Curaçao’s newest five-star, all-inclusive resort pairs solar power, local hiring and reef restoration with west coast boat diving by Ocean Encounters
A new chapter in Caribbean dive travel begins this month on Curaçao’s quiet west coast. TUI BLUE Curaçao, a five-star, all-inclusive resort on Santa Martha Bay, welcomes its first guests on October 20, 2026, ahead of its official opening on November 1. Dive Travel Curaçao, the island’s boutique dive vacation specialist, is partnering with the resort and its on-site dive operator, Ocean Encounters, to offer fully personalized, all-inclusive dive vacations from day one.
The resort arrives with a clear promise: that a large Caribbean resort can be built and run in a way that gives back to the island, its people and the reefs that surround it.
A Legacy Reborn at Santa Martha Bay
For decades, Groot Santa Martha in Soto was home to the Coral Cliff Hotel, a familiar base for divers exploring Curaçao’s west coast. Framed by Christoffelberg (Seru di Kristof) and the sheltered waters of Santa Martha Bay, the same site now has a new life.
That choice of location matters. Rather than clearing untouched coastline, the developers redeveloped land already used for tourism, limiting the resort’s footprint on a stretch of coast where dry forest, limestone cliffs and fringing reef meet.
“Many divers will remember Coral Cliff, and it’s fitting that this area is once again a home base for diving on the west coast,” said Bryan Horne, Founder and Managing Director of Dive Travel Curaçao. “What makes TUI BLUE Curaçao special is that the developers chose to build where tourism already existed. On an island whose appeal depends on unspoiled nature, that may be the most important sustainable decision of all.”
Sustainability by Design
Architect Shawn Zimmerman of Studio Disena designed the resort as a collection of low-rise buildings set among generous green spaces rather than a single high-rise block. The planting shades and cools the grounds, leaves room for local wildlife and helps the property sit naturally within the Santa Martha landscape.
Day-to-day operations follow the same thinking. Solar energy reduces reliance on fossil-fuel power, while efficient water and waste management systems ease pressure on a dry island where drinking water is produced by desalination. Less waste and less runoff also mean less pressure on the reef just offshore.
Guests can explore Santa Martha Bay under their own power with complimentary kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, and on-site EV charging supports cleaner road trips to Christoffel National Park, Shete Boka and the west coast beaches. The resort’s culinary program centres on fresh, regional ingredients and Curaçaoan flavours, supporting island producers while cutting import miles.
Sustainable Tourism Starts with People
TUI BLUE Curaçao represents an $80 million investment and is projected to create around 400 jobs, with a strong focus on Soto and Bandabou, the island’s rural west.
Before opening, the resort graduated 80 new hospitality professionals from an intensive, one-month paid training program. Around 90% of the graduates were native Curaçaoan, and roughly 40% came directly from Bandabou.
“Investing in local talent before the first guest arrives is how the benefits of tourism stay on the island,” said Horne. “For Bandabou, this resort means jobs, training and new energy on the west coast.”
Why It Matters for Divers
Curaçao’s west coast holds some of the healthiest reefs in the southern Caribbean, and they lie just offshore from Santa Martha Bay. What happens on land, from wastewater and runoff to energy use and plastic, eventually reaches the water. That is why a resort’s sustainability choices matter so much to divers and snorkelers.
Diving at TUI BLUE Curaçao is run by Ocean Encounters, an experienced, conservation-minded operator with a daily boat program to the west coast sites closest to the resort. With Curaçao sitting outside the hurricane belt, the reefs off Santa Martha Bay are diveable year-round.
Every dive vacation booked through Dive Travel Curaçao also supports Reef Renewal Foundation Curaçao, which grows endangered corals in underwater nurseries and replants them on the island’s reefs.
“A sustainable resort is only half the story. Responsible divers complete it,” said Horne. “We encourage every guest to fine-tune their buoyancy, never touch coral, use reef-safe sunscreen and follow Green Fins guidelines. On multi-day trips, dive conservatively, make every safety stop, allow at least 18 hours before flying and travel with dive medical insurance. Those habits keep both divers and reefs healthy.”
A Phased Opening
As with most new resorts, the opening is phased. The main pool, beach, key restaurants and bars, and the Standard and Swim-Up rooms are among the first areas to welcome guests, with remaining room categories and amenities following as the resort settles in. Dive Travel Curaçao is in close contact with the resort team and can advise travellers on the best dates for their dive plans.
A Model for the Caribbean
By reusing developed land, drawing power from the sun, hiring and training locally, and linking guest stays to coral restoration, TUI BLUE Curaçao sets a benchmark for future development on Curaçao and across the Caribbean.
“We’ve followed this project from the first construction updates,” said Horne. “TUI BLUE Curaçao shows that luxury and sustainability can work together. It gives divers a way to enjoy an all-inclusive Caribbean holiday knowing the island and its reefs benefit too.”
Plan Your All-Inclusive Dive Vacation
Dive Travel Curaçao creates personalized, all-inclusive Sleep & Dive vacations at TUI BLUE Curaçao, combining accommodation, boat diving with Ocean Encounters, dive courses, vehicles and non-diver activities, all tailored to each traveller’s dates, group size and experience level.
Explore rooms, diving and package options at TUI BLUE Curaçao: All-Inclusive Dive Vacations, and let our team plan every detail. For a personalized quote, email reservations@divecuracao.info.
About Dive Travel Curaçao
Dive Travel Curaçao is a boutique dive travel consultancy specializing in tailor-made scuba diving and snorkeling vacations to Curaçao and Bonaire. Founded by Bryan Horne, who has lived and worked in Curaçao’s dive tourism industry for 20 years, the company partners with trusted resorts, dive operators and conservation organizations to deliver end-to-end trip planning, from accommodation and diving to vehicles and activities. Learn more at divecuracao.info.
