Porto Mari Dive Center, Porto Mari Extra N.V.

Located at the beautiful Porto Mari beach in Sint-Willibrordus, this centre offers a relaxed, family-style atmosphere for divers. The location is unique because it provides immediate access to a vibrant double reef right from the shore, making it easy to slip into the water without needing a boat for every excursion.

While the house reef is the main draw for many, the centre also runs regular boat trips to the more remote corners of the island. From the sheltered bays of Westpunt to the wilder, untouched reefs of Klein Curaçao, the variety of environments ensures that both reef explorers and those seeking drift dives are well-served.

The centre is owned and operated by Kasper, who serves as an instructor and ensures a professional yet personal service. The focus is on maintaining small groups to allow for individual attention, whether you are completing your first certification or working on advanced specialties.

As an SSI affiliate, the centre provides a comprehensive training programme. The team is accustomed to working with a diverse range of divers, from children in the Try Scuba programmes to professionals working through the Divemaster and Instructor Training Courses.

The course catalogue is extensive, covering the full spectrum of SSI certifications. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the Junior Open Water Diver programmes, progressing through to Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver.

For more experienced divers, there is a deep selection of specialties. These range from technical skills like Deep Diving, Decompression Diving, and Wreck Diving to environmental and niche skills such as Marine Ecology, Coral Reef Restoration, and Night & Limited Visibility. The centre also supports professional development, offering paths through Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, and Instructor Training Courses.

The centre operates the Cheetah Marine, a 38-foot (11.6 m) catamaran powered by twin 300 hp engines. It has a capacity for 15 to 18 divers and is used for excursions to sites around the island, including the remote reefs of Eastpoint and Klein Curaçao.

Onboard, a simple lunch is provided for the divers. The boat is equipped to handle various dive types, including night dives and trips to more distant locations where the reef structure changes significantly from the house reef.

Full equipment hire is available on-site for those not travelling with their own kit. This includes all the essentials needed for both shore and boat diving.

For those looking to extend their bottom time, Enriched Air Nitrox is available. The centre also provides dive computers as part of its service for courses and guided dives.

The reefs around Porto Mari are teeming with life, including large schools of fish, moray eels, and octopuses. You will frequently encounter sea turtles, eagle rays, and various species of snapper, grouper, and jacks.

For those interested in macro life, the sites offer plenty of interest with sightings of seahorses, nudibranchs, and various species of juvenile fish. The reef structures also provide excellent hiding spots for crabs and other smaller invertebrates.

The hard and soft coral landscape is a major feature, with large barrel sponges, various gorgonians, and colourful soft corals providing the framework for the ecosystem. In some areas, you will find striking mushroom-shaped corals and large columnar corals.

Conditions vary significantly depending on the site. The house reef and many of the San Juan sites are characterized by calm waters and low to no current, making them very accessible.

Other sites, such as the Double Reef or the drift dives around Daaibooi, can experience moderate currents. Some areas, like Eastpoint and Westpunt, are known for providing more interesting drift diving opportunities.