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Dive Review of Ocean Encounters Diving/Lions Dive & Beach Resort in
Curaçao


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Ocean Encounters Diving/Lions Dive & Beach Resort, Feb, 2010,

by Colin Zylka, WI, US (Contributor Contributor 12 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 5384.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 1 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling 3 stars

Overall Rating
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments First of all, the dive operator Ocean Encounters really goes out of their way to make their divers feel welcome. Great service attitude, always willing to help with guest requests. Our dive crew were very safety conscious, and spent time pointing out interesting critters on the dives. A big thanks to Adriaan, Tyce, Weitzke, and Karen-Mieke for making our dives memorable. Note: the special trips to both Mushroom Forest and East Point/Klein Curacao are well worth the extra charge, but be prepared for some lumpy boat rides, especially to East Point. Lockers with keys are provided to store dive gear between dive days. Large rinse tanks are available on the dock. Dive shop very close to dock for grabbing a quick snack after diving.

Lions Dive Resort, however is another story. From the moment we arrived, it was obvious that if you didn't speak Dutch, you were a second-class citizen. Other English speakers at the resort at the same time as us commented on the same thing. We had problems with our meal plan, which was to have been half-board, with prior arrangements to include breakfast and either lunch or dinner daily. This really sent some of the restaurant staff into a fit. The food is actually fine, especially at Restaurant Nemo, but plan on at least two hours for EVERY lunch and dinner at the resort due to the slow service. At both Piazza, the poolside restaurant and Hemingway, the beach bar/restaurant, all wait staff displayed a completely uncaring attitude. It seemed as though we were imposing on them to actually eat at any of the restaurants. Breakfast is served buffet style, so time or service was not an issue. Reservations are required for lunch and dinner at all restaurants. The bartenders at Hemingway, the beach bar, could care less about selling drinks, as they spend more time ogling the bikini clad girls on the beach.

If you can tolerate the lousy service and attitude at the restaurants and bar and the rather unhelpful front desk staff, Lions Dive could be a recommended destination.



Websites Ocean Encounters Diving   

Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Wakatobi, Bonaire, Curacao, Lembeh Straits, Fiji, Truk, Palau, Philippines, Florida, Caymans, Bahamas, Cozumel, Tobago, Saba, St. Kitts, Statia, Hawaii, California
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions
Weather windy, dry Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 78-80°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-80 Ft/ 15-24 M

Dive Policy
Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Dives were generally limited to 50 minutes, but some went a bit longer. Dive your own profile.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw
Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments Rinse bucket on boat, but not big enough. When two pro-level SLR housing/strobe combos were in the bucket, there was hardly any more room for other cameras.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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