Bonaire Crime - Our experience - Looking for input to share

[oldschoolto]

But... Diver don't want cruise ships.... Maybe that's the plan... The cops and dive shops are paying the people to rob tourist to chase away the cruise ships, Then it will be like divers heaven... Local kids will not even be able to fish as that's not good for divers who want to look at fish..

Jim....

And I'm half joking... I have heard meany negative remarks about locals fishing and boating on coral reefs...

And to add: No one likes my idea of paying locals to work at dive site to have someone there to help out divers with information , keep the dive site clean and watch over the parked trucks... We could put 50 to 75 young kids to work... It would work...

 

[Skeptic14]

I'm a new diver and I've never been to Bonaire, but the idea of having the freedom to load a truck with tanks and do world class shore diving at my own pace is very enticing.

BUT, not being able to leave a cell phone in your vehicle or getting stranded is a big deal IMO. I'm not expecting to leave wads of cash or the Arkenstone in my rental... just a cellphone. I suppose you get a water proof case for it and the problem is solved. But now your truck battery is stolen or gas siphoned... Don't know if I can squeeze those in a water proof case too

It's a little humorous those calling for just using common sense on Bonaire and you won't have problems... because common sense would tell me to avoid Bonaire and the potential of getting stranded at a dive site because your vehicle no longer has a battery when you might be surfacing with an injury to yourself or fellow diver.

Of course you could use a rotation while diving to leave 1 or 2 people standing guard over the rental during dives... there are solutions, but if I need a "situation room" to come up with the "Bonaire common sense" dive strategy... maybe there are easier destinations to dive and relax and feel on vacation, unless Bonaire is so good it's worth it!

 

[Lorenzoid]

Add a $5 per diver tax to my STINAPA medallion and use that to hire local youths in suitable uniform as STINAPA auxiliaries to patrol the dive sites. A secondary benefit might be the locals coming to realize the divers are not bad people and would gladly spend a couple of minutes chatting after a dive. Don't the authorities realize that visiting divers would be willing to pay a few bucks for security?

 

[Kharon]

Apparently not Bonaire in non resort lodging?

Actually, when I go (and I'm going again this Nov/Dec), I rent an apartment in Coco Palm Garden. It's off water and is certainly not a resort. It has a wall with locked gates - which I or anyone could easily hop over. But it does have bars on the windows and since there are a number of apartments within the walls, someone is usually around. I seldom do anything at night, so I'm usually there when it's dark. For the most part my only valuables are my prescription mask, fins, cheap BC, regulators and pony. My only activities are diving, shopping, cooking, washing dishes, Skyping with home, and sleeping. Maybe no one knows I exist. I hope my run of safety/security holds.

 

[Kharon]

... The thing that gets to me is the casual attitude toward theft. It's like "you're a tourist so you should resign yourself to eventually becoming a victim - just deal with it - and quit whining!"

And I very much resent the attitude "that it is all the victim's fault because he/she didn't take special precautions to avoid being robbed." ...

Go to NYC and get robbed and see what the attitude is. You'll be lucky to get as much as a shrug.

 

[AdivingBel]

I'm a new diver and I've never been to Bonaire... because common sense would tell me to avoid Bonaire and the potential of getting stranded at a dive site because your vehicle no longer has a battery when you might be surfacing with an injury to yourself or fellow diver.

Keep in mind this is a discussion on an internet message board, views vary widely, and extremes get amplified. Also many of those calling attention to the Bonaire crime issue have traveled there many, many times and most still return. It is an issue and it probably should be discussed and brought to light, but statements like that are far from consensus. Take the info for what it is and make your own informed decision. Bonaire dive freedom is special and there is something to be missed if you choose not to partake. All IMHO. Safe diving.

 

[Jersey]

May explain the police presence we saw in Sabdeco/Santa Barbara. Wondering if they were there as much between 1:00 - 4:00AM as they were between 1:00 - 4:00pm and if they did anything beyond drive around with the windows up and AC on.

 

[scubadada]

The conditions in Bonaire will improve or they will eventually lose much of the visitor diver business to safer, more carefree places. Personally, I hope things improve, I look forward to my next visit.

 

[wwguy]

The conditions in Bonaire will improve or they will eventually lose much of the visitor diver business to safer, more carefree places.

Where else in the Caribbean are there safer more carefree places where divers can go to enjoy unlimited self-paced self-guided shore diving? If there is such a place we would love to visit there at least once. As it is we keep returning to Bonaire because there's nothing else like it.

 

[JohnN]

Keep in mind this is a discussion on an internet message board, views vary widely, and extremes get amplified. Also many of those calling attention to the Bonaire crime issue have traveled there many, many times and most still return. It is an issue and it probably should be discussed and brought to light, but statements like that are far from consensus. Take the info for what it is and make your own informed decision. Bonaire dive freedom is special and there is something to be missed if you choose not to partake. All IMHO. Safe diving.

Besides this discussion is much more interesting than hearing about saving the donkey's (again and again)