Mushroom Forest - Curaçao Southeast

Mushroom Forest is one of those sites we always recommend to divers heading to Curaçao. The name isn't just a clever marketing ploy; it perfectly describes the unique landscape here. Imagine huge coral formations, mostly star corals and brain corals, sculpted by thousands of years of current into giant, mushroom-shaped pinnacles. They rise from the seafloor, creating swim-throughs and overhangs, each one big enough to lose yourself in for a few minutes, just floating and watching the light play through the gaps. What we love most is the way the light filters down, dappling the sand and illuminating the undersides of these coral caps. You'll find plenty of Sailor's Choice and Dark Green Parrotfish nibbling away, and if you look closely in the shadows, Dusky Cardinalfish and Pearl Blennies peek out from crevices. It’s not about huge pelagics here; it's about the intricate beauty of the reef and the sheer scale of the coral architecture. We’d suggest going early, before any day boats arrive, to really soak in the quiet grandeur. It’s an easy dive, suitable for anyone comfortable navigating a gentle current, and it always leaves us feeling like we’ve visited some kind of ancient, underwater city.

Location: Curaçao Southeast, Curaçao, Caribbean
Coordinates: 12.301811, -69.154335
Type: reef

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 Mushroom Forest

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 Mushroom Forest

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