Bonaire Dive Shops

[scubakimmi]

Hi everyone! My hubby and I are going to Bonaire early May this year. What is the best, most personalized dive shop and service on the island? We do NOT want cattle boats, and we want to do mostly boat dives since my husband has a hip handicap.

Other questions:
1. Where is the best dining?
2. What is the most fun and decently accommodated resort (preferably with on-the-beach rooms available)?
3. Do you HAVE to have a rental vehicle?
4. Is there anything else to do besides dive?
5. Has anyone traveled there from New Orleans?
6. Any particular site to get the cheapest price on flight/hotel?

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

 

[SDAnderson]

http://www.bonairetalk.com/cgi-local/bbs/discus.cgi?pg=topics
1) There are a bunch of decent restaurants on the island but none are great. Richard's and Capriccio's are two of the best.
2) The only resort on the island to have a beach is the Plaza. Good place, good accomodations, programs for kids, one of the nicest places on the island, but don't confuse it with a Ritz.
3) No. There are cabs and many of the hotels will shuttle you to and from town. There's even an abomination called the Pink Bus for shore divers that don't want rent a vehicle.
4) Dining and drinking being the two most common diversions, there is also a little bit of shopping in Kralendijk and sometimes the casinos are actually open, too. Beyond that, the salt flats south of town are pretty awesome, as are the flamingos nesting in the salt marshes. North is Slagbaai, an interesting (if desert) park with some nice views. Everyone should make a trip to the Cultimara just for the experience, too.
5) Not me, but I'm sure they will let you.
6) I'm a huge fan of Andy Reppeto at Bonaire Pro's. He's taken good care of us on a number of trips and I'm sure will do the same for you. http://www.bonairepros.com/

Oh, yeah, and about the dive shops. Almost all are directly affiliated with resorts. Toucan at the Plaza (and some of the other resorts) is generally regarded to be the best, but none of them are slouches. You won't find a lot of six packs on the island, however, most of the boats are much larger.

 

[VTernovski]

1) the best dining is in the town - I really liked "It Rains Fishes" restuarant - food and service is outstanding. I also kind alike Divi's Flamingo's restuarant. I wasn't impressed with Richie's at all despite high popularity - overprised and food is kinda plain.

2) I stayed in Plaza and I stayed at Divi Flamingo. PLaza is good, the dive shop there is good, boats are good too. But the property is huge - lots of distance to cover by walking - dive shop is way too far from their beach diving. Definatelly a no-no since you husband would rather avoid long waks. I would say Divi is a better choice. Can;t comment on others since I haven't been to them. I heard Buddy resort is good too.
3). It's really worth to go driving in the town and also on the East Coast as well as towards the Park on the north. But if you're not doing any other beach dives, then I don't know.. might not worth it. Perhaps you can rent a scooter instead.

4). Go wind surfing - East COast, near Sorabon. If you are into Nude beaches - take a day pass at Sorobon. It's really nice there... and you odn;t have to be nude, it's just tootally cool, casual, and private atmosphere.

5). N/A

6). I just used Expedia or Travelocity, which ever is cheaper for flights. As far as resorts, I just do a general search on the web. sometimes they have special discounts and promotions that will not show on Expedia, etc..

 

[herman]

1.Dining, guess it depends on what you like. I HATE places with 3 forks and 2 glasses on the table so I find lots of great food on island. Try Donna and Gorgeios and Lions Dive for more upscale food, Pasa Bon Pizza for pizza and calzones and for local food Gibi's is the place. City Cafe has a good burger and I understand there is a good rib joint down town (I intend to find out in a couple of weeks)

2. We usually stay at Buddy Dive, nice accomidations (some ground level) and a really good dive staff. As far as "fun" again it depends on what you want. I want to be left alone, to eat, sleep and dive. If you want to be pampered then maybe the Plaza would be better. The Plaza, Buddy Dive, Capt Dons, Lions Dive, Sand Dollar and Eden Beach are a few of the resort that are on the beach. The Plaza and Eden Beach are the only ones that have much of a beach. There are few big sandy beaches on Bonaire.

3. You don't have to rent a car but you will miss the best part of Bonaire. The house reefs are OK but there are many others to explore and you need one if you intend to try the different restaurants. They drive on the right and halfway reasonably so it's not hard to drive on the island.

4 Wind surfing and sight seeing is about it.

5. Not I.

6. I find for the least hassle I use a travel agent that deals in dive travel. I have had good sucess with Caradonna. http://www.caradonna.com/caradonna/default.aspx

Most of the boats handle 15-20 people, some more. I would use the dive shop that is associated with the resort you choose, it's a lot easier that way. Don't write off the shore dives too soon. There are a lot so easy shore dives that require only a 10 to 30 ft walk to the water.
If you have not already, come over to the Bonaire board and ask your questions there. www.Bonairetalk.com

 

[dedhed]

[QUOTE=
1) There are a bunch of decent restaurants on the island but none are great. Richard's and Capriccio's are two of the best.

Hate to tell you, Richard's is closed. Try the Rijstafel at the Old Inn. It's an Indonesian meal that gives small portions of many different items. When we had it three weeks ago there was, maybe twenty different dishes!

I dive with Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn. He is one of the original folks, with Cap't Don, who started the dive industry on the island. It's small, personal and has, I feel, the best staff on the Island. Most have been with him and on the island for over a decade.

Have Fun....

 

[SDAnderson]

Richard's closed? Say it ain't so! That was the best wine list on the island and some pretty decent grub, too. When did this happen?

 

[scubakimmi]

I can hardly believe how generous y'all have been in responding quickly and thoroughly to my posts. I got one piece of advice on a dive shop that I had not heard of, which hopefully just means that the shop is one of those hidden treasures that concentrates on service and not advertising. Is this smaller dive company the way to go? Anyone else heard of Bruce Bowker's? If so, where do I have to stay to dive with him? Well, I appreciate the advice tremendously, as we like less touristy dive shops that often only the locals or seasoned traveler know about.

Thanks a mil, scubakimmi

 

[Damselfish]

Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn
http://www.caribinn.com/

Haven't been there myself but always heard good things. Small and tends to be booked up.

 

[rjchandler]

I usually use Bon Bini divers which is a small outfit located at Lion Dive. Rooms there are nice but you can dive with them w/o saying there. I think Carib Inn will let you dive with them if you don't stay there -i have met people on shore dives who were using their tanks but not staying there. bowker is good about answering e-mail so ask him.

restaurants are better than reefraff would lead you to beleive.

:54: Mona Lisa is excellent. the Argentina Grill is good. Donna and Georgio's is good. It Rains Fishes is good.

 

[kalvyn]

Hate to tell you, Richard's is closed.

We were just there in February and the locals we asked about nice restaraunts were recommending Richard's, though we never actually got there. I would have to guess that the local folks would have told us Richard's was closed if it truly was...

I went to Bonaire with low expectations about the food, due to reports I read on this very board. The food was really quite good. I especially liked the Mona Lisa. There's a BBQ place that's only open on weekends in Kralendijk that was highly recommended to us, but we just missed their lunchtime on Sunday. I can't remember the name of the place, sorry.

As far as dive shops, we used Bonaire Dive & Adventure (we stayed at the Sand Dollar) and were quite happy with them and their service. I would gladly dive with them again.

The best part about Bonaire is the shore diving. I wouldn't go there without renting a car or small truck.

I can't hardly wait to go back!

Jimmie