wreck

Log This Dive

Jan Thiel baai

Jan Thiel baai feels different from a lot of Curaçao's shore dives. You're right off a busy beach, which means easy entry but also more activity topside. Below the surface, it’s a surprisingly good spot for a relaxed dive, especially if you've got family waiting. The star here is definitely the wreck, a small tugboat we think, sitting upright on the sandy bottom at about 10-12m. It’s got an open wheelhouse you can poke your head into, and we always find a good few Orangespotted Filefish darting around its superstructure. What we really love about Jan Thiel is the sandy bottom around the wreck. It's not just barren; spend some time looking closely and you’ll spot movement. We’ve had excellent luck finding gobies, particularly the Bridled and Smallmouth, peering out from their little burrows. Keep an eye out for Green Razorfish burying themselves in the sand with a flick of a tail if you get too close. There’s also an artificial platform nearby that acts as another little habitat, attracting everything from Slippery Dicks to juvenile Doctorfish. This site suits divers looking for an easy, no-fuss wreck dive, with a focus on smaller, sand-dwelling critters that often get overlooked on the big reef dives.