Bertoncelj et al. describe a 1/100 degree configuration of the CROCO ocean model for the Netherlands Antilles. Using four years of model surface current output combined with Lagrangian particle tracking experiments, they focus on the island of Curaçao and investigate (i) accumulation ‘hotspots’, (ii) intra-island connectivity, and (iii) the potential for nearby islands and the Venezuelan mainland to act as sources of pollutants for Curaçao. I enjoyed reading the manuscript and, assuming the model output is indeed made publicly available prior to publication, I imagine that these data will be valuable more broadly, for a part of the ocean that appears to be somewhat data sparse. I was particularly impressed with the quality of many of the figures. I recommend the manuscript for publication, but would ask the authors to consider the suggestions in the attached supplement, which can be considered as major revisions. These suggestions mainly relate to (i) more rigorous assessment of model hydrodynamics, and (ii) the clarity of some analyses/discussion, particularly relating to scenario 1.

Bertoncelj et al. introduce SCARIBOS, a regional configuration of the CROCO ocean model for the South CARIBbean Ocean System with a kilometre-scale horizontal resolution of 1/100 degree. The authors use four years (2020-2024) of surface velocity fields output by the model to undertake three Lagrangian particle tracking experiments using the OceanParcels framework to explore the surface connectivity of flows surrounding the island of Curaçao. The Lagrangian experiments allow the authors to investigate potential hotspots of marine pollutants around Curaçao, intra-island coastal connectivity, and the connectivity between the Curaçao coast and the neighbouring Aruba, Bonaire, Venezuelan islands, and the Venezuelan mainland. The authors should be commended for the Figures, especially those relating to the Lagrangian analysis, which convey the central findings both clearly and creatively. The manuscript is generally well written, although a more comprehensive description of the numerical modelling approach (including validation), further exploration of the role of mesoscale eddies in driving surface connectivity, and an improved discussion on the limitations and wider relevance of the findings are needed. I would recommend the manuscript for publication subject to major revisions addressing the comments attached below and the excellent suggestions made by Reviewer #1.