Bonaire Divi Flamingo Aug 6-13

[weinerr]

My family of 5 will be in Bonaire at the Divi Flamingo Aug 6-8. Will you be there? This will be our first trip to Bonaire. Note 2 divers (my wife and 13 yo) only have 15 dives and this will be my 19 year old's first OW dives following his check out dives. Would also be great hear your favorite (easy) dive sites, restaurants and fun things to do for my 3 boys (ages 13, 16 and 19) on non-diving days.

 

[guppyman]

Hi,

I've stayed at Divi Flamingo the past two years. I won't be there when you are there. I actually just got back on Saturday.

Overall, Divi is a good place to stay. The resort isn't 5 star, but is comfortable. The folks at the dive shop are 5 star. Serge, the manager, runs a good shop.

Calabas Reef, the house reef, is good. It isn't the best reef on the island, but I think a few dives off the house reef would really do a lot for everyone's comfort level.

I've tried about all of the easy sites in Bonaire. I'd start with Windsock, Angel City, and Bachelor's Beach. You can't get much easier than these three. I'd then start on 1000 Steps and Oil Slick Leap. These are really easy as well. Buddy Dive will allow you to give their reef if you ask. You can't beat giant striding off of a pier. Andrea I and II are good sites. You just need to pay attention to where you exit. There are some large rocks with fire coral to navigate around to get back on land at the Andrea sites. Invisibles is a good site as well. It is probably my favorite and not difficult.

I also strongly suggest doing a day of boat diving with Divi. You can't get much easier than that.

As far as restaurant recommendations, there are plenty of good places. We like City Cafe, Unbelievables, Bobbie Jans, Pasa Bon Pizza, La Barca, and Cappricios. However, I do not like Calabas restaurant at Divi. I believe you can get much, much better food off resort at the same price or cheaper.

A trip through the Washington Slaigbaii Park is fun. The huge lizards are fun to watch. I enjoyed the Donkey Sanctuary but I wager your guys may think it is lame. There is some windsurfing and stuff like that south of the island. The guys may enjoy that.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[LoveOceanicGears]

My family of 5 will be in Bonaire at the Divi Flamingo Aug 6-8. Will you be there? This will be our first trip to Bonaire. Note 2 divers (my wife and 13 yo) only have 15 dives and this will be my 19 year old's first OW dives following his check out dives. Would also be great hear your favorite (easy) dive sites, restaurants and fun things to do for my 3 boys (ages 13, 16 and 19) on non-diving days.

My family was in Bonaire this April and we also stayed at Divi Flamingo. It is my first trip to Bonaire. During our trip, everyone has a smile on his/her face everyday, except the day we had to leave.

My family did two boat dives everyday, and 3rd or 4th tank dive on house reef several times. Divemaster Luis and Orlando are helpful, capable, and charming. Everyone in our dive trip group enjoys diving with them very much.

We dove at Captain Don's reef, Kalpata, Mi Dushi, Rock Pile, Andrea, Hilma Hooker, and many other places. Every dive site is unique, full of surprises and I really cannot tell you which one is my favorite. My family just get into diving about 2 years ago and we only have been to Cozumel and Taiwan previously. In this trip, we saw so many marine life for the first time, such as turtle, squid, sea horse, flying fish. The amazement and joy are simply un-describable. My instructor said he even saw a manta ray right in front of house reef.

The restaurant is Divi Flamingo is a little slow as other people mentioned, but it is not un-bearable. We usually eat lunch there but go to town for dinner. If you go to town and eat, make sure you remember to bring insect repellent. There is not much to see in the town and most shops close between 12:00pm to 2:00pm.

My wife completed her OW at Taiwan last year and this is her first dive trip. She was kind of afraid and reluctant to dive at beginning, but at last day, after two boat dives, when I ask her if she wants to do another shore dive with me, she immediately said yes. And there is nothing makes me happier than hearing she says "I wish we have time to do one more night dive."