Aerial view of the drift dive from Director's Bay to Tugboat beach.

Directors Bay to Tugboat

2 Hours
$65 excl. equipment / $90 incl. equipment
Looking for the best of both worlds? Combine Directors Bay and the iconic Tugboat wreck in one unforgettable drift dive! At the far end of the Caracas Bay Peninsula, you’ll find the hidden gem Directors Bay — a quiet coral and pebble beach that once served as a private retreat for Shell executives and even members of the Dutch royal family. Today, it’s a popular dive and snorkel site known for its easy access and spectacular underwater wall. Just a few fin kicks from shore, you’ll descend along a steep drop-off that stretches out to the right. While almost vertical in some spots, the reef is alive with soft corals, hard corals, and colorful sponges. Expect to see smooth trunkfish, scorpionfish, barracuda, moray eels, white sea urchins — and if you’re lucky, maybe even a green sea turtle cruising by. When the current is in our favor, we follow it on a drift dive toward the famous Tugboat wreck. Resting at just 5 meters (15 feet) deep, this small tug sank decades ago and has since become home to an abundance of marine life: schools of reef fish, octopus, cleaner shrimp, eels, and occasionally seahorses. The shallow depth makes Tugboat an ideal spot to complete your safety stop while enjoying one of Curaçao’s most photogenic dive sites. What Makes This Dive Special?
  • Stunning Wall Dive: Explore the vertical reef at Directors Bay with rich coral coverage and macro life.
  • Historic Wreck: Dive the Tugboat, one of Curaçao’s most famous and accessible wrecks.
  • Marine Diversity: Encounter a variety of reef fish, eels, moray, sponges, sea turtles, and seahorses.
  • Effortless Drift: Let the current do the work as you glide from one site to the next.
  Good to Know:
  • Entry: Shore entry via concrete steps and coral ledge — bring water shoes or booties.
  • Depth: Directors Bay wall drops to 30+ meters, but the Tugboat rests at a shallow 5 meters.
  • Level: Suitable for certified divers (Open Water or higher). Snorkelers can also enjoy the Tugboat area.
  • Photography Paradise: Both sites offer excellent opportunities for underwater photos and wide-angle shots.
  Highlights:
  • Dive time: ~45–50 minutes depending on current and route
  • Max depth: ~18–20m (Directors Bay), safety stop at ~5m (Tugboat)
  • Starting point: Directors Bay beach (shore entry)
  • Ending point: Tugboat wreck, Caracas Bay

Frequently Asked Questions

ARE THERE FACILITIES AROUND DIVE CENTER SCUBA DO?

Dive Center Scuba Do is located at Jan Thiel Beach, surrounded by the popular beach restaurants Koko’s, Tinto, Zanzibar and Zest. You are welcome to enjoy a day at the beach, while diving with us. There are also many small shops on the beach, for last minute convenience shopping and right around the corner there is a grocery store.

Kids as young as the age of 8 can start blowing bubbles by scuba diving in shallow water. PADI Seal Team is for kids ages 8 to 10. PADI Master Seal Team member is for kids age 10 and up. The first full course, the PADI Junior Open Water Diver course, is for kids age 10 and up. For all kids’ courses, prior parental approval is required.

In case you want to participate in a course but you take any medications or have a known medical condition, Dive Center Scuba Do needs to receive a special medical statement, signed by a doctor, stating that you are fit for diving. In all other cases, as long as you can answer all questions with a ‘no’ on the Medical Statement, you do not need medical clearance from a doctor. With your signature, you yourself affirm that you are healthy and fit for diving according to the guideline.

Yes, you can. You can start with the Discover Scuba Diving program. This is a half day introduction course where we show you the basics of scuba diving. If you liked the experience, you can continue with us for your PADI Open Water Diver certification!

We have a well-stocked rental area. As long as you can show us a proof of certification, we can rent you all the equipment you need to go out diving.

We always recommend to make a reservation upfront, we will make sure that we reserve a spot for you. Contact us by Email, Phone +5999 7679300 or WhatsApp +5999 525 0332

WHAT ARE YOUR DIVE TIMES?

We are very flexible, so we recommend that you contact our dive center to plan your dive, but generally our diving courses and guided dives start at 8:30 am and at 1:00 pm / 2:00 pm, depending on the distance from the dive site to Scuba Do.

From all the sites on Curacao we selected the top sites and these you will find on our weekly schedule. Have a look here for some of the sites.

At Dive Center Scuba Do we have DIN and INT tanks available for rent

In Curacao, we have great visibility in crystal clear warm waters. Enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving with visibility between 10 to 25 meters (32 to 82 ft)!

The sea is warm enough throughout the year. The water temperature goes from 26 °C (79 °F) in February and March, to 29 °C (84 °F) in September and October. During the whole year, you can dive in a 3-mm shorty, which is available for rent at Dive Center Scuba Do.