Bonaire information - all inclusive or just rent

[Doc]

I hate to argue with you on this but....

RobinT paints a pretty good picture, but like Roatan, the UW landscape of Bonaire also has many divergent faces!

caveat- I only have about 100 logged in Bonaire, so I'm no world's expert....

Bonaire (the island itself) has sloping walls that vary from Flat to 10° slope, these I have noticed along the regularly dived Western shore (roughly from Krinkydink (Kralendijk) North through the seaside resorts).

Even around the Airport, we found a great roadside wall dive and the slope was every bit of 45°. You can also find this heavy angle structure on the small island to the (left) West of the main town center.

The other little island, Klein Bonaire (KB): klein bonaire - Google Maps

The cool thing about Bonaire is the diving around the well shielded Klein Bonaire (KB)(Klein means "Little"). The shape of Bonaire buffers Klein Bonaire from the ferocious oven hot winds from the East. You do these dives via a boat.

<- click to enlarge

I recall a very steep wall (60°) along the Eastern edge of KB island, facing towards Bonaire itself.

On the North and North East of KB- that is my favorite diving. The reef there (again from recollection) is much shallower and "stepped", appearing quite steep. I have always found a lot of little critters here.

The shore diving is an interesting and inexpensive diversion, but many people begin the process of understanding how to make a shore entry over broken coral rip-rap and into the surf. Mild currents also present a decision point to be made while the dive is just underway. Ask questions, plan your dive.

The shore diving on Bonaire has degraded dramatically over the last 30 years, but what island's hasn't? It's still better than what is left of Cayman's former dive mecca just South of georgetown, as a comparison. For night dives, this is irrelevant, as those specific critters thrive in these conditions. Night dive every night!

The Town Pier dive is a daisy chain.

I believe that Bonaire has the best restaurants of any Caribbean island, and I'm not talking about the ones that the Cruise Ship people walk into.

In terms of the stuff you'll likely not get to? The highly vaunted and in my opinion, over rated, North and East exposures of Bonaire. You'll only get to dive this under ideal conditions if and when the winds lay down, but many people jump at the chance.

This wall structure there is very similar to Roatan's North/west dive areas. It is not very florid, more stark and expansive. You will find larger critters here, and currents might present new learning opportunities.

Bonaire presents "advanced diving" in many more challenging ways than your ability to "get deep' on Roatan.

RobinT has the description of Roatan's South Side pretty well dead-on, but to say that the reefs in some places begin their vertical plummet in even shallower water than she notes! Some at 5' during high tide. This unique South side is geographically highly localized.

This very specific area is shown between French Harbor and Pandy Town: <- Either squint at this, or click to enlarge

Yes, you can get deep, all the way to 3000', but the good stuff (much like Bonaire) is from the surface down to 60fsw. Not much to see any deeper.

(Guanaja and Utila, the "other" well known of the many Bay Islands are entirely different kettles of fish)

Bonaire is not to be missed, nor should you miss the South side of Roatan. Do them both! Unfortunately, the only way to do non-AI on Roatan precludes you from the true marvels of that island- the South side's phototropic zone that makes it different than anything else in the Mar Caribe.

Bonaire is easily done by non-AI (ala carte), but as lazy as i am, I would rather base out of an AI. Have breakfast, do my morning two tank boat dive with them, then wander off in search of lunch on my way to a great shore "park and dive". Then for anight dive, you can drive around, but you'll see the same stuff just off of your seaside resort.

Whatever method and whatever island works for you.... but do them both!

 

[Drewpy]

Here is my take..

Roatan(CCV)-1 week in 2005

Bonaire-1 week in 2006-2 weeks in 2007-1 week in 2008

Roatan was great, but felt sheltered and isolated..spent 95% of the time at the resort and stuck eating their food (which was ok) Diving was great but more life on Bon..

Loved Bonaire! So nice to have a truck and explore the various sites on your own. Most places have a kitchen so you can prepare your own food and there are also some GREAT restaurants and places to hang out.
Enjoyed the vibe much more and getting out and meeting the people/locals. Have made many friends there in a short time! A nice Dutch/European/Carribean mix.

Every time I gear up in Monterey..I fantasize that Im sitting on my truck tailgate in Bon! (I really should not complain-lucky to have such great diving locally!)

Let me know if I can help with any info..Its a haul from the west coast but worth it!!

Drew

 

[DiveMaven]

I haven't been to Roatan yet (trip booked for April), but after 2 two-week trips to Bonaire, I'd simply tell the OP this: For a "no-brainer", relaxing, easy trip, where everything is done for you, go to Roatan. If you're looking for an adventure type trip where every decision is made by you, go to Bonaire.

