A few last minute Bonaire Questions..

[wwguy]

We also did Jeff Davis from a boat - IDK if it's shore accessible either.

Jeff Davis is accessible from shore and the walk from the truck is very short. But the step down from iron shore to the water is steep and treacherous.

 

[Doctorfish]

I think another variable is how fit you are and or how lazy. It's much easier to roll on and off a boat than to lug tanks, gear on to a truck, onto the beach and then vice versa. We tend to boat dive in the mornings and then shore dive the house reef at Buddy Dive afternoons and nights. May not be the best diving on the island but it sure is the easiest.

I'm always impressed with the number of divers I meet at the bar at Buddy dive with splints, casts, and bandages related to shore diving misadventures. Some of the shore entries and exits can be very treacherous depending on conditions, so be careful and check with the dive shop daily re wind waves and advice re sites.


I echo the rave review for East Coast and Buddy Dive North Coast Diving. The North sites are pristine and the East Side holds the promise for more rays, turtles and possible pelagics.

 

[T.C.]

I've read many helpful posts on Bonaire, a group of us are going and staying together in one of the Hamlet villas for a week , leaving next week. A couple questions..

1) Are boat dives worth it? Am I really going to see anything much different than I'd see on shore dive sites? Asking because there is a package addon of three 2 tank boat dives for only $80 or so more. Or should I just stick to 1 or 2 boat dives? Obviously I'd only go on a boat for dives not accessible by shore .. klein bonaire (and our op, dive friends, mentioned also boats going to northern sites in bonaire not easily shore accessible.

The boat dives are best used for diving Klein Bonaire, and the Park, if they'll run up there. Will you see something much different...probably not. But on the other hand, unless you're a good swimmer with extra tanks, you won't be able to dive on Klein Bonaire.

2) I noticed some people saying they bring spices and other food items. Is there not much to be found in the grocery stores in bonaire? How are the prices compared to in the US?

Prices are higher, which is to be expected when you consider the location. You can find most items at the grocery stores. But, if there's a spice you can't live without, though, you should bring it yourself. Just be sure it's one that won't alarm the DEA puppies at the airport...that would ruin your trip.

Lastly, we live in Florida and are flying with the airline DAE ..their guidelines with regard to carryon luggage are quite vague, and the representatives on the phone weren't any more helpful. If anyone has experience with this airline and can share some insight that would be appreciated!

Never heard of them before...

 

[tkaelin]

Three 2 tank boat dives for only $80 total? If the boat is leaving at or near where you are staying- why not jump on it. I know the shore diving is great but frankly diving off a boat is just plain easy, you get different beatiful views of the island and they can just be darn fun. You would pay three times that just about anyplace else. Unlike many other places, most of the boat rides in Bon or 15 min or less.

 

[Jersey]

I think another variable is how fit you are and or how lazy. It's much easier to roll on and off a boat than to lug tanks, gear on to a truck, onto the beach and then vice versa. We tend to boat dive in the mornings and then shore dive the house reef at Buddy Dive afternoons and nights. Some of the shore entries and exits can be very treacherous depending on conditions, so be careful and check with the dive shop daily re wind waves and advice re sites.


I echo the rave review for East Coast and Buddy Dive North Coast Diving. The North sites are pristine and the East Side holds the promise for more rays, turtles and possible pelagics.

The boat dives are best used for diving Klein Bonaire, and the Park, if they'll run up there. Will you see something much different...probably not. But on the other hand, unless you're a good swimmer with extra tanks, you won't be able to dive on Klein Bonaire.

Prices are higher, which is to be expected when you consider the location. You can find most items at the grocery stores. But, if there's a spice you can't live without, though, you should bring it yourself. Just be sure it's one that won't alarm the DEA puppies at the airport...that would ruin your trip.

Boat diving is not necessarily only for out of shape, there is a convenience factor, drift diving if there is a bit of current and sometimes it's nice not to wrestle with sand or ironshore. Yes, much of Klein looks the same, but there are a couple sites not visited frequently that are different. Plus I think the shallows off Klein are more robust (particularly soft corals) than some of the mainland.

Since the arrival of the Warehouse and now Van der Tweels mostly everything is available. We cook in much of the time, I actually find it relaxing. However, think of the expense of buying everything I use in the size containers available. Last yar we could only find garlic salt in HUGE restaurant size containers. Easier for me to pack and know I will have it, not have to hunt it down and take time away from diving. Certainly we could live without it, but we don't have to, and we have room in baggage. Yes, do label anything suspect. I use a heat sealer and print off labels.

 

[diversteve]

Lastly, we live in Florida and are flying with the airline DAE ..their guidelines with regard to carryon luggage are quite vague, and the representatives on the phone weren't any more helpful.

http://flydae.com/baggage-allowance

Hand baggage

Each passenger is allowed one piece of baggage into the cabin; the hand baggage. This hand baggage is subject to strict regulations.

The hand baggage may not weight more than 8Kilo’s and the dimensions may not exceed: 37cm x 61cm x 25cm.

If the weight or size of the hand baggage exceeds the above mentioned limits the baggage will be considered to be checked baggage.

Never heard of them before...

They're the other regional that's recently expanded into the U.S. market. Only from MIA.
home - Fly DAE

 

[phelana]

I would book your air (dive air), hotel, and truck before heading to BON. Then, when you arrive, decide what boat dives interest you. The only boat dives I'd consider would be to Klein Bonaire. The dive boats that moor at the shore dives only offer the transport to the site on water and access to the site via the boat/sea. It's your call. Peak travel weeks might require pre booking boat dives.

 

[T.C.]

baggage allowance - Fly DAE
They're the other regional that's recently expanded into the U.S. market. Only from MIA.
home - Fly DAE

Interesting... I've flown the no name airlines before. Some of them, I'd rather taken a cargo plane.

 

[CaliDenna]

I flew DAE and they were great! They do not make a big fuss over your carry on in terms of weighing it or anything like that. If you were attempting to bring on some oversized monster thing I am sure they would but if dimensionally sized right they don't worry about it.

I found the agents and the crew were some of the nicest airline employees around! The planes were really clean and tidy as well. I've flown AA a lot, Virgin, Frontier, United, etc. but DAE suitably impressed my group.

We did have a bump on the way back when we had a 45 minute delay in our CUR-MIA leg but it turned out that because there were only six of us returning to MIA instead of having a flight coming from Aruba stop and pick us up, they needed a plane returned to MIA so they put us on that one instead. We had a blast being six people on a plane designed to hold 160? We had a crew of 6 and so each couple had their own flight attendant and we all spread out in the plane. They feed you a meal on DAE and since there were only six of us they kept offering to bring us more meals and drinks. It was a rather unique and fun experience.

 

[T.C.]

I flew DAE and they were great!

Great! The world needs more good airlines.