Bonaire or Placencia?

[KathyV]

I actually can get to Bonaire pretty easy...and cheaper than going to Cozumel. Go figure. For whatever reason, it's over $900 for me to fly to Coz, but $722 to Bon (PHX - IAH - Bon). Since my last trip was to Coz and I haven't been to Bon in 20 years, it seems likea good enough reason to go back.

That's good. For us, looking at flights from Chicago, it seems to be fairly easy to find flights to Bonaire but the returns can be difficult; sometimes requiring overnight travel and taking 24 hours to get home on AA; but UA may have a few better options.

It's been 7 years since we have been to Bonaire but we recently got nostalgic after seeing scenes of the island on an episode of Caribbean Life, so I have been checking out flight options and thinking "maybe next year".

You should probably go to both places, perhaps Bonaire this year because you are traveling in September during hurricane season; and then plan to go to Placencia another year.

 

[DeputyDan]

Placencia if it's a vacation with some diving.
Bonaire if it's a dedicated diving vacation.

Belize is really hard to beat for a mix it up vacation but it would not be high on the list if I were just going to dive.

 

[RussL]

With flight prices changing daily, my first choice, Cozumel, is back in the hunt. That said, I would like to return to Bonaire sometime, although after living in Phoenix 18 years, going to an island with a cactus landscape just isn't all that appealing.

 

[RussL]

Okay, opening up this discussion again. We ended up going to Bonaire, had a great time, but were a little disappointed in the reefs. Not as pretty as they were last time we were there in 1992. Our divemaster (a local) said the big storm of 2002 did a lot of damage to the reef system and it has yet to fully recover.

Now I'm planning my next trip. We want to go someplace we've never been in the Caribbean. Places we've been: Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Bonaire, Roatan, Dominca, St Thomas.

Requirements: exceptional diving (obviously)… which means good visibility, abundant sea life, low current. Also, must have stuff to do/see topside when not diving. In other words, not interested in an all inclusive on a desolate island. April/May timeframe.

Let the suggestions begin!!!

 

[morecowbells]

Saba is a small island, but I do not recall any all inclusive resorts. I really enjoyed the island both topside and underwater. If you are into a lot of macro, the pier in St. Croix is amazing. We are going to St. Vincent next month. It will be a new adventure for us.

 

[FT]

Does it have to be the Caribbean? Indonesia and the Philippines have coral and sea life that will blow your socks off. And if you have a couple of weeks, the long flight is repaid by significantly cheaper diving and accommodation.
We enjoyed Saba too. Nice dining and hiking. The pinnacles start rather deep but are very lively. Could be combined with Saint Eustatius which has good hiking too, as well as diving that I’d describe as decent rather than terrific. Some interesting wrecks.
Guadeloupe had lots to do topside, and great snorkelling (we didn’t dive yet when we visited.) I hear there is good diving but you’d be coping with French systems.

 

[RussL]

There are many places I'd go on the other side of the planet if I had the time, but I have to squeeze a trip into a one week timeframe. Thus, the geographic boundary.

 

[Ayisha]

...We ended up going to Bonaire, had a great time, but were a little disappointed in the reefs. Not as pretty as they were last time we were there in 1992. Our divemaster (a local) said the big storm of 2002 did a lot of damage to the reef system and it has yet to fully recover...

I find this all over the Caribbean. We are witnessing bleaching and decline at a fairly quick pace throughout much of the Caribbean.

We are staying in Placencia in April (before our liveaboard) and doing a 3-tank dive to Glover's reef, which is supposed to still be pristine. We're going with Seahorse Dive shop, and another popular dive shop in Placencia that goes there is Splash. It's potential whale watching season there at that time too, though we haven't planned to book that trip. There is also a resort/dive shop or two on Glover's atoll that picks up/drops off people from/to Placencia.

I can report back when I get back, but it might be too close for you...