Ocean Encounters, Curaçao’s largest PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center (IDC), and LionsDive Beach Resort have again been recognized in Scuba Diving magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards. In the 2027 results, the two partners placed in 13 categories combined. LionsDive Beach Resort took 2nd Place for Quality of the Resort, and Ocean Encounters placed 3rd for Quality of Rental Gear.
The results were announced by Dive Curaçao and Dive Travel Curaçao, the boutique dive travel consultancy that plans customized dive vacations with both properties. The 2027 honors continue a run of Readers’ Choice recognition that Ocean Encounters and LionsDive have held for several consecutive years. In both 2026 and 2027, Ocean Encounters placed in the same seven categories and LionsDive Beach Resort placed in the same six.
Why a Repeat Performance Matters
Readers of Scuba Diving magazine vote in the Readers’ Choice Awards, rating the dive operators and resorts they have experienced themselves. A single strong year can come from a new boat, a renovation or one exceptional season. Placing again across the same wide range of categories is much harder. It shows the same standard being delivered to thousands of different guests, in every season, year after year.
“Divers ask me two questions: where should I stay, and who should I dive with? The Readers’ Choice Awards answer both from the people who have already made the trip, and for several years running they have given the same answer. That consistency is the strongest reassurance I can offer anyone planning a dive vacation to Curaçao.”
— Bryan Horne, Founder & Managing Director, Dive Travel Curaçao
The 2027 Results
Ocean Encounters placed in seven categories:
- 3rd Place – Quality of Rental Gear
- Top 5 – Quality of Training and Courses
- Top 5 – Quality of Dive Boats
- Top 10 – Quality of Facilities
- Top 10 – Best Overall
- Top 10 – Attention to Safety
- One of the Best – Quality of Staff
LionsDive Beach Resort placed in six categories:
- 2nd Place – Quality of the Resort
- Top 5 – Quality of the Rooms
- Top 10 – Value of Resort
- Top 10 – Best Overall
- Top 10 – Quality of the Restaurant
- One of the Best – Quality of Staff
Compared with 2026, LionsDive moved up from 3rd to 2nd Place for Quality of the Resort, into the Top 5 for its rooms, and into the Top 10 for its restaurant. Ocean Encounters moved up to Top 5 for Quality of Training and Courses. Its rental gear and dive boats stayed among the very best for a second straight year, and it ranked Top 10 again for both Best Overall and Attention to Safety.
Ocean Encounters: More Than Four Decades of Diving Curaçao
Ocean Encounters has been diving Curaçao’s reefs for more than 40 years. It offers guided boat diving to the island’s south-coast reefs and a full PADI training program, from first-time divers through Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air Nitrox to instructor level. It operates from LionsDive Beach Resort, Sunscape Curaçao Resort Spa & Casino and TUI BLUE Curaçao. It also supports coral restoration through its long partnership with Reef Renewal Curaçao.
“Being recognized by Scuba Diving readers again this year means a great deal to our whole team, because these votes come straight from the divers we take out every day. Anyone can have a good season. Earning this recognition year after year shows that our instructors, captains and dive staff deliver the same standard on every boat, every course and every dive. We’re proud of that consistency, and we don’t take it for granted.”
— Pol Bosch, Owner, Ocean Encounters
LionsDive Beach Resort: A Perennial Favorite
LionsDive Beach Resort is a 4-star resort on Mambo Beach, minutes from Willemstad. It has four oceanfront restaurants, a 50-meter swimming pool, fitness facilities and direct access to the Ocean Encounters dive dock. Its à la carte packages typically include breakfast, which suits dive couples, groups and families that include both divers and non-divers.
“Having Ocean Encounters right here on property is a big part of what makes LionsDive special for divers. Guests walk from breakfast to the dive shop to the boat, and everything simply works. Seeing both of our teams recognized again by Scuba Diving readers shows how strong that partnership is. Year after year, it gives divers a complete, easy vacation.”
— Niels Van Daalen, Director, LionsDive Beach Resort
With Ocean Encounters on site, LionsDive guests go from breakfast to the dive shop to the boat in minutes. Both properties were again ranked among the best for Quality of Staff.
Curaçao: Caribbean Dive Destination of the Year
The awards build on a strong year for the island. In 2026, the Caribbean Travel Awards named Curaçao Caribbean Dive Destination of the Year. In the 2026 Scuba Diving Readers’ Choice Awards, Curaçao placed 2nd for Shore Diving and 3rd for Best Overall Dive Destination and made the Top 5 for Macro Life and Beginner Diving.
Curaçao lies outside the hurricane belt, so diving is available 365 days a year. Visitors can combine guided boat diving with independent shore diving at more than 38 shore dive and snorkel sites. The island’s reef health is supported by conservation programs including Reef Renewal Foundation Curaçao, Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao, Green Fins and the PADI AWARE Foundation.
Planning an Award-Winning Dive Vacation
Dive Travel Curaçao plans personalized dive vacations at LionsDive Beach Resort with Ocean Encounters. Packages cover accommodation, boat diving, courses, vehicles for shore diving and activities for non-divers. To request a quote, call +1 (855) 650-1558 (USA and Canada) or +5999-699-5297 (Curaçao, call or WhatsApp), email reservations@divecuracao.info, or visit divecuracao.info.
About Ocean Encounters
Ocean Encounters is Curaçao’s largest PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center (IDC), offering multi-day guided boat diving and PADI training from beginner to instructor level at resort bases across the island.
About LionsDive Beach Resort
LionsDive Beach Resort is a 4-star beachfront dive resort on Mambo Beach, Curaçao, with Ocean Encounters on site.
About Dive Curaçao and Dive Travel Curaçao
Dive Curaçao is a leading online resource for scuba diving in Curaçao. Dive Travel Curaçao is a boutique dive travel consultancy based in Willemstad that designs tailor-made scuba diving and snorkeling vacations to Curaçao and Bonaire with a trusted network of partner resorts and dive operators.
