CURACAO NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
From: Habitat Curacao-The Freedom Journal Hi Phil,
From all your friends at Habitat Curacao we hope you enjoy this month's newsletter.
Just to let you know, the Freedom Journal Staff (all 1 of us) will be off-islnd until the
7th of May. Please go ahead and play the contest and I'll let you know your ranking when
I return. Happy Diving!
THE "FREEDOM JOURNAL"
APRIL FOOLERY
Wow, did we have fun this month!
The Diving "Dee-vas" ladies quite successfully turned the Manager's Cocktail Party in to a
giant pool party. Divemaster Didric (Dr. D's) identical twin brother Cedric (Dr. C?) came to
work for us over the Easter week and the two of them sure kept divers guessing onboard Oso
Blanco. Double the fun! Not to be out-done with foolery, Mike from the Scuba Enterprises
group found himself a large green iguana and hid it in his friends room to give them a little
surprise. Did he know that in local folklore iguana is said to be an aphrodisiac? Even
underwater tales abounded of a 15 ft Hammerhead at Mushroom Forest, Dolphins at Rif Bay, and a
4ft Remora at Seldom who took a liking to one fellow in a lime green wetsuit. How about a
larger than life 3D frogfish? Sure, if you caught special guest Ed Jamieson's 3D slideshow and
sported a set of the latest Habitat Dive Resorts 3D glasses.
CONTEST MANIA!
Yes, its contest mania again this month as we dug deep into our poetic thoughts and dove our
shoredive "Nos Kas" searching for a creature to inspire the latest riddle. With apologies to
William Shakespeare, here is what we saw....
To flee or not to flee, that is the question.
Whether tis nobler to remain motionless, camouflaged on the sandy bottom,
Or raise up my lone pectoral fin and glide away from a sea of troubles?
Winning is no trouble. If you think you can identify our confused friend send your guess to
divecuracao@habitatdiveresorts.com. All correct guesses will be entered into a draw to win a
week of FREE accommodation and unlimited diving here in the year 2000 compliments of HABITAT
CURACAO and Maduro Dive Fanta-Seas. Plus, the first correct guess will not only win a stylish
Habitat Curacao t-shirt but will also earn TWO entries into the draw! Congratulations to Terri
Dold of Cape Coral, Florida who was the #1 correct guess in April with Slipper Lobster. The
draw will be held right here at our own Sharky's Restaurant at the stroke of midnight during
our Millennium New Year's Eve Party and announced in the January 2000 issue of the "Freedom
Journal." Have fun and Good Luck!
GET TO KNOW US
Its been a long flight to get to Curacao; you're hot, tired, and you just want to get to
your
room. First stop to welcome you to Habitat Curacao is the front desk where 1000's of visitors
from around the world have been greeted with a smile and the warm Antillean hospitality of
Front Desk Supervisor Iveline Martien. Hailing from our neighboring village of Willibrordus,
Iveline has been with Habitat Curacao since day one. As Front Desk Supervisor she oversees a
staff of 5 friendly professionals who follow her credo of "Always giving service with a smile
to all people no matter where they're coming from. That's the best we can do for everyone and
ourselves." And in her quest to serve our guests even better, Iveline (who already speaks
English, Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamentu) has joined with General Manager Albert, Reservations
Manager Chantal, Restaurant Manager Asheline, and Accountant Jovita, to take German classes!
Here's her special message to our many German friends:
"Herzlich willkomen im Habitat. Mein Name ist Iveline, Ich wuensche Ihnen einen angnehmen
Aufenthalt."
FLOWERS, FITNESS, and FLAMINGOS
Every Friday morning, Reservations Manager Chantal leads an energetic and informative 3 hour
hike around the nearby hills, salt pond, and coastline. The energetic part is the climb up to
the security gate and atop a cliff with an unparalleled view of the local village, the salt
pond, the rolling countryside, and historic Landhouse Rif. Following the trail down towards
Landhouse Rif nature abounds in the form of multiple types of Candle Cactuses, blooming Aloes,
20ft tall Century Plants, and a special treat during April and May; the Kibrahacha Tree. The
name Kibra (break) hacha (axe) in the local Papiamentu language comes from the fact that the
wood is so hard it will break an axe that tries to cut it. The beautiful thing about this tree
is after 10 months of dormancy, just a sprinkle of rain will set it ablaze with bright yellow
flowers that punctuate the green along the entire southwestern coast of Curacao.
