Bonaire Trip report (long)

[Zenagirl]

Thank you for all the compliments. My husband is the photographer and he does a nice job.

Yes, we have our own camera and strobe. It's a Sea&Sea DX8000 camera (discontinued), and I have to say that Tim at Fish Eye Photo really taught my husband how to use it to it's fullest advantage. That knowledge, combined with the new strobe (and wide angle lens) that we bought from Tim made a big difference.

I'd really recommend a photo course with Tim for anyone who is serious about wanting to improve their uw photography, and it doesn't have to be the 2-day specialty, a 1-day course would be excellent too. Tim is a graduate of photography school in the Netherlands and honed his photography skills topside before venturing under the water. He's an excellent teacher and photographer and we look forward to returning for an "advanced beginner" course next year.

We actually did NOT see any seahorses on this trip (which I'm disappointed about). We did the Town Pier as a daytime dive with Tim and he wasn't our "DM" or guide, we were just diving together. Had I known there were reports of 2-3 Seahorses at Town Pier, we would all have been looking for them, but I understand they are much easier to find at night (like the frog fish).

Our frog fish were found on Bari Reef, and they were there the entire 2 weeks. The female seemed pregnant, which is likely since the male was hanging around waiting for her to spawn.

It was an amazing trip and we're looking forward to returning next summer...but first we have 13 days on Maui to look forward to.

[harb99]

thanks for the trip report - I am working on ours - we stayed at the Sand Dollar July 12 - 19 and had a great time.

How did you like the Den Laman Condos?

[Zenagirl]

Originally Posted by harb99

thanks for the trip report - I am working on ours - we stayed at the Sand Dollar July 12 - 19 and had a great time.

How did you like the Den Laman Condos?

I'm looking forward to reading your report and hearing what you thought of Sand Dollar. Sorry we missed you on the island.

We LOVED the Den Laman condos...so much that we're booked for 2 weeks next year. We particularly liked how close we were to the gear room, dive shop, photo shop, tank loading area, parking lot, and pier. It was so easy and convenient to literally grab our stuff as we were either walking out to the pier to dive Bari Reef or out to the truck to shore dive somewhere.

Our condo was extremely comfortable, modern, clean, well laid out, and quiet. Since all the units are on the 2nd and 3rd floors, we were able to confidently leave items on our balcony unsupervised. You also needed a key to get into the stairs for the condos, so that was an extra layer of security as well.

[BoomerNJ]

Thanks for the great report. I think I am going to have to work 2 full time jobs just to support all the dive trips I want to take next year. Of course then I won't have the time...

[JimHar99]

Thanks for the great report and the great pics. I was there in June and now you've made me want to start planning my return trip.

[Travelnsj]

Great trip report. Excellent pics thought the best pic was of the Peacock Flounder. Looks like you had good vis.....Perhaps next summer I may venture there.

[Sansho]

Very nice trip report - thanks for taking the time to write it up!

[harb99]

Originally Posted by Zenagirl

I'm looking forward to reading your report and hearing what you thought of Sand Dollar. Sorry we missed you on the island.

Still working on the trip report - just have not had much time with work - the Sand Dollar was a bit on the older side of what I expected - it was fairly clean and we had maid service every day - for the price I did not think it was too bad - it looks like they have not done much with the landscaping in quite awhile which is disappointing, b/c it would not take much to make the court yard over looking the ocean very nice and appealing. I will try to expand more in my trip report, but I would stay there again b/c I liked Bari Reef and BDA was very easy to use for diving

Since we were part of a group of around 20, it was nice to see everyone at the breakfast buffet at Eddies by the pool to get diving plans worked out - we were not happy that the bar/restaurant overlooking the ocean (under Den Laman) was closed and only went to the bar by the pool with cups from the room to get rum punch for my wife