Bonaire compared to Asia?

[mjgoodman]

Hey,

How does the diving in Bonaire compare to the Philippines or Indonesia? I've only dove in Asia and would like to dive somewhere a little easier/cheaper. Thanks.

 

[vladimir]

Bonaire is the easiest place I have ever dived, not counting swimming pools. Cheaper than Asia? Airfare will be cheaper, but you can pretty much pick your price point in either place, from what I can see. The cheapest accommodations in Southeast Asia are probably cheaper than the cheapest places in Bonaire. Likewise, the most expensive places in Southeast Asia are more expensive than the most expensive place in Bonaire (Southeast Asia being bigger than Bonaire.).

 

[Mossman]

As for the diving itself, no, it does not compare well with the Philippines and Indonesia. The Caribbean simply lacks the coral and fish diversity found in SE Asia. However, if you stick with shore diving on an "unlimited nitrox" package, cost per dive can be among the cheapest in the world, and therefore still a good "bang for the buck" even though you won't see the lush soft corals, dazzling arrays of nudibranchs, and hundreds of different species of reef fish that you'll experience in SE Asia.

 

[Rhone Man]

As for the diving itself, no, it does not compare well with the Philippines and Indonesia. The Caribbean simply lacks the coral and fish diversity found in SE Asia.

That is what I have always heard from people who have done both (have also heard similar comments for Pacific vs Caribbean diving). I have never had the privilege of diving SE Asia or the Pacific though.

However, if you stick with shore diving on an "unlimited nitrox" package, cost per dive can be among the cheapest in the world, and therefore still a good "bang for the buck".

I have heard that a lot too. I guess we are the Wal-Mart of the diving world.

 

[Mossman]

That is what I have always heard from people who have done both (have also heard similar comments for Pacific vs Caribbean diving). I have never had the privilege of diving SE Asia or the Pacific though.

(Western) Pacific and SE Asia are just different sides of the same coin, the Wallacea "Garden of Eden" that spreads its diversity through SE Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines) and the Western Pacific (PNG, N. Australia, Fiji, Micronesia). Hawaii and French Polynesia are both a bit too remote to have inherited very many of their cousins to the west. By the time you make it all the way around the world to the Caribbean, only a handful of species are left.

For example, on my recent trip to Wakatobi, I managed to shoot 11 different nudibranchs and 6 different types of anenomefish (pink, orange, tomato, Clark's, true clown, false clown). The reef health is amazing there too, versus Bonaire's sewage and runoff impacted corals (but that doesn't necessarily hold true for the entire region).

However, Bonaire's diving is excellent for the Caribbean. I definitely wouldn't call it WalMart. The price is only low because it attracts do-it-yourselfers, so perhaps Home Depot is a better analogy? The Caribbean is good because it's close. I can get to Bonaire in 2 hops from L.A., one 3.5 hour and one 4 hour, totaling 7.5 hours of airtime and a few more hours on the ground - obviously it's less for those who live closer to Houston or Atlanta or Newark. Wakatobi, however, required an 18 hour flight then a 4 hour flight then a 2.5 hour flight, actually exceeding 24 hours in the air just to get there!

 

[Rhone Man]

In case I offended anyone, when I said 'Wal-Mart' I meant to convey "good value" rather than any reference to poor quality.

 

[Damselfish]

When people rave about Bonaire, they're ranking it on a Caribbean scale and are often big shore diving fans. But the diving is just no comparison to most of the Indo Pacific. Bonaire is nice diving, try it if works out better timewise or financially for you. But if you're choosing based on the diving definitely look at Pacific destinations. Especially when you're already on the West coast, at least you've got a head start on the East coasters!