WILLEMSTAD – A small dive company operating from Spanish Water has brought international recognition to Curaçao after winning the prestigious Tour Innovator Award at the 2026 Arival Spotlight Awards in the United States.
The Little Green Boat, operated by dive instructors and skippers Fabien and Carolyn, received the award on October 14 during the Arival 360 conference in Spokane, Washington. The recognition celebrates innovative tourism experiences that offer visitors new and meaningful ways to discover a destination.
Fabien and Carolyn
For a company run by just two people, the achievement represents an important milestone and an opportunity to showcase Curaçao's underwater beauty to an international audience of tourism professionals.
The Little Green Boat stood out among four finalists in the Tour Innovator category. The award was determined by a panel of five independent experts rather than a public vote.
What makes the company special is its approach to diving and sailing. Instead of simply taking visitors to see coral reefs, Fabien and Carolyn invite them to become explorers, combining marine technology, environmental education, and responsible tourism.
Their philosophy is simple: visitors should not only admire Curaçao's reefs but also understand why they matter and how to protect them.
During private boat excursions, guests can watch the seabed appear in three dimensions through advanced sonar technology. The equipment creates real-time images of underwater formations, coral structures, sand channels, and even schools of fish, allowing visitors to discover what lies beneath the surface without entering the water.
Another unusual experience allows guests to listen to the sounds of the reef through an underwater microphone known as a hydrophone.
Although the ocean may seem silent from above, coral reef ecosystems are filled with sounds produced by marine life. Visitors can hear these underwater sounds directly from the boat and take a recording home as a souvenir.
The company also offers a special nighttime diving experience called The Hidden Glow Show, during which divers use blue lights and yellow filters to discover the fluorescent colors of corals, anemones, and small marine creatures.
Beyond creating memorable experiences, The Little Green Boat encourages visitors to contribute to marine conservation.
Depending on their diving experience, participants can help observe and document underwater conditions, collecting information that may support the work of marine researchers.
The company is also part of the Green Fins network and follows environmentally responsible diving practices, including avoiding contact with marine animals, maintaining appropriate distances, and selecting diving locations with care.
All excursions are private, allowing Fabien and Carolyn to provide personal attention rather than organizing large groups. Activities are available in English and French, with Spanish-language guidance also offered.
The company accommodates beginners as well as experienced divers, with small groups intended to create a more personal experience while reducing pressure on the marine environment.
For Curaçao, the international recognition goes beyond the success of one local business.
The Arival Spotlight Awards attract attention from tourism operators, travel distributors, and industry professionals around the world. Winning the award gives The Little Green Boat an opportunity to introduce Curaçao to visitors and businesses interested in innovative and environmentally responsible travel experiences.
It also highlights the island's potential as a destination where tourism and marine conservation can work together.
Curaçao is already known for its accessible shore-diving locations, coral reefs, sea turtles, and historic shipwrecks. The Little Green Boat adds another dimension by showing visitors how technology and environmental awareness can transform an ordinary excursion into an educational adventure.
For Fabien and Carolyn, the recognition is especially meaningful because it validates an idea they have built their small business around: that every diving experience can contribute to a greater appreciation of the ocean.
The two instructors expressed their gratitude to their guests, partners, and everyone involved in protecting Curaçao's marine environment.
Their motto, “Every dive makes a difference,” reflects the approach that has now earned them international recognition.
From a small operation in Spanish Water to an award ceremony in the United States, The Little Green Boat has demonstrated that innovation in tourism does not necessarily require a large company or a major investment.
Sometimes, it begins with two passionate people, a boat, and a determination to help others see the ocean differently.
And this time, that vision has put Curaçao in the international spotlight.