Bonaire airport customs starting to tax personal baggage items

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infobonaire.com is not an official government website. I would not rely on their legal interpretation, which is probably why they also put a link to the actual government customs website at the bottom of the page.

I doubt the airport custom agents are looking at average diver's gear, since it's $500 per divisible piece, but it appears expensive looking items are getting new attention, at least by one particular individual. ...according to a customer of ours that spent 3 days running around to local import companies trying to figure out how to get his personal use DPV out of customs impound.



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I would not jump to too many conclusions and decisions at this point.
There is NO confirmation of this report.
I know at least one major travel agency for divers is looking into this, by direct conversation with the Tourist Corporation Bonaire which is far more interested in attracting visitors than it is in scaring them away.
The sky has not fallen yet.
Yeah I'm not freaking out or anything, just saying that if this going to be the new normal it's not good.
 
Yeah I'm not freaking out or anything, just saying that if this going to be the new normal it's not good.
It's not likely the new normal. Its even possible it was a one-off, if that. There is enough misinformation on the internet that one post based on second-hand hearsay isn't very compelling.
 
It's not likely the new normal. Its even possible it was a one-off, if that. There is enough misinformation on the internet that one post based on second-hand hearsay isn't very compelling.

Relax, guy. He isn't excited. He said that he was going to Bonaire and would check what's what himself when he got there. He is actually not believing stuff on the internet; he is going to check it personally firsthand and get back to us.
 
If this occurred only for a DPV, I can perhaps understand it.
If it also happens for regs, cameras, BCDs, laptops, then that is a major policy change and a major concern.

InfoBonaire says:
View attachment 885350
Importers also said someone scheduled to provide entertainment that weekend had his keyboard detained.
 
It's not likely the new normal. Its even possible it was a one-off, if that. There is enough misinformation on the internet that one post based on second-hand hearsay isn't very compelling.
It happened to me 2 weeks ago. It was my DPV. I actually let a buddy use one of my Genesis. When I brought in my Genesis 3.1 2 days earlier, a customs agent asked what was in the DPV carrier? Since I was in a line of people exiting, I said "a diver propulsion vehicle" and didn't slow down my exit. So he didn't demand that I stop so I didn't. My 2nd DPV (older 2.1) loaned to my friend was the one stopped. He told them it was a DPV but the agent wanted him to open the case. No amount of pleading or trying to convince that it was not for sale didn't matter. Temporary import document required. They held it until I could give them the document.
 

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