Marie Pampoen - Curaçao Southeast

Marie Pampoen. Now, this is a spot we keep coming back to. Forget the big boats and crowded mooring lines; this is shore diving at its best, right outside Willemstad. We love a good house reef, and Marie Pampoen delivers a proper, unpretentious one. The entry is easy, a sandy slope right off the beach. Once you’re in, just fin straight out. You’ll hit the reef in no time, a gentle slope alive with movement. We always spend a lot of time in the shallows here, maybe 5 to 10 metres. It’s a busy neighbourhood. Look for the Sand-canyon Gobies darting between the rocks, or a Harlequin Bass cruising the nooks. We’ve seen juvenile Hogfish here, so tiny they’re almost transparent, and the Bicolor Damselfish are everywhere, flitting in and out of the Eight-ray Finger Coral. Our favourite part is the hunt for blennies. Marie Pampoen is a blenny paradise. Keep your eyes peeled for the Blackfin Blenny, poking its head out, or a Smooth-eye Blenny watching you from its tiny crevice. Seriously, take your time, get low, and just watch. It’s a great spot for macro photographers, or anyone who enjoys a relaxed dive without the fuss. We'd suggest going in the morning before the beach gets too lively.

Location: Curaçao Southeast, Curaçao, Caribbean
Coordinates: 12.089735, -68.906850

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 Marie Pampoen

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 Marie Pampoen

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