Bonaire Lodging

[DiveSooner]

Originally Posted by Kokomo

Bonaire is wonderful. Buddy Dive is a great first place to start. And it is definitely all about shore diving! No schedules. You will have a great time...guarenteed!

Buddy's is great... perfect night dive location as well, nice lit dock and stairwell into the water... say hi to Charlie....

Buddy also has a kids program and hosts the Kids Sea camp, which are looking at for our kids.

[WAHMof2]

Originally Posted by DiveSooner

Buddy also has a kids program and hosts the Kids Sea camp, which are looking at for our kids.

Now this gets my attention! We're wanting to go some place this summer where the kiddos will have fun too, and we love shore diving. I'll definitely look into Bonaire. Thanks!!!

[DiveSooner]

Originally Posted by WAHMof2

Now this gets my attention! We're wanting to go some place this summer where the kiddos will have fun too, and we love shore diving. I'll definitely look into Bonaire. Thanks!!!

Mine will be 9&7 this summer, so it's still a debate on what to do... Let us know what you decide to do.

[dallasdivergirl]

I stayed at Belmar while I was there. It was pretty nice. They are apartments and indvidually owned but are run by the managment there. Stayed in a 2 & 3 bedroom for 3 nights each. The 3 bedroom was pretty large with master on 2nd floor & 2 bed rooms with 2 twins each upstairs. It also had two large bathrooms and a nice size kitchen/living room and balcony overlooking the pool. The 2 bedroom was on the f1st floor with a patio that walked right into the pool. It had double master with one with two twins with a smaller bathroom but with a nice size shower (with out tub). The kitchen/living area was smaller but was adequate.

They also had tanks with air & nitrox available 24/7.

[dbh]

Originally Posted by WAHMof2

Now this gets my attention! We're wanting to go some place this summer where the kiddos will have fun too, and we love shore diving. I'll definitely look into Bonaire. Thanks!!!

I stayed at Buddy's Oct. 2006 & Oct. 2007 (my dive trips are solo). Both trips I have found frogfish on the house reef as well as octopus, reef squid, eels, shrimp, crabs, etc. I did at least half of my dives right there. Buddy's is safe, has good food and Lions den Restaurant (on-site) has excellent food. They have tanks down @ the dock and a drive thru to get tanks.

Buddy's kids program was run by Caroline last time I was there. The kids painted, took snorkeling trips to the mangroves and did other crafts. They probably did more but that was all that I noticed.

If you just rent a house or condo, I am not sure how you get tanks / weights and get your tanks filled during the week. I am not sure if they have security guards either. They may not be needed but make you feel safer.

[DiveSooner]

I believe that the "Buddy's kids program is the same as SSI - Sea Rangers also. But ditto above, they said they try to tailor the program around the childs "level" and "comfort" of the water.

Breezes at Curacao looks like it offers more for kids, but i just can't afford the $$ for the name.

[TRACI]

Are there any areas of Bonaire that should be avoided when renting a house or apartment? Since I have never been to Bonaire, I am not sure if there are neighborhoods that tourists would not want to stay.

[DiveSooner]

Originally Posted by TRACI

Are there any areas of Bonaire that should be avoided when renting a house or apartment? Since I have never been to Bonaire, I am not sure if there are neighborhoods that tourists would not want to stay.

Yes there are area' s that the locals would respect there privacy, and such "low-income" areas, as any place has. I did to a little off the beaten path one evening, I did get some stares, but I didn't feel to threatend. It was just ackward, but not like I was walking thru East LA. I try to be respectful of the locals as anyone should.

[ScubaJW]

I suggest Bonaire Town Homes (Bonaire Town Homes One and Two Bedroom Vacation Apartments). It's not oceanfront, but not far driving to dive sites. Each bungalow has a drying station, rinse hose, kitchen, and etc... They have iron bars on windows and door - so it will be safe. I feel very safe in that place and leaving my dive gear in that place knowing that it's nearly impossible for thieves to steal anything. Beautiful place! I will probably go back to Bonaire for my 3rd trip, using this place for sure!

[DiveSooner]

I just retuned from Bonaire and I asked the qestion to a local real estate agent about forieners buy a house in the "locals" neighborhood. If any animosity or break-in'. The answer was, only against the Dutch, the locals still hold a grudge do to slavery,and they believe that the Dutch still treat them as lessor persons. But for Americans, they are welcomed.

Originally Posted by DiveSooner

Yes there are area' s that the locals would respect there privacy, and such "low-income" areas, as any place has. I did to a little off the beaten path one evening, I did get some stares, but I didn't feel to threatend. It was just ackward, but not like I was walking thru East LA. I try to be respectful of the locals as anyone should.