Heading out Saturday morning with 2 of my best dive buddies. Just got my nitrox certification and a Gopro ready to go. So pumped, and tips or recommendations for diving, food, etc would be much appreciated.
Bonaire last minute tips
- Thread starter scubaNYC16
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Assuming you're mostly shore diving...
Look for sand channels between the breaks in the ironshore. Some will come all the way up onto the beach and are the easiest entry points. They're not always where most people park. Other divers have piled up coral rubble at some sites indicating a good entry point also. Here's an example - this is Vista Blue to the south.
There's holes in the ironshore just offshore at Angel City and it's sharp. (I learned the hard way) Most other sites the ironshore was pretty intact - at least the 20 we dove. Salt Pier is another must do dive. Some of the south sites have Fire Coral on the ropes, the Pier etc. No gloves allowed so I wouldn't touch anything brown. Cliff north of Habitat and Bari Reef - in front of Sand Dollar/Den Laman condos are other good dives.
If you haven't seen it, there's some entry pictures/site details here: Scuba Shore Diving Region: ABC Islands
A few of them underwater here: http://www.bonairepanoramas.com/underwater.html
I'm sure you've read leave nothing in the truck you want to keep. And leave the windows down/doors unlocked so you don't have the hassle of getting one replaced. Tanks can stay in the back since no one takes those. We just spread our gear out loose in the backseat - we weren't the first to do that...lol. Since most of the dives are along the west side, you're never more than about 15-20 mins. from your resort. Even when you pass the one-way point going north, it's only about 20-30mins. drive thru Rincon and back to Kralendijk.
Once you have the BMP tag you won't need to show a c-card anywhere either. We were there during DiveFest and never did even though we dove with several different operators.
If you do some boat diving Rappel is a good one. So are some of the sites off Klein. We particularly liked Forest.
Bobbe Jans BBQ in town is recommended often. You'll smell it before you see it. Only open on weekends. Service everywhere is going to be slow and you may have to repeatedly ask for the check. They're not rude, you're their guest and they don't want to rush you. There's also a good Beach party/BBQ at Coconut Crash at the Plaza - currently I think it's Tuesday night. They'll have volleyball etc. there also. Nightspots are mostly Karel's Bar or Little Havana. City Cafe has a band on weekends now from what I've read. And there's the Divi Casino - the only one there.
Look for sand channels between the breaks in the ironshore. Some will come all the way up onto the beach and are the easiest entry points. They're not always where most people park. Other divers have piled up coral rubble at some sites indicating a good entry point also. Here's an example - this is Vista Blue to the south.
There's holes in the ironshore just offshore at Angel City and it's sharp. (I learned the hard way) Most other sites the ironshore was pretty intact - at least the 20 we dove. Salt Pier is another must do dive. Some of the south sites have Fire Coral on the ropes, the Pier etc. No gloves allowed so I wouldn't touch anything brown. Cliff north of Habitat and Bari Reef - in front of Sand Dollar/Den Laman condos are other good dives.
If you haven't seen it, there's some entry pictures/site details here: Scuba Shore Diving Region: ABC Islands
A few of them underwater here: http://www.bonairepanoramas.com/underwater.html
I'm sure you've read leave nothing in the truck you want to keep. And leave the windows down/doors unlocked so you don't have the hassle of getting one replaced. Tanks can stay in the back since no one takes those. We just spread our gear out loose in the backseat - we weren't the first to do that...lol. Since most of the dives are along the west side, you're never more than about 15-20 mins. from your resort. Even when you pass the one-way point going north, it's only about 20-30mins. drive thru Rincon and back to Kralendijk.
Once you have the BMP tag you won't need to show a c-card anywhere either. We were there during DiveFest and never did even though we dove with several different operators.
If you do some boat diving Rappel is a good one. So are some of the sites off Klein. We particularly liked Forest.
Bobbe Jans BBQ in town is recommended often. You'll smell it before you see it. Only open on weekends. Service everywhere is going to be slow and you may have to repeatedly ask for the check. They're not rude, you're their guest and they don't want to rush you. There's also a good Beach party/BBQ at Coconut Crash at the Plaza - currently I think it's Tuesday night. They'll have volleyball etc. there also. Nightspots are mostly Karel's Bar or Little Havana. City Cafe has a band on weekends now from what I've read. And there's the Divi Casino - the only one there.
OP
Thanks! So excited for a week of diving there. We're doing 6 days unlimited air with 3 2 tank boat dives.
DiveMaven
Contributor
You might find the boat dives to be time consuming and not worth the time. On our first trip we only used 1 of the boat dives in our package, and haven't bothered on subsequent trips, including the one next month. We *might* try to get on Buddy's 3-tank to the park, but haven't decided for sure yet.
Doctorfish
Contributor
Don't agree. Boat dives are good for a first timer. Most ops tend to go to Klein or other sites you can't get to by truck. Also the DMs know where the small animals like frog fish and sea horses hang out. I would boat dive for several mornings and shore dive PM and night. Buddy Dive 3 tanker is pretty good as it allows Washington-Salagbi park diving without the hassle. Wild Side Diving is worth a look as well. The East Side is totally different diving and good for large animals; turtles, rays, potentially a shark or two.
I second the recommendation for Bobbejans. We also usually hit Mi Bannana for Columbian food and Donna and Georgios for Italian. ( they don't do pizza at dinner, however ). What operator are you doing your boat dives with? If Buddy Dive, try to get on Murphin's boat. He is a great DM.
I second the recommendation for Bobbejans. We also usually hit Mi Bannana for Columbian food and Donna and Georgios for Italian. ( they don't do pizza at dinner, however ). What operator are you doing your boat dives with? If Buddy Dive, try to get on Murphin's boat. He is a great DM.
OP
We are using Dive Friends, both had great reviews and recommendations but Buddy seems to be too big. We plan to do boat dives first 2 days with shore in the afternoon and shore the rest of the week.
DEET.
In the evening mosquitoes can get pretty nasty sometimes, and make a beautiful night of dining by the ocean a lot less enjoyable.
In the evening mosquitoes can get pretty nasty sometimes, and make a beautiful night of dining by the ocean a lot less enjoyable.
Go to the Park, absolutely worth it.
fish pizza, rosies in Rincon, rains fishes.
eat the fish.
skip the boat diving.
have fun.
fish pizza, rosies in Rincon, rains fishes.
eat the fish.
skip the boat diving.
have fun.
Headers
Registered
Restaurants:
Pasa Bon Pizza for the lion fish pizza.
Casablanca for the meat overload
Dive Sites:
Hidden Beach (in Shore Diving Made easy book available about every where on the island)
Margate Bay
Invisibles
Oil Slick Leap - just cuz its fun.
I generally put together a list of dive site combos for our group (I think we're taking 20 this time) and we are leaving in three weeks. If anyone is interested in the combos I have come up with lmk and I can post or pm it.
Pasa Bon Pizza for the lion fish pizza.
Casablanca for the meat overload
Dive Sites:
Hidden Beach (in Shore Diving Made easy book available about every where on the island)
Margate Bay
Invisibles
Oil Slick Leap - just cuz its fun.
I generally put together a list of dive site combos for our group (I think we're taking 20 this time) and we are leaving in three weeks. If anyone is interested in the combos I have come up with lmk and I can post or pm it.
R
redacted
Guest
Where is Hidden Beach?
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