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Divers descend through blue water past a school of creole wrasse on a Curaçao reef

Curaçao · Curaçao · Drift · Reef

Smokeys

A drift east over dense coral overhangs and sharp drop-offs

Area photo: LASZLO ILYES · CC BY 2.0

Smokeys, known locally as Punt'i Sanchi, lies inside the Curaçao Marine Park in Fuikbaai, southeast of Nieuwport. It often turns into a drift dive over dense coral overhangs and sharp drop-offs, which is why it suits experienced divers.

Also known as Smokey’s, Punt’i Sanchi.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Smokeys: typical dive 12–36 m (40–118 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit12 m36 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 50 m (164 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

12.0554° N, 68.8369° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

Divers drop onto large, dense coral overhangs that lead to sharp drop-offs, between about 12 m (40 ft) and 36 m (120 ft). When the current runs, the dive becomes a drift that carries divers east along the reef from Smokeys to the next site east, where it finishes.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Smokeys
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodFairFairFair

Season follows Curaçao: Diving runs all year; October to February is the rainy season, and May to November brings warmer water and fewer crowds.

Dive videos

Scuba Diving at Smokey’s Dive Site in Curaçao with Ocean Encounters (Filmed in 4K) · Dive Curaçao on YouTube

Sources

  1. Smokeys Dive Site — Dive Curaçao
  2. OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap contributors

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