Curaçao Named Caribbean Dive Destination of the Year 2026
Written by Bryan Horne, Dive Curaçao
Curaçao has been crowned Caribbean Dive Destination of the Year at the Caribbean Travel Awards 2026. The island offers over 70 world-class dive sites, calm shore diving, vibrant reefs, and an industry-wide commitment to sustainability that protects both marine life and local livelihoods.
The Caribbean Travel Awards, presented annually by Caribbean Journal, are now in their 12th year and are regarded as the most meaningful benchmark of excellence in Caribbean travel. Winners are nominated and selected exclusively by the publication’s editors, widely recognized as the world’s leading Caribbean travel experts. This year’s awards span 41 categories, celebrating destinations and experiences shaping the future of travel in the region.
Caribbean Tourism Growth Sets the Stage for Dive Travel Leadership
The 2026 awards arrive at a time of strong momentum for the Caribbean travel sector. When final figures are confirmed, more than 35 million travelers are expected to have visited the Caribbean as overnight guests in 2025, representing a 4 percent increase year-over-year and approximately 3 percent growth compared to 2019. An additional 38 million visitors arrived via cruise ships, underscoring the region’s continued global appeal.
As travelers continue to choose the Caribbean for its vibrant cities, world-class beaches, exceptional hotels, unparalleled cuisine, and rich cultural diversity, Curaçao has distinguished itself as a destination where dive tourism plays a central role in economic resilience and community prosperity.
Curaçao Dive Tourism: An Economic Engine for the Island Curaçao’s dive tourism industry is a critical pillar of the island’s economy, supporting a wide ecosystem that includes dive shops, instructors, dive masters, boat operators, equipment suppliers, accommodations, transportation providers, restaurants, and small local businesses.
With over 70 world-class dive sites and dozens of easily accessible shore and boat dives, Curaçao attracts divers year-round. These dive sites are more than natural attractions — they are economic lifelines. Each visiting diver contributes directly to local employment and indirectly to broader community development across the island.
“Despite Curaçao’s surging popularity, its dive offering continues to fly a bit under the radar,” said Alexander Britell, Editor and Publisher of Caribbean Journal. “The reality is that this Dutch Caribbean Island has some of the best diving in the entire region — with over 70 standout sites and excellent dive hotels such as LionsDive Beach Resort and Scuba Lodge & Ocean Suites.”
Sustainability That Protects Jobs and Communities
What sets Curaçao apart within the global dive and travel industry is its leadership in sustainable dive tourism. The island has embraced the understanding that protecting marine ecosystems is inseparable from protecting livelihoods.
Through initiatives such as Reef Renewal Curaçao, Green Fins, and the PADI AWARE Foundation, Curaçao is actively restoring coral reefs, improving reef resilience, and promoting responsible diving practices. These efforts are carried out in close collaboration with Curaçao’s responsible dive industry partners, including Ocean Encounters at LionsDive Beach Resort and Dive Center Pietermaai at Scuba Lodge.
By safeguarding coral reefs and marine life, Curaçao ensures that divers from around the world continue to choose the destination — sustaining demand, protecting jobs, and reinforcing the long-term viability of its dive tourism economy.
Recognition with Global Industry Impact “The Caribbean Travel Awards have emerged as the region’s most meaningful measure of travel distinction, celebrating the destinations and experiences that shape the future of Caribbean travel,” Britell added.
Curaçao’s recognition as Caribbean Dive Destination of the Year sends a clear signal to the global dive and travel industry: sustainability, quality dive experiences, and economic impact can and should go hand in hand.
It’s Time to Dive Curaçao
As the Caribbean Dive Destination of the Year, Curaçao invites dive travelers, tour operators, and industry partners to experience a destination where exceptional diving, environmental stewardship, and economic vitality intersect.
With more than 70 world-class dive sites, a thriving professional dive sector, and a strong commitment to reef protection, Curaçao stands out as the best overall dive vacation destination in the Caribbean for 2026.
Dive in. Support local communities. Experience Curaçao.
All images courtesy of Ocean Encounters.