Bon Bini Lagun Curacao

English is spoken by the team, alongside German, Spanish and Dutch, so the first practical question is already settled. Bon Bini Lagun Curacao is an apartment-style address for divers who prefer space, a kitchen and a beach nearby to a formal hotel routine.

The mood is easy-going and outdoorsy: garden, terrace, pool and barbecue rather than a long list of indoor facilities. You can keep the day simple here. Swim, eat when you are ready, and let the sea do most of the entertaining.

Families are welcome, and the property also has a private pool attached to the apartment described on site. It is a useful arrangement for a couple or a small group that wants its own base in Lagun, with enough practical equipment to settle in rather than live out of a suitcase.

You are in Lagun, Curaçao, directly by the sea and a few steps from Lagun Beach. The setting puts sand, sea and the local coastline immediately into the plan, rather than requiring a drive before the holiday properly starts.

The address is around 19 miles from Curaçao International Airport. Christoffel National Park is about 8 miles away for a change of scenery on land, while the Queen Emma Bridge in Willemstad is about 24 miles away when you want the island's better-known urban landmark.

The beach comes with sun loungers and parasols, giving you somewhere practical to stop between a swim, a snorkel and the next decision about food. Free private parking also makes the property workable if you are exploring Curaçao by car.

This is apartment living rather than a conventional hotel room. The accommodation is offered as an apartment or a one-bedroom apartment, with a private bathroom, air conditioning and the kind of kitchen equipment that lets you handle breakfast, a quick lunch or a late meal without waiting for a dining room to open.

There is a fridge for cold drinks and post-dive supplies, plus a coffee machine, kettle and microwave. A terrace, garden setting and outdoor furniture give you somewhere to sit with a drink, while the air conditioning helps take the edge off a warm Curaçao day. The practical details continue with a shower, hairdryer, wardrobe, bed linen and toiletries.

Soundproofed and non-smoking rooms should make the return to bed less complicated, and a DVD player and radio cover the quieter stretches of the evening. The property also lists family accommodation and baby cots, so the layout is not aimed only at travelling couples. Bring the sort of holiday you want; the apartment gives you room to run it your way.

The on-site restaurant covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is welcome when the day's diving has left you hungry rather than philosophical. There is no need to turn every meal into an expedition across the island.

The apartment's kitchen adds a second option: keep food and drinks in the fridge, make coffee when you want it, and use the microwave for something straightforward. A barbecue area provides the more sociable route, particularly when the terrace and outdoor furniture are calling.

That can be a virtue after a full day in the water: eat at the restaurant, cook for yourself, or take a cold drink outside and stop making plans.

The outdoor pool is open all year, and pool or beach towels are available for the straightforward business of cooling off. With the sandy beach directly outside, you can alternate between a swim in the sea and a few quiet lengths in the pool without turning either into an excursion.

For a slower afternoon, the property has a spa with massages, as well as a gym. That gives you two sensible choices after diving: do just enough exercise to feel virtuous, or book a massage and leave virtue for another day.

The surrounding area also lends itself to snorkelling, kayaking, fishing and hiking. Christoffel National Park is close enough to make a land-based outing practical, while the garden, terrace and barbecue keep the return uncomplicated. There are no organised evening performances to plan around; the useful part here is the freedom to make the pace your own.

Check-in runs from 1 pm to 3 pm, with check-out by midday. The property asks for your expected arrival time in advance, which matters here because this is privately managed accommodation rather than a large reception desk working around the clock. Check-in is for guests aged 18 or over.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and private parking is free. Dry cleaning and ironing services are available, while a safe gives you somewhere sensible for small valuables. The property accepts cash, Visa and Mastercard. A deposit is required to secure the booking.

The accommodation is non-smoking and pets are not admitted. Air conditioning, a fridge, kitchen equipment, a terrace and direct beach access cover the practical points most divers notice once the kit bag is back on the floor. The airport is about 19 miles away, and the property provides no airport shuttle service to build into the arrival plan.