Diving prices in Curaçao: what you actually pay, line by line

Diving prices in Curaçao at The Little Green Boat range from 90 to 103 US dollars per person, equipment included, and every dive is fully private. Add a second dive on the same day and the rate becomes 120 or 138 dollars per person, depending on the option. Certification courses start at 250 dollars for a specialty and go up to 550 dollars for Open Water Diver. Every figure below is taken straight from our own booking pages, and we show each one in Caribbean guilders too.

The Little Green Boat is a French and English speaking dive centre in Curaçao. Your dives run in English or in French, whichever you prefer, with a dedicated instructor who speaks both.

No, a private dive doesn’t cost more than a group dive

It is a common assumption: surely a private outing costs twice as much as joining a group of ten? Not with us. We charge the same per-person rate as the group dives run by the big dive shops on the island, as our Turtle Spotter page explains.

There are two reasons. First, we dive from the shore, so there is no boat to run. Second, we work in very small numbers: two divers minimum, one instructor. In other words, you are not paying extra for exclusivity. You are paying for a dive, and the privacy comes with it.

Diving prices in Curaçao, option by option

Our dives fall into two groups. On one side, introductory dives that need no certification. On the other, exploration dives for divers who are already certified.

Introductory dives (no certification needed)

These cost 103 dollars (185 Caribbean guilders) per person, or 138 dollars (249 guilders) with a second dive on the same day. The rate applies to the Turtle Spotter, the Mini Wreck Explorer and the Coral Nubbin. No experience is needed, and the minimum age is 10.

Exploration dives for certified divers

Certified divers pay 90 dollars (162 guilders) per person, or 120 dollars (216 guilders) with a second dive the same day. That applies to the Turtle Tracker, the Wreck Explorer, the Predator Patrol and The Hidden Glow Show. You will need an Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.

Bring your own gear and we take 20 dollars off. All of these dives need a minimum of two divers.

What diving prices in Curaçao cover, and what they don’t

The rate includes full dive equipment, the pre-dive briefing and a certified instructor with you in the water. It does not include your personal dive insurance or getting yourself to the dive site.

In practice, all you need to bring is a swimsuit, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen and a water bottle. We supply everything else. Not sure what to pack? Our shore diving safety guide walks you through how we prepare an outing.

How much do diving courses cost in Curaçao?

Courses have their own price list, published on our diving courses page. Here are the current rates, in dollars and then in Caribbean guilders:

• Open Water Diver: 550 dollars or 990 guilders, over three half-days.
• Advanced Adventurer: 495 dollars or 890 guilders, over three half-days.
• Rescue Diver: 550 dollars or 990 guilders, over two half-days.
• Specialty courses: from 250 dollars or 450 guilders.
• Dive Guide: 850 dollars or 1,530 guilders.
• Divemaster: 950 dollars or 1,710 guilders.
• Instructor: 2,250 dollars or 4,050 guilders.

Every course is taught in a very small group. You do the theory online first, at your own pace, then the open water sessions from the shore.

Diving prices in Curaçao in dollars or guilders

All our prices are shown in US dollars and in Caribbean guilders (XCG). The official rate is 1 dollar to 1.79 guilders. However, the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten also considers a rate of 1 to 1.80 fair practice, depending on how a business takes payments. That 1.80 ratio is what you will see between our two columns: 90 dollars becomes 162 guilders, and 550 dollars becomes 990 guilders.

Day to day, US dollars are accepted pretty much everywhere on the island. For payment methods and cash machines, see our guide to money and tipping in Curaçao.

How we price our dives

We show one price per person, with no hidden extras. Fabien Thepot, co-founder of The Little Green Boat, is one of the two certified instructors who lead the dives, and each of them has more than 5,000 dives behind them. The team is PADI and SSI certified and takes part in the SSI Blue Oceans programme.

We also stick to a principle that occasionally costs us a customer: we never promise an animal encounter, whatever you pay. We don’t feed wildlife, and we don’t recommend it either. A 90 dollar dive without a single turtle is still a good dive if the reef is healthy.

Frequently asked questions about diving prices in Curaçao