CURACAO NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
From: Habitat Curacao-The Freedom Journal Thanks Phil, for being a part of our first great year!
THE "FREEDOM JOURNAL"
1 YEAR OLD ALREADY!
I guess the saying really is true: "Time flies when you're having fun!" It was July of last
year when the premiere issue of The Freedom Journal made it's debut with the line "It's our aim
to keep in touch with all our friends, talk to future dive buddies, and keep everyone
entertained with stories, tips, and activities from the home of 'Diving Freedom' on sunny
Curacao." As we dive into our second year, the aim remains the same and we look forward to
sharing the fun with you each month. So here goes.....
MYSTERY MORAY
Lately, it seems, there have been a slew of sightings of an unusual pale blue Moray Eel on
night dives here at our own Nos Kas reef. The shape of the moray resembled a Green Moray but
it was thinner through the body. This writer even saw the "Mystery Moray" catch a 4 inch
Wrasse in it's jaws and then wiggle about madly as if trying to decide just how to ingest the
darn thing! Well, our thanks to readers Roger & Robin Kozlik who, out of the blue, decided to
write and tell us about their own "Mystery Moray" sighting a few months back. In all their
years of diving they had never seen one either and finally were able to identify the
Many-toothed Conger Eel from the Paul Humann Reef Identification Series video. It's not even
in the book. Hopefully it won't be such a mystery to identify the creature described in this
month's fish riddle!
SOLVE AND WIN!
Congratulations to Steven Weinberg of the tiny European nation of Luxembourg who was the first
to correctly identify the Octopus in June's riddle. One person actually thought we were
describing our GM Albert Romijn!? The rules of this contest are pretty simple: The 1st person
who correctly identifies the critter in the riddle wins a Habitat Curacao t-shirt and TWO
entries into the draw this month. All other correct answers win ONE entry into the draw this
month. The draw is for one week of accommodation and unlimited diving for two here at Habitat
Curacao and will be held at the stroke of midnight during our Millennium New Year's Eve
Celebration and announced in the January 2000 issue of The Freedom Journal.
"I'm that certain kind of fish,
Send your guess to divecuracao@habitatdiveresorts.com
NEW PADI SPECIALTY?
Watch out PADI, you're going to be getting a number of applications for Habitat Curacao's
newest specialty dive: GOAT RESCUE! Yes, the 15 members of the Kunuku Divers Group performed a
daring rescue of a goat that had fallen off a cliff near Westpoint. Just before jumping in for
their first dive they saw the little guy take a tumble and decided to head over and fetch him
out of the brink. With Capt. Cecil at the helm, Dr.D jumped in the water and swam our dazed
goat over to Freedom Diver II where the Kunuku Group lifted him aboard, warmed him up and dried
him off before returning him safely to shore. Well done gang!
GROOVY GROUP GRATITUDES
I'll explain the "groovy" part in a second. First, we certainly want to say Masha Danki
(that's Papiamentu for Thank You) to all the terrific people who dove with us this past month.
Divers came from countries far and wide including Germany, Canada, Brazil, Holland, England,
and the US. We also welcomed the Kunuku (Goat Rescuing) Group from New Jersey, Scuba Quest of
New York State, The Dive Shop from Arkansas, Helms Group of Texas, and the lively Eagle Ray
Dive Center bunch from Florida who grooved the night away during their Friday night Beach BBQ
to the rhythms provided by our own "Dr. DJ!" Even the infamous "Crabby Traveler" enjoyed his
diving with us. Check out his report for at
ABC News online on Curacao
DIVE & DANCE WITH "DR. D"
Divemaster Dedric "Dr. D" Koffy may have to change his moniker to "Dr. DJ" pretty soon.
Everytime we let this guy near a microphone he has people up and dancing. Born and raised in
the historic Otrobanda section of Curacao Didric (and his identical twin brother Cedric) began
diving at the age of 16. In addition to his diving talents Didric is also a swim coach and
enjoys many sports such as soccer, baseball, badminton, and weight lifting. At the age of 34
he speaks 4 languages (English, Spanish, Dutch, & Papiamentu) and is busy learning German!