It sounds to me like the diving is fairly equal and we know the critters are going to be similar, so it really comes down to what kind of trip you're looking for. Bonaire is about Diver's Freedom, but that also includes making choices about eating, what dive sites you're going to visit, whether or not you're going to get on a boat, etc., etc. Coco View (for example) is described as "adult camp" or a "liveaboard on land". The boat has a schedule, meals are on schedule (what you eat is limited in choice), the dive sites are chosen by the Captain, your shore dive locations are limited, etc., etc. But at both you can definitely dive your guts out!

Both have pros and cons, so it basically comes down to what kind of vacation you're interested in taking.

 

[DiveConcierge]

Tough call! I am partial to Bonaire, and it doesn't get any better than BelMar Apts- Buddy dive's sister and much less expensive property!!

Please PM or email me if I can help get you a great deal on your vacation!

Devon

 

[Rythmmaker]

I am watching this thread with interest - I spent a week in Roatan at Anthony's Key and loved every second of it. I did 18 dives in 5 days and they were spectacular! Most dives were along the wall described earlier at between 50-80 ft, we did two wreck dives at +100, and two night dives and the shark dive. I only left the resort 3 times during the week. Once, when a storm was making life tough for us on the north west end, they put all our gear on the boats and sent them around to the south side of the island and put us all on a bus and drove us to meet the boats so we could get in our diving but wouldn't have to endure being slammed around on the boat for an hour and a half getting around there. They took great care of us and the food was very good (not great) and it was all-you-can-eat. They really have great facilities, first-class dive boats, very convenient dive lockers, free medical facilities (including a chamber), an awesome pool and tiki bar, kayaks, horseback riding, etc., etc. All you have to do is dive and eat, but there is plenty to enjoy if you have a non-diver in your group or want to take an afternoon off. (Ok, not me, but it's possible that someone might want to...)

I just booked a week in Bonaire yesterday, so I'm very excited to see how that will be. So far, ALL my diving has been boat diving, so shore diving will be new. I got an incredible deal with Tropical Inn / Tropical Divers - $750 pp for the week - double occy - for a one-bedroom apt with a full kitchen, air, and deck -unlimited shore dives with free Nitrox, a rental truck (incl CDW). Two tank boat dives are only $39 pp.

Cost would have been almost double for us to go to AKR on Roatan. Coco View is on the south side of Roatan, where we dove a couple of days. It was almost as impressive, but not quite as many big fish.

I'll be happy to share my thoughts when I get back. We are going to Bonaire next June, so don't hold your breath - it'll be a while.

 

[DeputyDan]

Tough call! I am partial to Bonaire, and it doesn't get any better than BelMar Apts- Buddy dive's sister and much less expensive property!!

Please PM or email me if I can help get you a great deal on your vacation!

Devon

Stayed there my last trip and would stay again!

 

[phelana]

Just an FYI, Bonaire has no all inclusives..and has not since at least 2001. It's the kind of island you dive all over at one of the many shore sites, you eat lunch in town or at your condo and dinner again at your condo or in town..we have hole in the wall places serving amazing fish for UNDER 14 USD including Mi Banana. Mona Lisa has 13.00 menu if you ask...you can book a truck, dive hotel package anywhere...it's really easy in Bonaire..

 

[Lawyer56]

If anyone will be at Capt. Don's on Bonaire during the week of February 13, 2010, let me know -- I'll see you there!

 

[DiverVince]

Saf1.. Have done both islands, Bonaire many many times & Roatan only once (stayed at Fantasy island). Having said that, for independent diving (many times in a bathtub like environment) Bonaire can't be beat. Absolutely no need to book an AI dive package. The beauty of Bonaire is being able to dive when & where YOU want to. One thing Bonaire has down to a refined science is diving.
If you want boat dives, do them al la carte. Most folks however throw a bunch of tanks in the back & head off & dive when & where they please. Yes, decisions decisions on Bonaire. After the dive you then have to make a decision on where to have lunch or dinner at some of the many great eateries.

 

[dschmidt]

I've just booked my seventh trip to CoCoView in Roatan, and will be returning to Bonaire for my second trip in three weeks. Both are spectacular and are among my favorite places to dive. On Bonaire, we have stayed at the Divi Flamingo, rent a truck, and do the two-tank morning boat dives. Shore diving in the afternoon. Bonaire offers the best of both!