An Honest Aquafari Tour Curaçao Review for 2025
So, you’ve pretty much heard about Curaçao’s amazing beaches and its brightly colored buildings in Willemstad, right? Well, there’s another kind of activity here that’s a little bit different, something that honestly doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s this thing called the Aquafari tour. Basically, it’s like riding your very own personal submarine, sort of. You get an eco-friendly underwater scooter, and your head, you know, it stays completely dry inside a big air-filled bubble. As a matter of fact, you can even wear your glasses. It’s an idea that’s almost too cool to be real, yet it is. We figured we had to give it a try during our latest trip, just to see if it lived up to what people were saying. This is pretty much our story and a full look at what the 2025 Aquafari experience is genuinely like, from the moment you show up to the second you, sort of, reluctantly come back to shore.
Getting Started and What to Expect Before You Get Wet
Okay, so first things first, showing up for the tour. The Aquafari spot is actually super easy to find, which is a nice start. Right away, the people working there seemed genuinely happy to see us, you know? It wasn’t one of those fake, customer-service smiles; they were actually just friendly island people. We checked in, and honestly, the process was quick. They just wanted to make sure they had our names right and stuff. By the way, there isn’t a ton of paperwork to fill out, which is always a plus in my book. We pretty much just sat in a shaded area with a few other people who were going on the tour with us. At the end of the day, it was a very relaxed and low-stress kind of vibe, not at all rushed or chaotic.
Then came the briefing, and frankly, this part was handled really well. A guide, our guide for the day as a matter of fact, came over and explained everything. He used simple words and a lot of hand signals to show us how the underwater scooters worked. For instance, he showed us the green button for ‘go’ and how to steer. It seemed almost too simple, but that was the whole point, right? He spent a good amount of time on the safety rules, like staying with the group and how to communicate underwater using hand signs. Honestly, his calm attitude made everyone feel a lot more comfortable, especially the few people in our group who seemed a little nervous. He made it clear that a guide would be with us the entire time, so there was really nothing to worry about. They basically give you all the information you need to feel good before you even touch the water.
The Underwater Scooter Experience Itself
Alright, this is the main event. Getting onto the scooter for the first time is a bit of a funny feeling, to be honest. You walk out into the water until it’s about chest-deep, and the staff helps you slide into the scooter from behind. The scooter itself is, you know, sort of floating there. Then they lower the big helmet-bubble-thing over your head. For just a second, it feels a little strange. But then, as a matter of fact, you realize you’re breathing normally. The air is fresh, and you can see everything clearly all around you. It’s a completely unique sensation that is, well, pretty hard to put into words.
Then, it’s time to go. You press that green button, and whoosh, you’re off. It’s not super fast, more like a very gentle forward glide, which is actually perfect. You have almost complete freedom to look around. Steering is incredibly intuitive; you just kind of lean the handlebars left or right. Our guide led the way, and we all followed him in a line, more or less. He was honestly fantastic, constantly pointing things out that we might have missed otherwise. He’d swim over to a piece of coral, make a signal for us to look, and then we’d see some kind of hidden fish. At the end of the day, moving through the water like that, with a 180-degree view of the sea floor and your hair not even getting wet, is just an absolutely surreal and really, really fun experience.
Marine Life and The Underwater Scenery
Of course, the whole point of going underwater is to see what lives there. And you know, the location they use for this tour is clearly picked for a reason. Almost immediately, we were surrounded by little fish that had all sorts of amazing colors on them. There were these really bright yellow ones, some striped ones, and schools of what looked like blue tangs. They genuinely don’t seem to care about the scooters at all. As a matter of fact, they swim right up to your helmet bubble, almost like they’re curious to see who’s inside. It’s like being inside a real-life aquarium, but you are a part of it.
Beyond the smaller fish, the coral formations were, in a way, like tiny underwater cities. There were brain corals that looked just like their name, and some branching corals that reached up towards the surface. The guide pointed out a trumpetfish trying to camouflage itself by hanging vertically next to a sea whip, which was just so clever. We cruised past a sunken boat engine that was pretty much completely covered in new coral growth, which was a very cool sight. The water clarity on that day was amazing, you could honestly see for a really long way. We spent a lot of time just quietly gliding over the reef, sort of taking it all in. The sound is different down there, too—it’s very peaceful, with just the quiet hum of your scooter and the occasional sound of bubbles. It’s just a little bit magical.
Is the Aquafari Tour Good for Everyone?
So, who is this tour really for? Frankly, it has a very wide appeal. For families with older children or teens, it’s an absolute winner. The kids in our group were having the time of their lives, you know? It has that cool, techy-gadget feel but it’s also a nature activity. For people who can’t swim or are, you know, a bit anxious about the water, this is basically a perfect solution. You don’t need to know how to swim at all. The scooter and the helmet do all the work, and you just sit there and breathe normally. It’s a way for non-swimmers to experience the underwater world just like a snorkeler or diver, which is honestly a really big deal.
What about couples or solo travelers? As a couple, it’s a very fun and shared memory to make. You can’t exactly talk to each other down there, but you communicate with looks and pointing, which is sort of fun in its own way. And for a solo person, it’s also great. You’re part of a small, guided group, so you’re not really alone, and the staff makes you feel totally included. Now, for the very experienced scuba divers, will you like it? Well, it depends. If you’re looking for a deep, technical dive, this isn’t it. But, if you’re looking for a totally different, almost whimsical way to spend an hour underwater and just relax without worrying about gear, then yes. It’s more of a novelty ride through a beautiful area, and at the end of the day, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Practical Tips and Final Thoughts for Your 2025 Trip
Okay, so if you’re thinking of doing this, here are a few practical tips. You really just need to show up with your swimsuit on, and bring a towel and some reef-safe sunscreen for before and after. That’s pretty much it. They have lockers there for your stuff, so you don’t have to worry about your wallet or phone. They also offer a photo package, and honestly, you might want to consider it. Taking your own underwater camera is tricky, and their photographer knows how to get the best shots of you on the scooter with fish all around. The pictures from our trip turned out really great. It’s a memory you’ll definitely want to have a picture of.
To be honest, the Aquafari tour was one of the most unique and surprisingly peaceful activities we did in Curaçao. It’s accessible to almost everyone, it’s really well-run, and it gives you a view of the underwater world that is just so different from snorkeling or anything else.
Thinking about the value, it’s not the cheapest activity on the island, but for what you get—a fully guided, safe, and truly one-of-a-kind underwater adventure—it feels worth it. You are basically paying for an experience that you almost can’t get anywhere else. It’s one of those things you’ll still be talking about long after your vacation is over. So, if it fits your budget, it’s a strong yes from us.
Quick Takeaways for Aquafari Curaçao
- You absolutely do not need to be a swimmer to enjoy this tour.
- The whole thing feels very safe, thanks to the thorough briefing and attentive guides.
- You stay completely dry from the shoulders up, so you can wear glasses and your hair stays dry.
- The marine life is right there, often swimming right up to your scooter.
- It’s a fantastic option for families with teens or for people who are a bit nervous about traditional snorkeling.
- Consider getting the photo package, as it’s pretty hard to capture the moment yourself.
Read our full review: Aquafari Tour Curaçao 2025 Full Review and Details
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