Tim Ingersoll
Contributor
I've been around the Caribbean quite a bit. This was the first time to Bonaire. We stayed at Den Laman for a week and did only shore dives. Here's what I think:
Pros. Independence. Visibility (at least in the northern sites). Fish variety. Number of fish. Health of reefs. Walls. Critters. Improving your navigation skills.
Cons. No big stuff. If you like turtles, rays and sharks you will be disappointed. No swim-throughs. Shore diving is a bit of work in the surf. it was a bit of pain in the butt for me since I wear full foot fins and no booties. It meant wearing my Tivas into the surf, changing into my fins and either throwing my sandals ashore or asking my biddy to ferry them.
The resort was very nice with on-site dive operation and restaurant. Hint: Take a start up kit for your kitchen. Condiments, salt/pepper, sugar, coffee, etc. are cheaper up here.
I loved this island. Make sure you drive around and see the sights. Its an amazing place. I loved diving up north in Washington Slagbaai Park. Wild donkeys and goats were unique to my Caribbean experience. The indian inscriptions up north were really cool and the slave cabins in the south will give you pause. I love the wild side of the island and would love to dive it some day.
Would I go back again? Yeah I might after I check out Dominica and the whale sharks off Holbox. . .oh yeah and get back to the Pacific. . .and . .
Pros. Independence. Visibility (at least in the northern sites). Fish variety. Number of fish. Health of reefs. Walls. Critters. Improving your navigation skills.
Cons. No big stuff. If you like turtles, rays and sharks you will be disappointed. No swim-throughs. Shore diving is a bit of work in the surf. it was a bit of pain in the butt for me since I wear full foot fins and no booties. It meant wearing my Tivas into the surf, changing into my fins and either throwing my sandals ashore or asking my biddy to ferry them.
The resort was very nice with on-site dive operation and restaurant. Hint: Take a start up kit for your kitchen. Condiments, salt/pepper, sugar, coffee, etc. are cheaper up here.
I loved this island. Make sure you drive around and see the sights. Its an amazing place. I loved diving up north in Washington Slagbaai Park. Wild donkeys and goats were unique to my Caribbean experience. The indian inscriptions up north were really cool and the slave cabins in the south will give you pause. I love the wild side of the island and would love to dive it some day.
Would I go back again? Yeah I might after I check out Dominica and the whale sharks off Holbox. . .oh yeah and get back to the Pacific. . .and . .