Need Comments about Bonaire

[kroorda]

Hi Everyone, My wife and I are thinking about going to Bonaire. We've heard that the diving is great there, but that the accomodations, restaurants, and 'going diving' are sort of a hassle. I sure would like your comments, recommendations, or warnings about places to stay in Bonaire. Thanks so much.
Kent

[tarheeldiver]

Originally Posted by kroorda

Hi Everyone, My wife and I are thinking about going to Bonaire. We've heard that the diving is great there, but that the accomodations, restaurants, and 'going diving' are sort of a hassle. I sure would like your comments, recommendations, or warnings about places to stay in Bonaire. Thanks so much.
Kent

Buddy Dive was great

[ladyfish]

Not sure what you mean. There are lots of places to eat, from very inexpensive, to expensive/fancy. The island is really nice, and if you rent a truck, you can eat and dive anywhere.

Diving is as easy as drive to the beach, gear up and go dive. The reefs are right off-shore, and there are so many places to dive, that you won't be able to see them all in a week.

If you are both divers, you will probably love it! It's my favorite dive location so far!

[diversteve]

Originally Posted by kroorda

Hi Everyone, My wife and I are thinking about going to Bonaire. We've heard that the diving is great there,

It is but mostly small stuff. The biggest things we saw all week were turtles, moray eels and the occasional tarpon. But the sheer profusion of soft corals and small animals makes up for that. Expect to see seahorses, squid, frogfish etc.

but that the accomodations,

Accommodations range from affordable small houses and condos to a 5-star resort. A lot of the waterfront properties are diveresorts. Just about everybody has a drive/dive package through an affiliated diveop - at a discount.

Some have been there for decades: Buddy Dive, Sand Dollar, Capt' Don's Habitat and the Plaza and while often refurbished, do show their age. Buddy seems to make an ongoing effort to keep things nice - they recently purchased the adjacent Lions Dive(condos) resort and I know they were refurbished in 2004.

Most of the north properties are on ironshore so beachfront isn't a word I'd use to describe them.

Harbour Village is the 5-star resort on nice sandy beaches with diving offshore. The Plaza is a bigger resort, hotel rooms, condos, a beach, a full-service dive operation on-site etc. Den Laman is a new condo option that's right on Bari Reef, one of the better dive sites, with Bonaire Dive/Adventure there. Eden Beach is next door, don't know much about it. Except they have a waterfront bar we visited...They just announced a Hilton being built by 2010.

restaurants,

Most restaurants run on island time. So that means service can be slow and since they consider you their guests - no one will bring a check until asked for it - sometimes repeatedly. And the servers for the most part aren't rude, they're shy. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. Food is better than average, highlights for us were Casablanca, Zee Zicht, It Rains Fishes, and Donna/Giorgios for outdoor pizza/pasta.

and 'going diving' are sort of a hassle.

Define "hassle" -Most of the south sites are a walk out over the ironshore which can be hard to negotiate all geared up - it's just below the surface, in the surf zone, sharp and slippery.

But some sites have nice sandy beaches or little breaks in the ironshore. Some of the north sites are similar. I fell down at Angel City and have a 4" scar on my shin because of it, but I was stupid and didn't heed the warnings about buying good treaded boots. There's coral rubble even on the good entries, so it's easy to slip. Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy supposedly details entry points at a lot of the sites, I've never read it...

One of the "hassles" on Bonaire is the petty theft problem at remote sites. The rental agencies warn not to leave anything in the truck and the windows down. Believe them!!!

But most trucks are 4 door so pile gear loose on the backseats and just take water. Tanks go in the back since no one steals them. After BMP orientation, you'll never need to show a c-card again since you'll have the BMP tag. I dove all week with a couple of $20's and a CC plus the room key in a case around my neck.

And unless you go up north into Slagbaii park or south by the Lighthouse, you're no further than 15-20 mins. from your resort - most are along the main road - if you need something.

There was a recent post on SB about recent arrests and property that was recovered, so it may be a non-issue now.

One other thing you can do on Bonaire is dive the resorts. Almost all of them are on known divesites. After I hurt myself, we did that for a day or two and had some great dives. Two I recommend are Bari Reef off Den Laman and Cliff/LaMachaca off Capt' Dons.

We stayed at BelMar condos in Belnem. They're clean, pretty new, it's a smaller, quieter property with a pool and divedock within 40' of your room. Downstairs condos have their own dive lockers, upstairs store gear at the diveshop. The units themselves have Dutch fixtures so no d/w, not much of a stove (cooktop only) and the furnishings are simple.

BelMar is the other Buddy Dive location so boat diving is shared. And you get free use of the Buddy facilities - including their drive-thru tank pickup. Downside of BelMar is no on-site or nearby food so a 5-10 minute drive to town for everything you don't cook.

or warnings

Don't stay at Wannadive if you want hot water, they don't have any. But it's a budget place. The Lagoen Hills houses/condos are 20 minutes from town or any nearby diving. Most condos on Bonaire only have A/C in the bedrooms. Watch for the Donkeys around the Airport/Lagoon area at night, they sometimes get out. They're friendly if you have an apple...And there's goats everywhere driving on the north "loop" through Rincon. And cruiseships in Kralendijk a couple days a week now, must create an awful mess downtown - it's pretty small. Fortunately you can drive around it.

hth,

[Daved]

Bon Bini,
If you don't mind 100 different dive sites. If you don't mind a short--really short swim--from the shore to the drop off. If you don't mind great --cancel that-amazing restaurants. If you don't mind house reefs which are incredible. If you don't mind consistent weather.
If you can get by all of that--you could have a good time.

It truly is a divers paradise.

[Zenagirl]

I've only heard wonderful things about how easy and relaxing Bonaire is. My husband and I aren't big shore diving fans because it's often a huge hassle to rent tanks, etc. However, we've got a 2 week trip to Bonaire planned for July next year and can't wait. We feel that the convenience of just being able to grab tanks will take the "hassle factor" out of shore diving that we've felt in the past.

[Damselfish]

I don't think anything in Bonaire is a hassle, except maybe getting there. And, while I consider most shore diving a hassle (unless it's at my hotel) and actually do a lot of boat diving in Bonaire, Bonaire shore diving is about as hassle free as shore diving gets.

[rach]

thanks diversteve for that great info! i'll be in bonaire in less than a month and can't wait!!!

[ScubaJW]

Nothing in Bonaire is hassle except that you have to watch out for your things. That's all there is, it's truly a Diver's Paradise! Pasa bon Pizza is awesome! Of course, there are other restuarants that are just fantastic!! Have fun in Bonaire! I will probably go back next year for my 3rd trip!

[dallasdivergirl]

Bonaire Trip 10/04/07 to 10/11/07

I went in October & here is my report.

Belmar was great, I would recommend it to any one.

Also add Mona Lisa to your dinner go to list.