Belmar Condominiums question

[scuba127]

We have been staying at the Belmar for over 10 years now. I have dove the Belmar house reef extensively and always look forward to doing so. Many times I do solo side mount dives on what I call the "Belmar Bottoms." Down the wall on the sand at 100' or so. I've done this alot...to the point I have actually named different portions of the Belmar bottoms (i.e. The coral crater, the grave yard etc.). I dive and have dove for years all over Bonaire and the Belmar bottoms remains one of my favorites. I also think the shallows are great. Personally, I find the shallows more interesting than I did at CPT Don's. We prefer the Belmar itself to the resorts and the house reef is good enough so, as Lorenzoid pointed out, the house reef should not be the deciding factor on where to stay. Just my 2 PSI of course.

 

[uncfnp]

How's the house reef in this area?
We've been alternating between Capt Dons and Buddy Dive for about the last 5 years doing boat and pier dives only, no rental truck. We really like the house reefs in this area and between that and boat dives to Klein didn't feel the need to rent a truck for shore dives.
We've done it all before when we first starting going to Bonaire snorkling north and south on the west coast and then again when we started diving. But we lazy and spoiled on the boat/pier diving and haven't rented a truck in years except for nondive days.
But, have been missing the topography of the south side but dont know if we can or want to exert that much energy on the shore entries anymore. I see Buddy Dive services Belmar, so I thinking since they are down there maybe they dive the south side?

If you are going to dive house and boat exclusively, then no, I would not stay south. But if you want something different from your current routine, then yes, I recommend switching it up and stay south, rent a truck and explore the southern sites.

Our first stay in Bonaire we stayed south and found ourselves preferring the northern dives so for the next 6 trips we stayed north and dove mostly north. Then a few years ago we did a few more southern sites and found our taste had changed and so spend that trip driving south. The last 2 stays have stayed south and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I love the double reef, the white sand of the shallows, the soft corals. This is where we find the baitballs that we love. And don't forget Salt Pier. But this requires a truck, travel and more logistics then you are probably use to now.

But we don't do boat dives and have never stayed at a dive resort.

Are there any restaurants or shops in that area for some walking in the evenings?

No there isn't. And not the social gathering spot as you may be use too at the northern resorts.