Back to Bonaire in August

[BradMM]

Just booked for Aug 8 -16. Didn't dive last time but the snorkeling was outstanding! Stay at Divi Flamingo and walked out the back door right into the water... right outside our room.

My wife doesn't dive anymore so I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for a single...? Who should I call. I don't care about deep dives, 30' and under is just fine. Do a lot of free diving but don't go that deep.

Thanks!

 

[lmorin]

Brad--do you mean that you have booked flights and are looking for suggestions re where to stay? If so, I'd suggest a studio at Sand Dollar or a unit at Den Laman. Both are on Bari Reef. Walk out and into the water just a few feet away. The snorkeling is excellent all around the Bonaire Dive and Adventure dock, along the shoreline in front of Sand Dollar (where there is a rare stand of elkhorn coral and great fish in 0-5 ft of water), and 50 yards south of the BDA dock where there is a collapsed foundation of an old hotel. Literally thousands of fish in and around it at times. Depth 0-12 ft. Highly recommended, whether you stay nearby or not. My wife and I are divers, but we always go to this location 2-3 times per trip, even when diving.

 

[BradMM]

NO, sorry, we're staying at Divi again (part of the package) but I'd like suggestions like the ones you gave about good places to go in the water. I definitely want to check out the Sand Dollar!

Brad--do you mean that you have booked flights and are looking for suggestions re where to stay? If so, I'd suggest a studio at Sand Dollar or a unit at Den Laman. Both are on Bari Reef. Walk out and into the water just a few feet away. The snorkeling is excellent all around the Bonaire Dive and Adventure dock, along the shoreline in front of Sand Dollar (where there is a rare stand of elkhorn coral and great fish in 0-5 ft of water), and 50 yards south of the BDA dock where there is a collapsed foundation of an old hotel. Literally thousands of fish in and around it at times. Depth 0-12 ft. Highly recommended, whether you stay nearby or not. My wife and I are divers, but we always go to this location 2-3 times per trip, even when diving.

 

[diverjen]

If you are not a registered snorkeler with Bonaire Dive and Adventure you cannot use their dock. You can however use the entry directly south of that property. Dive Friends seems really friendly and always let us use the entry at Hamlet, but I am not sure if you can use the Sand Dollar entry if you are not staying there or with Dive Friends.

For a free diver/ snorkeler I would definitely recommend getting to Klein! I couldn't tell from your post if you are snorkeling and free diving only, or if you are a scuba diving some, too.

Regardless, I am so jealous! That is coming up fast! I can't wait to hear all about it when you return.

 

[Doctorfish]

Buddy dive has a good dock for entry and the house reef is excellent. When I was there last year they did not seem to mind outside snorkelers using their dock. Not sure about outside tanks.

 

[dfx]

Buddy dive has a good dock for entry and the house reef is excellent. When I was there last year they did not seem to mind outside snorkelers using their dock. Not sure about outside tanks.

We dove from Buddy's with our own tanks. We asked the dive shop first if that's alright with them, and while their reply was strange ("normally we charge people to use our dock, but since you asked ahead of time, it's OK") it wasn't a problem. They just asked us to use the small dock, not the big one.

EDIT: scratch that, I'm confusing Buddy's with Captain Don's. We dove from both locations with outside tanks and didn't have a problem, other than Captain Don's giving us this bit of attitude (and it being somewhat crowded at Buddy's)

 

[uncfnp]

Brad. Like the others I'm still a little confused. Are you asking about dive sites that would make good site's to do shallow scuba solo? If so, will your wife be snorkeling at the same time? I think we can give you some pretty good feedback once we are sure what you need?

 

[DeputyDan]

There is the remains of a building that is mostly underwater - located between Den Laman and Eden Beach that has excellent snorkeling.
It may have been the old green parrot - before my time.

I would think that vista blue would have good snorkeling for the soft corals.

 

[Doctorfish]

I thought the Green Parrot was at the south end of the Sand dollar property. Great burger joint.
Has my memory failed me?

 

[lmorin]

There is the remains of a building that is mostly underwater - located between Den Laman and Eden Beach that has excellent snorkeling.
It may have been the old green parrot - before my time.

I would think that vista blue would have good snorkeling for the soft corals.

I thought the Green Parrot was at the south end of the Sand dollar property. Great burger joint.
Has my memory failed me?

The old Green Parrot fronts the south end of the sea wall at Sand Dollar. At the north end of the rocks in front of the decaying platform is where the very nice stand (best on Bonaire that I know of) of elkhorn coral resides. South of the BDA dock by about 50 yds are are remnants of an old hotel. The foundation and slabs form what is known as the "aquarium." Loads of fish in residence there.