Catamaran snorkel trip from Spanish Water

Two snorkel stops and lunch in between, on the stretch of south coast between Caracas Bay and the mouth of Spanish Water. The favourite first stop is the Tugboat, a small sunken tug grown over with coral and sponges and circled by schools of fish. Other boats or other days use the Saba wreck, Doggy Beach or the old pier at Caracas Bay, since the crew picks whichever spot is calm.

A light buffet is served on board between swims, with the cliffs of Caracas Bay, Fort Beekenburg and Tafelberg (Table Mountain) in view. The way home runs through the Spanish Water lagoon itself, past moored yachts and waterside villas. It runs about five hours with an open bar, and masks and snorkels are on board. Turtles and rays turn up some days.

Against the full-day crossing to Klein Curaçao, it keeps to the coast, skips the open-sea run and has you back by mid afternoon.