Eleven friends and D2Ders met at the lovely Sunset Waters in Curacao on Feb. 9th - 18th. A few got there the night before and a couple also stayed a few days longer. We took a Delta flight out of Atlanta that left around 11 am and we got into Curacao around 3:30. Nice flight, first class, FF miles, so we had no problems and we were quite comfortable, meal and movie...

When we landed in Curacao we were met by the Sunset Waters staff and Ellen, aka Fairy Basslett! Papa, our driver took our bags to the hotel van and in just a few minutes off we were... The hotel was about 45 minutes from the airport. Got checked in, very nice large room view a beautiful water view, oh and a view of the nude beach... oh boy... Nice king bed, dining table, sofa, fridge and coffee pot.. Lloyd, Connie, Tom, and Anna were at the pool bar so we were introduced to a new drink call a Pink Flamingo...yummy.

Troy and I decided to go check in with the dive op and get set up for the next days dives. Nice bunch of folks, gave us a tour, our hanger that you use for the week, a number and the code to the lock... All went very smoothly. You hang your BC on the numbered hanger and they give you a laundry bin to put your fins, mask, booties, weight belt, etc. You leave your reg with your BC and when you arrive for the boat, your gear is waiting for you. If diving Nitrox which we were, your reg is not set up. We would use their analyzer and most fills were right around 32 and 3000 psi... Put your weights in and you're ready to go...

One thing I truly enjoyed was the DM's. All took their time and would give a thorough briefing and then we would have 45 minutes in the water with them and then we were allowed to spend another 15 - 20 minutes uw around the boat... Always had over one hour!!!! We did two tank dives with them daily for 6 days and one, 1 tank dive one afternoon that was way at the end of the island. However after 10 minutes in the water the DM called the dive. We ended up at another site that was really pretty.

Shore diving at Sunset Waters is nice but not that easy. Long walk to the water with your gear on or you could use a wheelbarrow. We chose to wear the gear into the water. You wade out a ways and then you can descend on to a beautiful house reef. Right at the end of a pipeline were 3 seahorse and we had heard that there was a pretty frog fish in about 50'. We couldn't find it however the Frog Fish Queen, Robyn found it for us. Very nice!!!! Nice wall and you can see plenty at 50' and the slope goes to around 140'. This reef is well marked, hard to get lost.... Lot's of variety of corals, fish, etc. Great house reef!

Food at Sunset Waters is good to average. Sunset Waters is an all inclusive resort, beware of the cocktails, way to easy to over drink, I know... Breakfast was usually a buffet with a cook to make omelette's, etc. Lunch was either buffet or you could order a hamburger, fries and all the fixings. Evening time was mostly buffet but we had menu on at least two nights. Valentine's night they had a special menu and we added lobster to all of our meals and they served unlimited drinks and Champagne. Two nights that had special evenings down by the water. One night was a Seafood Buffet and the other was a BBQ with a bond fire.

Since there was 11 of us, Lloyd gave us the name, Ocean's 11 D2D Group, Connie, Lloyd, Anna, Tom, Robyn, Ellen, Charla, Dan, Larry, Troy, and myself, Scott. We all got along really well and had a wonderful time. I love both Bonaire and Curacao, it would be a hard choice for me so I guess I just have to go to both. The 7 days went by so quickly that I think next time maybe we'll have to stay longer, only problem is, Delta only flies on Saturdays. Glad we had a straight connection. Some had troubles getting home.

All and all, great trip, great diving, great friends!!!! I would recommend this destination and hotel, just remember, it's not the Ritz but the dive op is fantastic as well as the hotel staff. If you have not been to Curacao, I suggest that you go!