Has anyone dove Bonaire?

[NDL_Diver]

Yes the sites far South are more lush in Soft corrals, elk and stag horn along with sites just past the BOPEC (candyland....) but need to mind the winds to dive those site (need a Northern component like NE or NNE or entry is difficult). if you mind the wind direction and pick sites that favor easy entry with that wind, shore diving is alot eaiser. If you don't, you will windup on you butt.

 

[drbill]

Enjoyed diving Bonaire with Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn. However I much prefer diving Asia and the South Pacific than the Caribbean due to the greater biodiversity.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

OntWreckdriver,
What didn't you like about Bonaire that you will never go back?

We havd been there 10x and leaving for 3 weeks in Feb. We have spots that blow away Cozumel in fish life and Coral formations.

Is it the lack of Wrecks (besides Hooker and the barge)?

I went in March 2006 with 11 other divers (and my non diving wife) with our local dive club and stayed at the Divi Flamingo. They said that it was supposed to be the best diving in the Caribbean, so maybe my expectations were to high? Don't get me wrong there was some good diving but I found a lot of the diving boring and repetitive. The wasn't any big stuff like sharks, turtles, rays, etc. except on the Hooker there were a large school Tarpon. I am glad I went there to dive there but it just isn't someplace I want to rush back too, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
The lack of wrecks wasn't the issue. I have been to Cozumel once and would like to go back there in the next year or so.

 

[NDL_Diver]

Yea, huricane Lenny in 99 tore the reefs up a quite bit as and Omar did a bit 09. The reef is not nearly recovered yet but is much, much better than in the early to mid 2000's. In spots, it it fantastic and almost pristine if you know where to go. Other places is very nice. The fish population is still fantastic.

If you are looking for sharks, not so much, but turtles, in some places you can see 30 a dive.

I like corals and fish. Not so much sharks.

East side (wild side) has rays, turtles, turtles and rays.

 

[Snoweman]

I went in March 2006 with 11 other divers (and my non diving wife) with our local dive club and stayed at the Divi Flamingo. They said that it was supposed to be the best diving in the Caribbean, so maybe my expectations were to high? Don't get me wrong there was some good diving but I found a lot of the diving boring and repetitive. The wasn't any big stuff like sharks, turtles, rays, etc. except on the Hooker there were a large school Tarpon. I am glad I went there to dive there but it just isn't someplace I want to rush back too, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
The lack of wrecks wasn't the issue. I have been to Cozumel once and would like to go back there in the next year or so.

Where is your favorite place to dive?

 

[drrich2]

They said that it was supposed to be the best diving in the Caribbean, so maybe my expectations were to high?

Likely so, and that explains a lot. I call it good Caribbean diving with the great (for some of us) added value of shore diving. I don't consider it the best diving in the Caribbean.

The east coast is different from the mainstream west coast sites. Even the latter aren't all quite the same, but I admit, the pattern of 'roughly 45 degree downhill sloping reef wall dive' is common.

Richard.

 

[darook]

If you want big stuff every dive it definitely isn't the place to go. If you want vibrant life on the reefs it is worth a shot. If you like doing your own thing and shore diving it can't be beat. I have not dived everywhere in the Caribbean but of the places I've been it's my favorite. I have friends that rave about the Caymans, particularly Brac and Little as well as St. Lucia. I haven't been to those yet but just landed on Bonaire today for trip 11 or 12 (I've lost track). The island is definitely busy and we'll let you know how the reef looks.

 

[Steelyeyes]

We bought a house there and are moving there in a couple of weeks.

I don't think it's the best diving spot in the world but it's good enough for a local spot we can plop in the water, have decent enough diving and be home fairly quickly. Where I live now, near Puget Sound every dive is an expedition. Drysuits, tons of weight, wrestling in and out of the gear, low viz, and once in a while amazing things to see. Still nothing big and no sharks.

We're in a position to be able to travel and we also like the Indo-Pacific, which is some of the best diving we've ever had...just not a place we'd like to live. Bonaire has direct flights to Amsterdam. Either direction we go it's half way around the world but layovers in Europe have their charms. We also plan on exploring other Caribbean locations, relatively easily accessed through Curacao and hopping from there. We're retired so we're in no hurry.

 

[Catito]

My wife has a co-worker that just came back from diving at the Buddy Dive resort in Bonaire. They've been ranting and raving about the diving and their experience. My wife is excited and wants to go in Oct,

Has anyone dove Bonaire and even better the Buddy Dive Resort. If so, can you give me your thoughts?

Thanks

Yes. Dove Buddy Dive Dec 2019. Fantastic...all the way around. See my comments and comments from others on threads related to Bonaire. Going back!

 

[cpace]

but turtles, in some places you can see 30 a dive.

I find this hard to believe. I have been to Bonaire.