Aruba Airlines Flying to Bonaire Starting November 30!

[tursiops]

I'm not at all convinced the diving can handle a huge increase in divers; at least not the shore diving.

I don't know what you mean by this. You mean the dive sites and parking will be full, or that the health of the reefs will suffer?
If the former, my observation is that most sites are empty, with no divers at them. Even the really popular sites (Salt Pier, HH) might have 4-6 groups there, but there's room for more. If the latter, I tend to agree, but doubt the generally declining reef health is due principally to divers.

 

[ijdod]

I don't know what you mean by this. You mean the dive sites and parking will be full, or that the health of the reefs will suffer?
If the former, my observation is that most sites are empty, with no divers at them. Even the really popular sites (Salt Pier, HH) might have 4-6 groups there, but there's room for more. If the latter, I tend to agree, but doubt the generally declining reef health is due principally to divers.

The former, actually. My experience is less than great in that respect, although it does vary wildly depending on high or low season. It's also going to be more of an issue up North rather than down South. I don't think it will be an immediate issue, just that in my opinion it will not scale with the availability of accommodations

 

[KathyV]

I don't see any Chicago - AUA flights that get there early enough to make the AUA-BON flight. Same problem going back. So, factor in two overnights in Aruba and the attendant fuss.
Not for me!

Good to know, thanks!

 

[jimw]

They did fly Aruba to Bonaire yesterday the 29th according to InfoBonaire. The story said that they will do a non-stop on Sundays only. The other 3 weekly flights will stop in Curacao.

 

[lmorin]

They did fly Aruba to Bonaire yesterday the 29th according to InfoBonaire. The story said that they will do a non-stop on Sundays only. The other 3 weekly flights will stop in Curacao.

Do you have to exit the plane in Curacao? Did that once and it was a big drag and our flight departed 1.5 hr late causing us to miss our flight home from Aruba. Of course, it was an Insel between-island flight.

 

[lmorin]

.............................
So here's a question for the frequent visitors of Bonaire. If the island convinced the airlines to add capacity, is there enough infrastructure (hotels, rentals, cars, fresh water) to handle many more visitors?

Good question; if yes, Bonaire will change dramatically. I heard a year ago that up to about 700 new rooms were planned for development. Some, like the Marriott, are already functioning. Others are still in the planning stages and may never be built, especially if they never achieve sufficient occupancy. Right now, it is unlikely that there are seats/planes to convey enough people to fill available rooms, let alone enough rental vehicles to serve all visitors. I've counted as many as 18 trucks parked at the Hilma Hooker site during high season (one reason we seldom dive there). Can you imagine it with hundreds of additional divers on the island?