Best house reef in Bonaire?

[NDH]

Has anyone stayed at BelMar apartments?

 

[Boat Chick]

Has anyone stayed at BelMar apartments?

Yep, twice out of my 5 trips. And if I'm not staying with friends, that's where I stay. It's quieter, doesn't have a restaurant on site as they are condos. Great Escape across the street is open for breakfast and has an internet cafe. If you want more activity with an on site restaurant, definitely go for Divi, Buddy's, or Cap Don's.

The first time I stayed at Belmar it was my first time staying on the South end of the island and I was spoiled with bari, buddy's, and black durgon's house reef (never stayed at black durgon, but stayed with friends a couple doors down). Belmar does have a longer sandy area before the reef drop off, but it is a healthy, life teaming reef. there are a LOT of things to see in the sand on the way out to the reef. And as someone said earlier, there really isn't a "bad" place to dive on Bonaire.

Black Durgon - you can't dive off their dock. It would mean divers trapsing through the small property to get to the dock. It's not the type of set up like the bigger ops. they only have 11 rooms I believe. A community kitchen overlooking the water. Great owners/managment. Rona is a sweetheart and goes out of her way to make guests feel welcome and comfortable.

You really can't go wrong with any of the suggestions folks have posted. Depends on how big a place you want to stay, and the ameneties you prefer.

Have a great trip

 

[Martha]

Has anyone stayed at BelMar apartments?

My family and I stayed at BelMar last Dec. and we'll be staying there again this Dec. We loved it! We enjoyed the southern dive sites the most, so it was very convenient staying there. We also enjoyed the BelMar house reef.

 

[NDH]

Thank you for the input. My wife and I are trying to put a small group together. We might have to look at Cap Don's, several friends like to social at a bar in the evenings. And a couple of friends tried Buddy's last year and would perfer somewhere else.
Thank you again.

 

[diversteve]

And a couple of friends tried Buddy's last year and would prefer somewhere else.

If you stay at BelMar and plan to do any boat dives, you'll be driving to Buddy's, they run the Belmar diveop now- from what I've read, they don't send the boat to pickup at BelMar. Nearest bar to BelMar is probably the beach bar at the Plaza also. Or something in town.

 

[Martha]

The boat picked up at BelMar when we were there in Dec. It may depend on the number of people that will be diving.

 

[NDH]

Thanks for the info on the boats. What about Capt. Don's would that give us enough social life for non divers plus boat diving for us diving?

 

[Tovster]

I stayed at Captain Don's twice and loved it. I will be back in a couple of weeks. Problem with other resorts is I need high speek internet access from my room and Buddy does not have it. Capt. Don's has a great bar, awesome diving, and a great reef, and nice night life. Lots of folks gather around in the evening.

 

[caymaniac]

I would say the best spot for non-divers would be the Plaza. The Plaza has the best beach, a area for beach volleyball, the pool is next to the beach, there are sailboats for rent off the beach, there are a couple of nice beach bars there as well. No other resort...repeat...no other resort has a nice beach and is on the diving side of the Island. The Divi has a very small strip beach, thats about it for non-divers. The rest of the resorts have mostly ironshore or a tiny sandbox type beach. If your non-divers need a beach then you might rethink where you are staying.

 

[divekraz]

I stayed at the Plaza. The tanks are filled and sitting by the pool area. You can dive at any time, Some of the best dives were right in front of our room. You can enter from the beach or they have a stairs and more tanks a few 100' to the south.