Bonaire Crime - Our experience - Looking for input to share

[scubadada]

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.

Shore diving mecca, self fulfilling prophesy. No argument here, only the socioculteral conditions. Curacao is not shabby

 

[oldschoolto]

The U.S. Department of State rates the criminal threat level in Curacao Medium. As a major tourist destination, the principal crimes of concern are petty theft and street crime, but Curacao also saw sporadic incidents of violent crime, including homicide, armed robbery, rape and sexual assault.....

 

[scubadada]

There are two groups, the realists and the deniers. Not so much different than American politics these days.

 

[oldschoolto]

There are two groups, the realists and the deniers. Not so much different than American politics these days.

You said "Curacao is not shabby" and I posted the state dept report on it...

jim...

 

[tursiops]

You said "Curacao is not shabby" and I posted the state dept report on it...

jim...

Pretty sure he meant the diving is not shabby.

 

[AdivingBel]

Pretty sure he meant the diving is not shabby.

Hope so... gonna be there in October

 

[oldschoolto]

This is a thread about the crime on Bonaire, To post that Curacao is another place to go is to imply that it is somehow a safer place... Far from fact... Then to say "There are two groups, the realists and the deniers."

I never said that there is not crime on Bonaire... But, To listen to some of the people on this thread and others like it... Crime is so bad that it's a unsafe place to go...

When I made my first trip to Bonaire a little over two years ago, I was ready for the wild west.. Gangs of kids waiting to rob you.. like in Brazil ... The minute you were in the water they had your truck up on a jacks stealing the tires and battery from you as the cops watched...

What I found was a wonderful Island with friendly locals... A place with diving that was outstanding and could be had 24/7 on my own time frame... Don't leave anything in the truck and leave the windows down... When I go to the market I leave my gear in the back of the truck and don't worry about it.. Is there crime on Bonaire ? Well of course there is... Should we try and address it and fix it ? Yes...

But, As long as people keep bringing and leaving stuff to steal in their trucks the crime will continue... Lock the truck and roll up the windows, And you may just find a broken window .... Just don't be surprised... Bring your water bottles and towel and even a snack... Leave it out in the open and not in a bag.. Bring your money and car key with you in a water proof case... I put my glasses in my BC pocket... Flip flops get left in the bed of the truck... Don't leave anything that you will miss if stolen... Simple...

I'm still waiting for the list of places to go diving without any crime ???

Jim..

 

[mmmbelows]

But, As long as people keep bringing and leaving stuff to steal in their trucks the crime will continue... Lock the truck and roll up the windows, And you may just find a broken window .... Just don't be surprised... Bring your water bottles and towel and even a snack... Leave it out in the open and not in a bag.. Bring your money and car key with you in a water proof case... I put my glasses in my BC pocket... Flip flops get left in the bed of the truck... Don't leave anything that you will miss if stolen... Simple...

Jim..

Glad you brought that up. Bonaire is the only place I've been to where the car rental company makes the renter responsible for damage to the vehicle if you use the vehicles security features. If you lock your car and a thief breaks the window you're responsible for the cost of the repairs. Every rental agency I've been in has a huge sign behind the counter on the wall and on the counter saying so. The rental agencies are so sick of fixing their own cars from all the petty theft damage that the abnormal is the new normal

 

[Kharon]

Shore diving mecca, self fulfilling prophesy. No argument here, only the socioculteral conditions. Curacao is not shabby

My understanding from trying very unsuccessfully to buy an unlimited air shore diving package and dive solo (I have the card) is that Curacao does not allow solo diving. Bonaire doesn't even bother to ask if you have a buddy or want to see a solo card. That's one hell of a lot more freedom.

 

[JohnN]

My understanding from trying very unsuccessfully to buy an unlimited air shore diving package and dive solo (I have the card) is that Curacao does not allow solo diving. Bonaire doesn't even bother to ask if you have a buddy or want to see a solo card. That's one hell of a lot more freedom.

Odd, I had (almost) no trouble with solo diving on Curacao. The only exception was Blue Bay (a private beach). The shop I got my tanks through offered me the option of unlimited or 'by-the-tank', whichever ended up costing me the least at the end of the week.

Where and with whom did you dive?

And FWIW, all the "popular" spots had a person watching the parking lot to prevent car prowls.