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Playa Daaibooi

Playa Daaibooi is one of those Curaçao shore dives we just keep coming back to. It’s a bit of a trek from Willemstad, which means fewer crowds, and the beach itself is lovely for a pre or post-dive chill. Setting up gear is easy, with decent shade and benches. The entry is a gentle slope, perfect for a relaxed start. The swim out to the reef isn’t long, maybe 50 metres, but you’re rewarded with a really healthy wall that drops to about 17 metres. We love the sheer density of the tube sponges here; the purples and yellows really pop against the blue. Keep an eye out for French grunts schooling in the crevices and plenty of those tiny hourglass basslets darting about. The shallows along the cliff are fantastic for macro, absolutely packed with juvenile fish – a great spot to practice your slow fin kicks and really observe. Our favourite time to dive Daaibooi is late morning, after the initial rush, when the light hits the wall just right, illuminating all the lettuce coral. Visibility usually hovers around 20-25 metres, giving you a clear view of the whole scene. It's a proper relaxing dive, ideal for those who prefer taking their time over a speedy drift.