Curaçao - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 249

more than 135 feet. In about 60 feet of clear water, look for large groupers,
snappers, and barracudas. Dolphins and turtles are also seen in the area.
In September and October, divers often witness coral spawning here on
nights following a full moon.
Sandy's Plateau is best reached by boat. It's out from Jan Thiel Beach,
and snorkelers as well as divers can explore several areas of the plateau.
Divers see healthy brain and star coral on the steep wall that drops from
the plateau in about 30 feet of water. Fish seen along the plateau and wall
include damselfish, chromis, wrasses, rock beauties, and trumpetfish.
Boca di Sorsaka , out from Jan Thiel Bay, can be done from shore or boat.
A shelf in shallow water leads to a drop-off where a vertical wall descends
more than 100 feet. Look for abundant gorgonians and sponges. Marine
life includes angelfish, trunkfish, soldierfish and trumpetfish.

TIP: See page 244 ff for additional shore-dive and
snorkeling sites off the island's beaches.

Coral & Sponge Spawning
A week after the full moon in September and October each year,
Curaçao is the site of an amazing phenomenon called coral and
sponge spawning. When conditions are just right, the corals and
sponges simultaneously release a dense cloud of eggs and sperm
in a colorful cloud. Divers from all over the world congregate to
witness this night spectacle, which was first observed on Austra-
lia's Great Barrier Reef in 1981 and in the Caribbean in 1991.
Various species spawn at different times on the same night. For
information, or to volunteer to monitor the spawning, contact
Reef Care Curaçao , 569-2099; www.reffcare.org.

Klein Curaçao , a tiny satellite island off the southeast coast, is almost
two hours away by boat. Unlike the main island, it does have a unique
wall, which bends to form caverns. There are no facilities on the island, but
visitors go there to have parties, sunbathe, and dive.
Experienced divers can try the boat dive off the northern end, where a
large cave in about 100 feet of water harbors nurse sharks. A wall above
the cave is covered in corals. Turtles are often seen in the area. The main
beach, on the western shore, has good dive sites at both the north and
south end, which can be accessed from shore or by boat. Reef fish - includ-
ing angels, soldierfish, banded butterflyfish, and parrotfish - are abun-
dant, but coral formations are limited.