Bonaire, Is it worth the trip?

[beachcomber]

I’ve been to the Yucatan Penninsula, Cozumel, Grand Cayman (east,west,north, south), Roatan, Brittish Virgin Islands, West Palm, and other than cave diving in the cenotes and north central Florida, Bonaire has been my favorite dive location. You just can’t beat the freedom the place allows the diver. No dive/safety briefings (sometimes I feel like I’m on a plane listening the stewardesses endless canned shpeel when on some dive boats). I just don’t like people constantly looking over my shoulder barking commands or even giving suggestions. Heaven has got to be a lot like Bonaire.

 

[Mossman]

My last 3 have been The Red Sea, Costa Rica, and Bonaire. I've done some quality diving. They all have something different to offer, but I enjoyed Bonaire just as much as the others. Maybe you hadn't noticed, but many world-travelled divers continue to go back year after year, and that's for a reason.

You don't like Bonaire? Cool. But you're the minority.

So, no disrespect, Vladimir, but you have no idea what you're talking about.

It didn't sound to me like Vladimir doesn't like Bonaire. He was just pointing out, as you did, that you have no idea what you're talking about. While Bonaire's reefs are very pretty, they're simply no comparison to the quality and diversity of some reefs in the Indo-Pacific region of the world.

That said, I just finished booking my third trip to Bonaire, a week at Den Laman in December. We're looking forward to some nice easy Caribbean diving after returning last week from a much less relaxing trip to the Galapagos. Still, Bonaire will just be an appetizer for the trip we have scheduled to Palau in March and I've been to dive sites in Indonesia that blow Palau away. It's all relative.

 

[under water]

So, no disrespect, Vladimir, but you have no idea what you're talking about.

I think the point he was making is valid. There are many other diving environments in the world other than Caribbean reefs and they do indeed have some very rich life.
I have yet to be to some of the places that Vladimir has been, but I don't think he is alone in his appraisal. I love Bonaire and am heading back there, but have found other areas, like British Columbia for instance, to have much more colorful flora & fauna.
But nowhere that I have been to beats the easy laid back diving style of Bonaire in combo with the great marine environment.

 

[vladimir]

My last 3 have been The Red Sea, Costa Rica, and Bonaire. I've done some quality diving. They all have something different to offer, but I enjoyed Bonaire just as much as the others. Maybe you hadn't noticed, but many world-travelled divers continue to go back year after year, and that's for a reason.

You don't like Bonaire? Cool. But you're the minority.

So, no disrespect, Vladimir, but you have no idea what you're talking about.

I really don't want to argue KKC. Based on my 80 dives and 3 trips to Bonaire, I highly recommend it. One of my favorite vacation spots in the world, as I have indicated in this and other threads on the Scubaboard. I hope to get back there this year; if not, definitely next year.
Perhaps you'll agree that your statement that "the diversity of life and health of the corals is second to none." was a bit too sweeping.

 

[TheWizard]

Yes, we must all contain our exuberance in here

I've not been to THAT many different places but the thing about Bonaire is that it can be much more of an adventure than on a well run dive boat where the staff sets up and tears down your equipment for you. I need to get back for trip #3 before long...

 

[snepdiver]

So what some of you are saying is that there are better reefs than Bonaire? Which ones can you get to from the east coast in a day or so. I do not have enough time off work to sped 2 days getting to dive locations. I guess I need a different job, Eh?
For me the best thing about Bonaire is I can get there in 6 hours or so. The diving is great too.

 

[under water]

So what some of you are saying is that there are better reefs than Bonaire? Which ones can you get to from the east coast in a day or so. I do not have enough time off work to sped 2 days getting to dive locations. I guess I need a different job, Eh?
For me the best thing about Bonaire is I can get there in 6 hours or so. The diving is great too.

Yep, I guess if you draw a 6 hour circle around AL, Bonaire would probably be at or near the top of that list. You might be able to get to BC (Pacific NorthWest) or Sea of Cortez, Mexico though and they are fantastic and raved about as well.
I have been to BC, Sea of Cortez on the short list and heading to Bonaire (2nd time) later this month. Wish it was only 6 hours away. For me .. it's 12 hours.

 

[vladimir]

So what some of you are saying is that there are better reefs than Bonaire? Which ones can you get to from the east coast in a day or so. I do not have enough time off work to sped 2 days getting to dive locations. I guess I need a different job, Eh?
For me the best thing about Bonaire is I can get there in 6 hours or so. The diving is great too.

Yes, in my opinion, the diving is better on Little Cayman and on the atolls in Belize. A direct flight from Newark Saturday morning can have you setting up your equipment on the Belize Aggressor around 3:00 pm. Little Cayman can be a real pain in the neck to get to. People will take issue with my preference of Belize diving over Bonaire diving--to each his own--but they are not qualified to judge if they have not been out on the atolls: The Elbow on Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef, and Half-Moon Caye Wall. Some people will take issue with my opinion without having even been to Belize or Little Cayman. I don't know what to say to that.

Edit: Just noticed you're not real close to Newark. I did a quick Travelocity search and saw a direct from Atlanta on Delta.

 

[DiveMaven]

We loved diving the walls of Belize and found the reefs and marine life to be excellent. I've always heard Bonaire is similar, so I'm looking forward to making my own comparison when we go to Bonaire next summer.

 

[snepdiver]

Thanks for the input. More dive destinations to add to my ever growing short list. Actually, It is turning into a long list.