Bonaire--asking about everything!!!!

[ETnScuba]

I've been to Bonaire twice and I would recommend trying to do some boat dives to Klein. This being said, I would not recommend prebooking boat dives. They should be available a la carte from the dive shop. Try to find out when they are making trips to the locations that are unavailable from the shore that you want to see. Otherwise, spend your time shore diving.

My 12 year old daughter is a JrAOW diver and my wife does not dive, although she does enjoy snorkling. My daughter and I spent the last trip in the 20 to 50 foot range and had a blast. My wife enjoyed snorkling on the south side of the island more than the north. Her favorites were Pink Beach and Angel City.

CoolTech - love the pictures. They bring back wonderful memories!

 

[WallDiver77]

CoolTech...... Man, Thanks for the memories! Geeze I miss the place!

CoMerc,

Since this is your first trip, and have the family along, you might want to stay on the water. I visited the island for the frist time last June and stayed at the Sand Dollar (which is right next door to Buddy Dive).

There were three of us and we had a ground level 2 bedroom condo with a full kitchen, living room,..... etc. It is a very nice place to stay, BUT the main reason that I'm trying to return there this next June is their house reef located 200 feet from your back patio.

I dove Barri Reef before or after breakfast each morning and, after a day's diving around the island, finished the day doing a 10:00pm night dive there! Snorkeling there when not diving was great! They have fish balls located real close that are in about 10 feet of water.

You're going to love this place....... but don't tell anyone. ha!

 

[scubadobadoo]

Here is another helpful link for you. ShoreDiving.com - Your Shore Diving and Snorkeling Web Community! Look in the Bonaire section.

I agree with the "skip the boat" comments other than maybe one boat trip to Klein but no more.

I agree with the "stay on the water comments." It may not seem like a good idea but for an extra 100 bucks, once you are there and on the water, you will be happy you did. Plus, if you have a non-diver in the group, they can snorkel right from your room wihout getting in the truck and driving somewhere. Trust me, they will like having this option.

I suggest you look into Den Laman condos on Bari reef. Everyone has their favorites of course and honestly, you won't find any horrible places to stay in Bonaire. Have fun and congrats on your trip!

 

[OH2OD]

Have been to Bonaire twice before, and stayed at Plaza Resort.
We went as part of a dive group and loved the resort.
Toucan diving is on property and are a great outfit.
The house reef is 18 palms and has some excellent diving right off beach.
The boat dives to Klein are worth the trip.
Sure you will enjoy trip.

 

[SussexMedic]

Thanks for the pix Cooltech. If I'm not mistaken you were in condo 110. Same one we were in in September. We managed 27 dives in six days. Slept for two when we got home

Oh yeah and Oil Slick Leap makes a great night dive. That's us taking the plunge in my avatar.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

Thanks for the pix Cooltech. If I'm not mistaken you were in condo 110. Same one we were in in September. We managed 27 dives in six days. Slept for two when we got home

Oh yeah and Oil Slick Leap makes a great night dive. That's us taking the plunge in my avatar.

Thanks to everyone for the Kudos on the pics...

Yes, we were in condo 110. We got stuck in San Juan for three days while Felix moved past Bonaire (Three days of hell in an airport!)

We got in four days of diving for the vacation... Funny, Bonaire is outside the hurricane cone... Oops! I guess they forgot to tell Felix :14:

We worked in an extra day from the airlines, and Buddy Dive set us up for the night... we came back a day later and got to see the island... Worth taking at least one day to tour... better for 2 days

 

[herman]

Unlike the other I pissed at you....you set off a really bad case of PBD...took several Amstels and a couple of slide shows just to recover.
Seriously, really nice photos. Confirmed my rooms for this year so PBD is slacking up some. How dang long is it until July anyway??

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

PBD is bad... I had it for some time... Well, until we settled on Saba for this year's trip :grin:

 

[SussexMedic]

Heck, we had PBD before we even landed back in the US. We've already decided to make it annually in Sept.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

If we hadn't received $500 vouchers from American Airlines for being bumped in San Juan, We would have booked in Bonaire again this year....

You just can't beat the off season package prices for flight and and everything in Bonaire...