O.K. here it is...Bonaire trip report...

[georoc01]

Originally Posted by dinger340

Thanks for the report, my wife and I leave for our first trip to Bonaire on May 13 and the wait has been almost unbearable...Really looking forward to it and your descriptions eased some apprehensions...

I know the feeling. I am heading down with a group May 10-17th..Staying at Divi Flamingo..

[azdiver]

I'm heading down there on June 21 with a small group... also staying at Divi.

There's a chance that one couple may have to cancel... husband had surgery and isn't recouping as well as hoped for. If anyone is interested in going (assuming they cancel) please PM me for info and pricing. They might be willing to sell at a slight discount rather than lose most of it as they didn't purchase insurance.

[lmorin]

Originally Posted by Zenagirl

You'll need to check with each dive shop to find out if there's any fee for diving the reef. I believe many of them simply ask you to check in with no charge for using the facilities. I was told that Bonaire Dive and Adventure doesn't charge to dive Bari Reef for instance......

True. We were recently at Sand Dollar, diving with BDA. It is also clear that there are a variety of access points to the various dive sites. In the case of BDA and Bari reef, there is a vacant lot next to Den Leman/BDA and a number of trucks pulled in there, disgorging divers onto the southern end of Bari.

[skippy11]

Thanks for sharing your trip report. I enjoy reading about others vacation experience. It helps guide us in making future plans. THanks, Again.

[TX1Chica]

Ok. So their may be a fee. I think "Tracy" got the book, so we'll have to read up on the site's before we go.

[DiveSooner]

One time $25 marine park fee, you pay at orientation...

No further fees for diving at any of the dives, all are open* with out further fees... *except Town/Salt Piers-you have to pay for a DM to go with you and schedule the dive time.

[boates]

Originally Posted by DiveSooner

One time $25 marine park fee, you pay at orientation...

No further fees for diving at any of the dives, all are open* with out further fees... *except Town/Salt Piers-you have to pay for a DM to go with you and schedule the dive time.

One other note about the piers, the piers are under protection (due to 9/11), you now have to present your passport/id ahead of time for approval/clearance to do the prearranged/guided dives.

[herman]

Originally Posted by TX1Chica

Ok. So their may be a fee. I think "Tracy" got the book, so we'll have to read up on the site's before we go.

The only one I am aware of that charges a fee to use their docks is Capt Dons. All do ask you check in with their dive shop. Some other places, the Plaza for one, charges for use of their beach chairs if your not a guest, fair IMO. Unless there is some real reason to dive at a resort other than your own, I really don't see the need to even to bother with the possible exception of doing a "drift" dive by entering at one resort and exiting at another. There are plenty of non resorts sites and they tend to be less crowded.

[bostondiveguy]

We were in Bonaire last year and stayed at the Divi. We did dive Buddy's Reef and 18th Palm at the Plaza. No charge. Just had to check in with their dive shop and let them know we weren't guests. They were completely cool with us visiting.

But with all the dive sites on the island, if you don't want to pay the hotel a fee, just jump in the car and go somewhere else. There are so many great dive sites.

[BBruton]

We went to Bonaire last summer and it was a great time. As I recall, we just asked at Captain Don's and they didn't charge us anything to dive off of their pier.

My favorite dive of the whole place was Oil Slick. The giant stride off of the rocks is probably 10 feet up or so and it a thrilling way to start a dive. No double reefs at Oil Slick like the ones at the other end of the island, but the dive sites around Oil Slick get a little less pressure. Red Beryl was another very nice shore dive there.

If you go, don't miss the donkey sanctuary. Doesn't sound like much, but you'll laugh for a solid hour. they're just the coolest.

BKB