Explore the Caribbean’s Best Kept Secret During the 2020 Annual Curaçao International Dive Festival

After a 10-year hiatus, the Annual Curaçao International Dive Festival made a comeback in 2019. The event was such a hit that the 2020 festival dates have already been announced. The 2020 Curaçao International Dive Festival will take place Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2020 and promises to prove the island’s rank among best dive destinations in the Caribbean.

The festival, being held Sept. 27 through Oct. 3, includes a lineup of events to pique the interest of any diver, whether interested in conservation, animal encounters or advancing dive training. Operators will also be running regular boat trips during the festival, making it easy for visitors to cherry-pick activities and build their ideal itineraries.

The festival’s event calendar features unique events like a coral restoration workshop, lionfish hunting and underwater painting classes. Bryan Horne, founder of the Dive Curacao Network, says the goal of the week is to give a taste of everything Curaçao has to offer.

“We’re tying the community together and giving divers — or anyone, really — a fantastic vision of what the underwater world is and what Curacao is doing to protect it,” he says.

While the festival is geared toward divers, there are plenty of activities for non-divers as well, such as snorkeling excursions, a sustainable pop-up market and nightly social events like beach barbecues and local street parties.

“I always refer to us as the Caribbean’s best kept secret, but hopefully this festival is going to bring together the local dive community and local operators and put us on an international stage,” says Jeremiah Peek, managing director of Ocean Encounters. “Not only is it a great island to visit, but there’s a commitment to sustainability here.”

In Scuba Diving’s 2020 Readers Choice Awards, Curaçao was voted the fourth-healthiest marine environment in the Caribbean-Atlantic, and the island’s focus on conservation will be a central aspect of the week.

Horne says the festival will be supporting three local nonprofits: Coral Restoration Foundation Curaçao, Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao, and Curaçao Dive Task Force’s Project AWARE adopted dive sites.

Proceeds from the festival’s $25 registration fee — which allows visitors a swag bag (for the first 200 registrants); entry to the Flavors of Curaçao dinner; and discounts with Copa Airlines, Alamo Rent a Car and dive operators like Ocean Encounters — will be split among the organizations.

“For $25, you’re getting a lot of value, but more importantly, that $25 goes straight back into the community,” says Horne. “We’re hoping to raise as much money as possible so that, at the end, we can donate to these different foundations to support the awesome work that is happening right here on Curacao.”

If festival-goers are interested in seeing conservation in action on the island, Ocean Encounters, which hosts part of Coral Restoration Foundation, will be hosting an informational session and dive tour of their largest coral nursery on Sunday, Sept. 29. They’ll also have a dedicated team member to lead snorkel and dive tours of the nursery throughout the rest of the week, Peek says.

“In our largest nursery, we have 20 trees and over 5,000 corals already outplanted,” he says. “Our doors will be open all week for people to come in, take a tour and learn about the program.”

Need to Know

When to Go: The festival runs Sept. 27 to Oct. 3, 2020, but Curaçao remains a popular dive destination year-round.
Dive Conditions: In early fall, divers enjoy 60- to 100-foot vis and mild currents. Water temps hover in the mid-80s, so choose anything from a skin to a 3-mm shorty for optimal comfort.
Price Tag: Festival registration is $25; event prices vary by operator.

To register for the Annual Curaçao International Dive Festival, visit curacaodivefestival.com.