.png?withoutEnlargement&resize=49,29)
★★★★★
“Together with Gerard, we made a guided dive to Tugboat and Turtle Rock. A fantastic dive center.”
S G
Google · Turtle Rock · December 2024
During this guided dive, you explore the distinctive reef at La Palapa in Caracasbaai, with clear water, colorful coral and varied tropical marine life.
The reef features varied coral formations, sponges and tropical reef fish. During the dive, we take our time to explore the marine life.
You dive with personal guidance, and the route and pace are adapted to your experience, certification and the conditions that day.
First dive with us? Before La Palapa, we make a required check dive at Caracasbaai or Tugboat. This check dive is not included in the price of the La Palapa guided dive.
La Palapa is known for its colorful reef and varied underwater scenery, with coral, sponges and tropical fish.
During the guided dive, we explore different parts of the reef at a relaxed pace, with plenty of attention for the marine life.
Choose a private VIP Guided Dive with only your own party or a Classic Guided Dive in a small group. Both options include calm, personal guidance.
Private with only your own party.
The most personal way to explore La Palapa. Your SSI guide accompanies only your party, with no unfamiliar divers joining your group.
This allows us to fully adapt the pace and guidance to your experience and preferences.
1 dive with full scuba equipment
$86 • XCG 153 p.p.
1 dive with your own scuba equipment
$74 • XCG 132 p.p.
Small group with a maximum of four certified divers.
You dive in a small group with guidance from an SSI guide.
We keep a relaxed pace. Because other divers may join, experience levels and diving pace can vary within the group.
1 dive with full scuba equipment
$75 • XCG 130 p.p.
1 dive with your own scuba equipment
$63 • XCG 110 p.p.
La Palapa is a shore dive where you reach the reef shortly after entering the water. Underwater, you will find varied coral formations, sponges and tropical marine life.
The route and depth are adapted to your certification, experience, air consumption and the conditions that day.
A relaxed dive. We take the time to explore the reef and marine life and adapt the pace to the group.
La Palapa combines a colorful reef, varied coral formations, sponges and tropical marine life. During the dive, you may encounter different reef fish and other marine animals.
There is no fixed route for every dive. Your guide considers the conditions, your experience, air consumption and the pace of the group.
This gives us the flexibility to dive at a relaxed pace and spend time on whatever is most interesting underwater that day.
Everything you need for a relaxed, well-guided dive at La Palapa.
We take our time with the preparation so you can begin your dive feeling comfortable and well prepared.
At our dive center, we check your equipment together and calmly go through the dive plan.
We discuss the dive route, maximum depth, conditions and key dive signals before entering the water.
After the briefing, we drive together to La Palapa, a short distance from our dive center in Jan Thiel.
We enter the water at a relaxed pace and follow the reef, looking at coral, sponges, tropical fish and other marine life along the way.
Afterward, we return to the dive center, where you can talk about the dive and update your digital logbook.
Dive time: usually approximately 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the conditions, air consumption, your certification and the pace of the group.
A small selection of La Palapa’s colorful reef, tropical marine life and varied underwater scenery.
An additional SSI instructor joins specifically with the camera, while your own guide remains fully focused on you or the group for guidance and safety.
Advance reservation: subject to the availability of an additional instructor.
A guided dive should feel relaxed. That is why we deliberately work with small groups and personal guidance.
La Palapa is also known as Turtle Rock In reviews, the location is sometimes referred to as Turtle Island. Below are two experiences that explicitly mention this location, together with a general review of our guided dives.
“Together with Gerard, we made a guided dive to Tugboat and Turtle Rock. A fantastic dive center.”
S G
Google · Turtle Rock · December 2024
“That day we made two dives in Caracasbaai and at Turtle Island. We saw a lot, from large sea turtles to stingrays.”
Johannes b
Tripadvisor · Turtle Island · December 2025
“I made three guided dives with Gerard. We visited three fantastic sites, where Gerard showed us beautiful new things every time.”
Bartus72
Tripadvisor · guided dives Curaçao
Discover more distinctive dive sites and guided dives in Curaçao.
Explore the reef as nocturnal marine life becomes active.
Experience a night dive →
Explore the colorful reef and historic shark fencing.
View Director's Bay →Questions about La Palapa, the dive site, guidance or practical details? You will find the most frequently asked questions below.
La Palapa is a beautiful dive site with a colorful reef and varied tropical marine life.
Underwater, you will find coral, sponges, reef formations and various tropical fish and other marine animals.
You may encounter coral, sponges, tropical reef fish and various other marine animals during the dive.
What you see varies from dive to dive and depends on factors such as the conditions and season.
La Palapa can be suitable for newly certified divers, depending on the conditions and experience.
During the guided dive, we take your experience into account and adapt the route and pace accordingly.
Yes. For our guided dive, you need at least a valid Open Water certification .
The total activity takes approximately 2.5 hours, including preparation, transport and the dive.
Dive time is usually approximately 30 to 60 minutes, depending on conditions, air consumption, certification and the pace of the group.
Yes. The route and depth are adapted to your certification, experience, air consumption and the conditions that day.
Yes. With our VIP Guided Dive you dive privately with only your own party.
No unfamiliar divers join your group, allowing the guidance to be fully adapted to your pace, experience and preferences.
Yes. La Palapa can be booked as either a VIP Guided Dive or a Classic Guided Dive .
With a Classic Guided Dive, you dive in a small group, while a VIP Guided Dive is exclusively for your own party.
Yes. A check dive is required before your guided dive at La Palapa.
The check dive is not included in the price of the La Palapa guided dive.
The check dive usually takes place at Tugboat or Caracasbaai.
The location is selected based on the conditions and the diver’s circumstances.
You start at our dive center in Jan Thiel: Caracasbaaiweg 360.
From the dive center, we drive together to La Palapa.
Please bring swimwear and a towel .
We provide the required scuba equipment when you choose the option including equipment.
Yes. You can choose a guided dive including full scuba equipment.
Yes. As a certified diver, you may bring your own underwater camera or GoPro on the La Palapa dive.
Make sure your camera does not interfere with your diving and that you continue to pay attention to your trim, buddy and surroundings.
Yes. With our Photo & Video Service an additional instructor joins with a professional camera.
This allows your own guide to stay fully focused on your guidance and safety.
The service must be reserved in advance because we schedule an additional instructor for it.
For a VIP Guided Dive, the service is approximately $56 / XCG 100 per dive.
For a Classic Guided Dive, the service is approximately $84 / XCG 150 per dive.
Because we deliberately work with small groups and private dives, it is a good idea to reserve your La Palapa dive as early as possible.
This gives us the best chance of keeping your preferred day and time available.
The dive goes ahead when conditions are safe and suitable for diving.
Our instructors assess the conditions and may adjust the route or dive site if needed.
We use a minimum no-fly interval of 24 hours after your last dive before flying.
Beforehand, you complete the required medical questionnaire. If you answer one or more questions with yes, we require valid medical clearance from a physician before the dive.
Explore La Palapa’s colorful reef, tropical fish and varied underwater scenery on a relaxed guided dive. Choose a private VIP dive with only your own party or a small Classic group.
Plan your La Palapa guided dive →