Jan Thiel baai - Curaçao Southeast

Margueritte offers a different kind of dive for Fernando de Noronha, a historical footnote you can actually explore. Forget the deep, dramatic structures; this is a shallower, spread-out wreck, the remains of a dredger support vessel that met its end with two boiler explosions. We love the accessible depth, between 10m and 15m, which gives you plenty of bottom time to really snoop around. You’ll find a fascinating jumble of metal, twisted and broken, but still clearly discernible as parts of a ship. Look for the engine components and what's left of the hull, now home to a surprising array of life. Nurse sharks often nap under the larger plates, and we’ve spotted black morays peeking from crevices. Schools of jacks and snapper swirl overhead, sometimes so thick the sun’s rays get dappled. It’s a site that rewards careful looking, perfect for divers who appreciate history and the slow creep of marine life reclaiming human structures. Average visibility around 30m makes the whole scene feel quite grand, even with the wreck’s broken nature.

Location: Curaçao Southeast, Curaçao, Caribbean
Coordinates: 12.075800, -68.882600
Type: wreck

Marine Protected Area: Spanish Water Inner Bay 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 Jan Thiel 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 Jan Thiel 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