After living in Holland for 3 1/2 years Didric's love of the water brought him back to Curacao
in 1997 and he's been with us since opening day. Although Didric does more diving, dancing,
and swimming after fallen goats than writing he always loves to receive e-mail at
drddiver@hotmail.com.
MAGNIFICENT MURAL
The next time you slide up to our Sharky's Bar for a cool cocktail, take a look overhead and
enjoy a 360 degree panorama of beautiful underwater scenes. Air brushed over a 2 week visit by
Peter Evers and his apprentice Joop van der Velden of Holland, one could spend hours admiring
the detail painted into each colorful coral, delicate anemone, and schools of fish. The
centerpiece is, of course, a Caribbean Reef Shark just tempting you to order one of bartender
Evi's famous "Blue Shark" cocktails. The artists hope to return next year to add even more to
it and may be auditioning for Mermaid models!
ISLAND ACTIVITIES
Believe it or not, Habitat Curacao isn't the only place on Curacao where exciting things are
happening. All around the island people are celebrating the 500th year of the discovery of
Curacao with a Jazz Festival, Tall Ships Event, Concerts, Art Shows, and Parties. At Habitat
we're excited about the upcoming Photo Month, Nitrox Month, and Coral Spawning. The following
list highlights some of the events taking place on our sunny island this year:
(Dates are subject to change without notice)
July 2nd - Curacao Flag Day with parades, ceremonies, and cultural events in Otrobanda and the
village of Barber.
August - HABITAT CURACAO Photo Month with seminars, weekly prizes, and camera try-outs.
September - HABITAT CURACAO "Get on the Gas" 1/2 price on all Nitrox tanks and instruction.
September 26th - October 2nd - Curacao Tourism Week sponsored by the Curacao Dept. of Tourism.
October 1 - 2nd - Curacao Jazz Festival with local and international jazz stars including The
Dirty Dozen from New Orleans, Latin Jazz Crew from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela & the US, The
Bronx Horns, Argentinian Luis Salinas, and many more.
For more information on the 1999 Coral Spawning, contact The Freedom Journal at
divecuracao@habitatdiveresorts.com
November 1st - Last day of the Coral Spawning.
December 6th - St. Nicholas Day for children.
January 1st 2000 - Announcement of the Fish Riddle Contest Winner in The Freedom Journal.
HAVE A JOLLY JULY!
Habitat Dive Resorts Website: http://www.habitatdiveresorts.com
The Freedom Journal: divecuracao@habitatdiveresorts.com
Date: Thursday, 01 July 1999
Subject: Anniversary Issue - July Newsletter
1ST ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
HABITAT CURACAO
July 1999
that's so cute you want to squish.
But if you take me in your hand,
I'll prick you as I expand!"
Good Luck!
August 6 - 7th - Curacao Salsa Festival with international performers.
August 17th - 1795 Slave Uprising Anniversary Celebrations.
September 1 - 3rd - Curacao Travel Expo 500 at the World Trade Center
October 1 - 3rd - HABITAT CURACAO Coral Spawning Event with contests, special night dives, and the
chance to participate in the research of Reef Care Curacao.
October 10th - Miss Curacao Pageant
October 21st - Antillean Day. An official holiday celebrating the unity of the 5 islands of the
Netherlands Antilles.
October 28 - 31st - Sail Curacao 500. Tall ships from around the world will sail into Willemstad
Harbor as part of our 500th anniversary celebrations. Check http://www.curacao500.an for more
details.
October 30, 31st & November 1st - HABITAT CURACAO Coral Spawning Event with contests, special
night dives, and the chance to participate in the research of Reef Care Curacao.
November 5th - Caribbean Tourism Day.
December 25th - Christmas Day Holiday.
December 26th - Boxing Day Holiday.
December 31st - Last Day of the 2nd Millennium!!