuss getting wet. It’s got this gradual slope, perfect for a relaxed start. We love to head right and explore the wall there, dropping down to about 20 metres. The reef edge is where the action is, especially for the smaller stuff. We’ve spent whole dives just watching Yellowhead Jawfish hover over their burrows, darting back in when you get too close. Look closely in the cracks and under ledges for the Kingston and Collared Eels. We once spotted a pair of Candy Basslets tucked into a sponge, their colours just popping. Our favourite spot is a patch of Lamarck's sheet coral around 15 metres – it’s a magnet for Threespot Damselfish. It’s a great spot for photographers who like to take their time and really hunt for macro subjects. Visibility is usually good, giving you plenty of light to see the intricate patterns on the Reticulated and Harlequin Brittle Stars out on the sand. Daaibooi is a relaxed dive, ideal for those who prefer to set their own pace and really soak it all in.

Location: Curaçao Southeast, Curaçao, Caribbean
Coordinates: 12.211921, -69.085580

Marine Protected Area: Shete Boka Park

Best Time to Dive in Curaçao Southeast

The warmest water temperatures in Curaçao Southeast occur in October, averaging 29.7°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 26.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.0°C
February: 26.6°C
March: 26.8°C
April: 27.0°C
May: 27.6°C
June: 28.0°C
July: 28.2°C
August: 29.0°C
September: 29.5°C
October: 29.7°C
November: 29.0°C
December: 28.1°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Curaçao Southeast

Nearest Dive Centres to Daaibooi Baai

Marine Life in Curaçao Southeast

Home to 322 recorded species including 259 reef fish, 24 hard corals, 7 other, 6 crabs & lobsters, 5 seagrass & algae, 5 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Boulder Brain Coral (Colpophyllia natans) - Hard Corals
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Blushing Star Coral (Stephanocoenia intersepta) - Hard Corals
Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Smooth Flower Coral (Eusmilia fastigiata) - Hard Corals
Maze Coral (Meandrina meandrites) - Hard Corals
loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Bastard soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
Lamarck's sheet coral (Agaricia lamarcki) - Hard Corals
Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) - Seagrass & Algae
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Spinythroat Scorpionfish (Pontinus nematophthalmus) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Daaibooi Baai

Based on average water temperature of 28.0°C, currents 22 cm/s.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories