Our philosophy
At Porto Mari Sports we believe that every dive is a new adventure. Whether you’re an experienced diver or just starting out, our team is ready to guide and inspire you. Our unique location on the most beautiful beach in Curaçao offers not only breathtaking views, but also a rich underwater world waiting to be discovered. From colorful coral reefs to fascinating marine life, every dive is an opportunity to learn and experience something new. We regularly organize special events and diving excursions, so you can explore the beauty of the ocean with your buddy or with our dive professionals. Join our dive community and be part of an unforgettable experience that you won’t want to miss.
We are a full-service dive school and offer a complete range of diving courses, from an introduction dive or open water course for beginners to professional divemaster and assistant instructor courses for those who want to become pros. We are focused on personal attention and like to keep our groups small. Of course you can also contact us for a guided dive or a dive trip (from the shore or by boat) or for renting snorkeling and diving equipment at competitive prices.
We look forward to welcoming you to our dive center and exploring the wonders of the ocean together.
The double reef with the valley
At Playa Porto Mari, an unforgettable diving experience awaits you on our impressive double house reef, also known as “The Valley”. This unique reef is perfect for both beginner and experienced divers looking for adventure and beauty beneath the waves.
The first reef is a stone’s throw from the beach and starts just behind the raft. On our detailed map you can explore the reef (in brown) and the sandy plains (in yellow) with the different depths. This vast area offers plenty of opportunities for multiple dives, allowing you to explore at your own pace. Be enchanted by the rich variety of underwater flora and fauna. You can regularly come face to face with majestic spotted eagle rays or the beautiful green and hawksbill sea turtles. For the lovers of macrolife, there are also small wonders to discover, such as the colorful flamingo tongue, cute seahorses or the mysterious frogfish.
With an average water temperature of 25 to 30°C (77 to 86°F), crystal clear visibility and minimal current, you are guaranteed a comfortable and relaxed diving experience. Immerse yourself in the wonderful underwater world and let the beautiful coral reefs and the unique biodiversity of Curaçao amaze you.
The beach and its surroundings
Playa Porto Mari offers all the facilities to make your diving experience as pleasant as possible. You can park your car safely in our guarded car park. In addition, sinks, toilets and showers are available. You can comfortably set up your diving equipment and let it dry after diving. In between dives, we invite you to relax in the bar or restaurant for a refreshing drink or a tasty meal. We look forward to welcoming you to this beautiful dive site.
The surroundings of Porto Mari offer not only brilliant diving opportunities, but also countless ways to relax and explore. Go in search of the famous pigs, for example, visit the watchtower and be enchanted by the breathtaking sunsets. On the way to Porto Mari or back to your holiday address, make a photo stop at the church of Sint-Willibrordus or at the flamingos of Jan Kok. And also consider stopping at Marfa’s Good Hangout for a goat burger opposite the Williwood letters.
Meet our team
At Porto Mari Sports we have a diverse team of highly qualified instructors and divemasters who will offer you a unique diving experience.
Our team consists of four to five experienced instructors and two or three divemasters, whom we train ourselves. Together we speak six languages: Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish and Portuguese, so we can communicate with divers of all backgrounds.
Our instructors are experts in diving and create a professional, friendly atmosphere. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, our team will guide and inspire you to explore the underwater world. We look forward to welcoming you for a great diving experience!
Hi, I’m Sander. I have been working at Porto Mari Sports for the longest time, since 2017. Sinds 2021 ben ik ook instructeur. I come from Dronten (Flevoland) and used to work as an IT professional.
After a blue Monday as an underwater photographer and videographer, I ended up at Porto Mari Sports and never left. I am now an SSI Divemaster Instructor. I am also the equipment specialist of the team: so you can contact me for all your technical questions about your diving equipment. I can also give you the equipment specialist or the underwater photography course.
After all these years, I still prefer to dive at Porto Mari’s house reef. I would like to show you the smaller marine life on Porto Mari and tell you about the behavior of, for example, the mantis shrimp or the frogfish.
Hello. My name is Ariane, but everyone calls me Ari. People say that I am a cheerful, positive, dynamic, friendly but also strict person. I like to adapt my lessons to the needs and personality of my clients.
I am from Quebec, Canada, speak French and English, have basic knowledge of Spanish and am currently learning Dutch. I first worked as a divemaster in the cold and dark waters of Quebec and also for a few months as an instructor in Honduras (Roatan). I arrived in Curaçao in 2022 and immediately fell in love with the island, and also with my future (now current) Dutch husband!
I am an SSI Divemaster Instructor and specialize in adaptive/classified diving. I also have a background in special education. Whatever special need you have, I am enthusiastically dedicated to take you underwater in a safe and fun way. I also like to teach at pro levels and specialties such as independent or self-reliant diving, wreck diving and deep diving. With great pleasure I offer to take you on a magnificent experience that is scuba diving!
Hi. I am Kasper and have been with Porto Mari Sports since 2019, first as an instructor and since late 2020 also as a manager/owner. In a previous life, I pursued an academic career as a sociolinguist/anthropologist specializing in multilingualism in West Africa. What I have taken with me from that background in language studies, is that I teach scuba diving in six languages: Dutch, English, Spanish, German, French and Portuguese.
I am an SSI Assistant Instructor Trainer. This means that I can train you to become an assistant instructor and that I can also assist in training instructors at ITCs. I like to explain dive theory to beginning dive professionals (our divemaster candidates), but I also still very much enjoy taking people underwater for the first time during an introduction dive. You can also come to me for a deep dive or sidemount course.
I am a father of two teenage kids – who also dive – and together with my wife Caroline I also run Annidas Sambuyá Studios and Apartments in Julianadorp.
Hi there. I’m Merlijn, the newest diving instructor in Porto Mari. I come from the Dordrecht area and the Hoekse Waard in the Netherlands, but I am also very fond of traveling and have for instance crossed Africa from the east to the west coast by train and bus.
After working as a nurse for several years, I decided to change course and came to Curaçao in 2024 to work in the diving industry. In a few months I went “from zero to hero” and became an SSI dive instructor. With my nursing background, I find the medical aspects of diving very interesting and I love to teach React Right First Aid courses or Diver Stress & Rescue courses. I also find the work around the compressor and air quality monitoring interesting.
I would love to be your dive instructor. Are you ready for an amazing underwater journey with me?
Hi! We are the enthusiastic faces of the dive guides and divemasters who have been proudly trained at Porto Mari Sports over the past few years. We are adventurers from 17 years old to 60+ years young and come from the Netherlands, Germany, England, France, Argentina, Canada and the United States. Some of us were here for a short adventure of 4 to 6 weeks, while others joined us for 4 to 6 months.
Together, we have countless inspiring stories to share. Whether you’re doing an internship, taking a sabbatical from work or school, or looking to start a new career in the diving industry, we’ve got you covered. And who knows, maybe you’ll become the next instructor in our team!
Do you feel the call of adventure? Contact us and discover the possibilities to make your dream come true as a divemaster in training!
Bondia, I’m Roef. After a career as an F16 pilot with the Royal Netherlands Air Force and as a captain at KLM, I just started a third career at Porto Mari Sports in 2023. With 40+ years of diving experience around the world and frequent trips to Curaçao for an equal period, I now have the honor of being the youngest dive instructor on the team… I divide my time between North Holland and Bandabou Curaçao and can be found regularly at Porto Mari throughout the year. I am also active in the owner’s association of Coral Estate. I am married to a Yu di Korsou, father of two daughters and have recently become a grandfather too. To be clear: I am not the owner of the dive school, but I will respond nonetheless if you address me that way.
Hello. My name is Lyanca, and I am also one of the faces of Porto Mari Sports. I come from the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands, and in the winter months (November-February) I am often in Curaçao for a few months. While working remotely on our transport company, I make sure that I also have some time left for diving instruction and guiding. In addition to diving, I’m also an enthusiast of equestrianism in all its forms. As far as diving is concerned, I like to be active underwater and am dedicated to BRANCH’s coral restoration projects. You can come to me for an Open Water course, but also for an independent/self-reliant course, invasive species management (lionfish hunting) or for coral restoration.
Ola. I’m Thomas, one of the seasonal forces of Porto Mari Sports. I divide my time between the Caribbean and the Pyrenees, with a mandatory stopover in the Netherlands on each way. I am not only a diving instructor, but also a ski instructor in Andorra, the microstate between France and Spain. Being half Chilean through my mum, I speak fluent Spanish in addition to Dutch and English. I have a soft spot for turtles or maybe turtles have a soft spot for me, because when you go diving with me you are almost guaranteed to encounter turtles. I can usually be found in Curaçao in the summer months from June to September.