The walk continues through Landhouse Rif where, although abandoned now, it is easy to feel the
grandeur that Plantation Owners lived in during the 18th and 19th centuries here. Finally
passing along the back of the salt pond, you'll pass congregations of bright pink Caribbean
Flamingos who make their home in the pond feeding on small snails and larvae before meeting the
coast again overlooking the divesite "Seldom". The lighthouse on the point guides ships into
nearby Bullenbaai and the well traveled trail takes thirsty hikers back to Habitat to do
another dive and cool off. Its a fantastic hike for all ages. Remember to bring lots of film,
comfortable shoes, and water to drink.
GROUP GRATITUDES
How would you like to come to Habitat Curacao as part of your High School experience? The
Sir
John Scuba Club did just that bringing Marine Biology students all the way from the Northwest
Territories of Canada. Mike the iguana guy brought his group from Scuba Enterprises of Ohio.
The Sea Lab Group divided their time between diving and watching the Atlanta Braves on TV here
at Sharky's Bar, not to mention leaving us some very cool hats. Thanks gang! Underwater
Phantaseas from Colorado returned with many guests who'd joined us last year during the solar
eclipse. Good thing the diving is great everyday in Curacao because the next eclipse won't
happen here for another 500 years! Thanks also to the Diving Dee-vas from Atlanta, D & R Group
from Pennsylvania, Eisenbart Group from Washington State, plus the many individuals, like five
time repeat visitor Karen M. of Cincinnati, who made April so much fun.
Reef Care Curacao joined with Photo Pro Chris to put on a highly entertaining and educational
slideshow covering their ongoing reef monitoring programs and highlighting the upcoming Coral
Spawning. See the Upcoming Events section for more details on the Coral Spawning events
planned for this October.
UPCOMING EVENTS
There are so many fun things happening on Curacao this year. Here are the events we're proud to
be a part of:
May 8-24th- Dine & Dive Around Program. Purchase a coupon book on-island for great discounts
on diving and dining at many local establishments including HABITAT CURACAO.
August 1-31st- HABITAT CURACAO Photo Month with seminars, weekly prizes, and camera try-outs.
September 1-30th- HABITAT CURACAO "Get on the Gas" 1/2 price on all Nitrox tanks and
instruction.
October 1-3rd- Coral Spawning Event with contests, special night dives, and the chance to
participate in the research of Reef Care Curacao.
October 30,31st & November 1st- Coral Spawning Event with contests, special night dives, and
the chance to participate in the research of Reef Care Curacao.
Write to us at divecuracao@habitatdiveresorts.com if you'd like more information about the
Coral Spawning Event.
December 24th- Christmas Eve Feast & Festivities.
December 25th- Christmas Day Feast & Festivities.
December 26th- Boxing Day Holiday.
December 31st- Last Day of the 2nd Millennium!! Party with us at Sharky's.
January 1st 2000- Announcement of the Riddle Contest winner (Y2K bug permitting.)
CONTACT US!
Don't be shy, we'd love to hear from you.
Contest guesses, story suggestions, messages to the divestaff, write to The Freedom Journal
at divecuracao@habitatdiveresorts.com
Specific dive questions, requests, schedules, contact Dive Operations Manager Mike Stafford
at mike@habitatdiveresorts.com
Hotel related requests, meetings, special events, contact General Manager Albert Romijn at
albert@habitatdiveresorts.com
We also have a wonderful website http://www.habitatdiveresorts.com
HAVE A MAGNIFICENT MAY!
Date: Saturday, 01 May 1999
Subject: May Newsletter
HABITAT CURACAO
May 1999