The Valley - Curaçao Southeast

The Valley is one of our favourite dives in southeast Curaçao, especially when the conditions line up just right. It’s an easy boat dive, dropping you right onto the top of the reef. We love pushing out a bit deeper here, maybe to 25 or 30 metres, where the sand channel starts to narrow. That’s where you’ll find the Yellowhead Jawfish, little pops of yellow bobbing out of their burrows. Keep an eye out for the Saddle Stargazer too, often buried with just its eyes peering up from the sand, looking like a grumpy old man. The reef itself is a good mix of hard and soft corals, with Scroll Coral and Sunray Lettuce Coral creating some nice topography. You’ll see plenty of the usual suspects like Parrotfish, Snapper, and Jacks cruising by. For the macro enthusiasts, the Banded and Threeline Basslets are common, and we always spot a few Longspine Squirrelfish tucked away in crevices. This site is generally pretty mellow, great for divers who enjoy a relaxed pace and appreciate both the wider reef scene and the smaller, more elusive critters. We’d suggest heading here mid-morning, after any early boat traffic has dispersed, for the best light and quietest experience.

Location
Curaçao Southeast, Curaçao, Caribbean
Coordinates
12.218516, -69.086296

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 The Valley

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

Recommended Packing List for The Valley

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