Welcome to the board.
Hug Lortus for me, the sweetest ladie you will ever meet and pet Puck, the resort dog. The resort and dive staff at BD are first rate. You will quickly feel like family, same goes for pretty much the rest of the island. Myself and others have posted a lot on Bonaire over the years, do a search on my name and Bonaire, you will find loads of stuff. For a quick list of suggestions lets see:
Money: The guilder(Nfl) is worth about $0.56 UD or I use 2x1 as a rough guide. Most places have prices in both but if things look about 2x what they are at home, it's most likely in guilders. You can use either credit cards or cash. The ATMs will take your card and give you cash in UDS or Guilders, your choice. I have stopped carring much cash with me and use the ATMs and credit cards. I tend to use Guilders, adds to the adventure of the trip if nothing else. There are 3 and 5 guilders coins which add up quick. If you pay in USD, most likely you will get change in Guilders. Most places will take both but some of the small "snacks" will not. There is an ATM located in frount of Sand Dollar resort which is next to BD, a very easy walk....besides it gives you an excuse to stop at Lovers Ice Cream which is next door to the bank.
Food: There are tons of places to eat on Bonaire, I have yet to find a bad place. Just a very few are Casa Blanca, Richards, Bobby Jans, City Cafe, The Rib Factory and Donna and Georgieos. There are many more. If you want an adventure, get up with the guys on the Bonairetalk board and visit with them at Gibi's on Tues night. It's a don't miss for me. The mixed grill at Casa Blanca's is huge, get it early in the week and have lunch for the rest of the week. City Cafe has one of the best burgers I know of anywhere and the view is great.
Water: Its safe to drink and please do drink LOTS of it. You will dehydrate very quickly on Bonaire. We buy a 1L bottle each when we arrive and refill it from the tap all week. An empty 2L bottle with small holes in it makes a great after dive shower if you leave it in the sun.
Safety: While Bonaire is safe from a personal perspective, DON"T leave anything in your vehicles that has any worth to you. I leave the windows rolled down and in 9 trips have never has anything taken but it does happen and leaving anything in a locked vehicle is not a good idea. You are never very far from your resort so leave anything you are not taking with you diving at the room. I carry 1 credit card, the room/truck keys and a few guilders along with me on dives in a waterproof (yea right) case. Merchants on Boniare are use to wet money but with the 3 and 5 Nfl coins, you don't really have to carry paper money.
General: If you need anything kind of computer or communications (email or need to phone home) drop by the Chat and Browse which is beside Lovers Ice Cream. Micheal is a great guy and is a handy resourse if you need something, if he does not have it, he knows who does..He can also transfer digital photos to CD's if you have loaded your cameras memory and need more. There is a $20pp exit tax you must pay at the airport. You MUST pay this BEFORE you check in at the airline so before you get in line, go to the booth at the far right of the airport and pay the tax.
I know Bonaire and BD very well, drop me a PM if you have specific questions.
) You have to learn to dive on your own sometime and place. I can think of no better place.
