Jan Thiel Diving

Situated in Jan Thiel, directly opposite the Livingstone Jan Thiel Beach Resort, Jan Thiel Diving serves as a central hub for divers exploring the waters of Curaçao. The centre is particularly well-regarded for its expertise in shore diving, acting as a gateway to more than 60 different dive sites reachable from the coast.

Whether you are looking to complete your initial certifications or are an experienced diver seeking advanced specialties, the centre provides a structured and professional environment. Their approach focuses on small groups and personalised attention, ensuring that every diver, from a novice in a quarry to a seasoned professional, can explore the local reefs safely.

The team consists of three experienced instructors, providing a professional foundation for both training and guided excursions. They operate with a focus on small groups, allowing for the individual attention required for technical skill development or relaxed reef exploration.

Communication is straightforward for international divers, as the staff are multilingual, speaking English, Dutch, and German. This ensures that instruction and dive briefings are precise and easily understood by a wide range of visitors.

Environmental stewardship is a core part of their identity. The centre actively participates in marine conservation through monthly 'Dive Against Debris®' clean-ups and promotes the use of reef-safe sunscreens and the reduction of plastic waste to protect the local ecosystem.

Jan Thiel Diving is a full-service PADI training centre, offering the complete spectrum of certifications. Beginners can start with the Bubblemaker or Scuba Diver programmes, progressing through to the PADI Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses.

The curriculum extends into professional and specialty training, including Rescue Diver, Divemaster, and the Instructor Development Course (IDC). For those looking to refine specific skills, they offer Peak Performance Buoyancy, Deep Diver, and Wreck Diver specialties, as well as Nitrox certification.

The centre offers a comprehensive range of rental kit for those not travelling with their own equipment. This includes BCDs, regulators, dive computers, and wetsuits. For night dives, torches are available for hire, and they also provide specific equipment for lionfish hunting.

For divers who prefer to bring their own core kit, snorkeling sets comprising masks, snorkels, and fins are available. They also supply dive flags to ensure safety and compliance during shore entries. Nitrox is available on-site for divers looking to extend their no-decompression limits.

The reefs are teeming with life, featuring a diverse array of hard corals, soft corals, sea fans (Gorgoniidae), and various sponge (Porifera) species. You will find a rich tapestry of corals including yellow pencil corals and brain corals, which provide essential structure for the local inhabitants.

Large numbers of reef fish inhabit these waters, including sergeant majors, French grunts, blue tangs, and various species of angelfish (Pomacanthidae). Schools of fish, including jacks (Carangidae) and snappers, are common sights, while you may also encounter parrotfish (Calotomus), creole wrasses, and various tangs.

For those watching the sandy bottom and ledges, there is a high probability of seeing octopus (Octopus vulgaris), moray eels (Muraenidae), and both green moray (Gymnothorax funebris) and spotted moray eels. You might also spot southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus), rays, or even a seahorse (Hippocampus kuda) if you look closely.

Predatory species and larger animals add to the excitement, with great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), tarpon (Megalops), and various species of grouper or snapper present. Turtles, including green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), are frequently observed around the reefs.

The centre specialises in shore diving, which allows for easy access to a vast number of sites. Divers can utilise local buses for transport to various shore entries, or organise pick-ups for sites that are easily accessible from the coast.