Bonaire - only limited days. How should I split it up? - From a beginner.

[uncfnp]

Cherrynyc. Sounds like you will have a great time no matter what you decide. The flights will likely be the most stressful part. If they go smoothly it will be a great trip.

Bonaire is the best choice for the most intense dive experience with a virtual nonstop dive option. Your endurance and NDL's are the only limiting factor. And don't let Bonaire diving intimidate you. It is the most beginner friendly diving that I have experienced. Navigation is easy, you can have great dives from 30 feet to "fill in the blank depths," and typically little current. Search the board or just ask and the Bonaire regulars will be more than eager to share the best way to shore dive Bonaire independently. You have already had a taste of this.

I have yet to do Curacao but understand the reefs are similar but topside is very different as well as the shore dive routine. Diversteve has already given a good synopsis on both locations.

Aruba is all about the Beaches. If lounging around on a beautiful shore is your goal, you've made a good choice. It is more touristy and "crowded" but the beaches are splendid. I also recommend renting an ATV and explore the other side of the island starting at the California Lighthouse on the northwest tip of the island. The sunset cruises are also great fun. There are a few snorkeling sites but pale in comparison to Bonaire. Better to spend your days in Aruba at the activities it is better known for.

Relax and have fun. It's all good!

 

[sphyrnidus]

While the flights are short it is a lot of traveling and indeed the sun is the same on each island. I would definately skip Aruba and spend your beach day either on B or on C. A won't ad much.
Have fun!

 

[diversteve]

Also, we love food and are looking for local and/or hole in the wall type of joints with variety of fresh catch on the menu

http://www.surfenturf-curacao.com/engels/index.html

I'm pretty sure that when we ordered the lobster someone walked down to the water and got ours out of a trap there...

 

[Lorenzoid]

While the flights are short it is a lot of traveling and indeed the sun is the same on each island. I would definately skip Aruba and spend your beach day either on B or on C. A won't ad much.
Have fun!

Yeah, the actual flight times are the least of it. What eats up time is packing (including drying your dive gear if necessary), traveling to the airport an hour or more before the flight, checking in, security hassles, and then the same thing on the other end--picking up bags (that hopefully have not wandered off), traveling to a new hotel and settling in, etc. To me, it would be a waste of time doing this multiple times just to have a brief stay on each of three fairly similar islands. But I suppose some people might feel these minor inconveniences of travel are outweighed by the feeling of having experienced different places however briefly. I intend to impose my own feelings on no one else.

 

[uncfnp]

If you can alter your flight plans and beach time is important, skip Curacao. Get your dive fix in Bonaire. Then head to Aruba for a day or two of relaxation before your flight home. Those two islands are the most dissimilar. Sure the overall terrain might be similar but the infrastructure and "feel" are very different.

For the flights, limit baggage as much as possible. For Bonaire, it's dive gear, swimwear, tees and shorts. I assume it's similar in Curaçao. You may want one "dressier" option for Aruba if you plan a night out. Laundry options are limited but available in Bonaire but should be more readily available in Aruba.

 

[diverjen]

On local/hole in the wall places for Bonaire:

There is a great thread on Bonaire Talk that is called "Cheap Eats" if you find that thread there is a whole list of local places. You may have to create an account to view the thread.

Cheap (but tasty!) eats - Page 3

 

[SandyDiverCur]

Hi CherryNYC,

I've done a lot of shore diving in Curacao. There are a lot of really great dives on the west side of the island and not too far from Blue Bay. Actually, the wall dive at the beach in Blue Bay is a really great dive and you shouldn't miss it!

If you are interested in guided dives you should really check out the remote reefs that are all up and down the shore on the west side.

In addition to the Dive Bus, also check out Bas Harts Diving which specializes in privately guided dives and focuses on the west side. They also include pick up and drop off. Their website is BasHartsDiving.com and they are also on TripAdvisor. Either way you will be pleased.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[redacted]

Hi Rich, thank you for your concern and input. Unfortunately, the first thing I purchased was our plane ticket to Bonaire, and out of Aruba, mainly due to price. Hindsight, I should have researched a bit more before making this jump. I was a beginner diver so I thought 2-3 total diving days would suffice. Upon more researching, I was thinking of skipping Curacao, but I had always wanted to go there, so I just couldn't get myself to skip over it. At least I'll know which island I'll fall in love with most, and hopefully come back sooner than later.

I was thinking of getting an international data plan while on my trip as I do on most trips. How is the local service provider?

Here's a preliminary itinerary if you guys are interested. Most of flying is already book so there's not much wiggle room.
I couldn't have put this trip together without the help of forums such as Scuba Board and Trip Advisor.

Day 1 Bonaire: Fly from NYC. Check in Buddy Dive, relax, snorkel nearby in late afternoon.
Day 2 Bonaire: 2 or 3 tank boat trip, and maybe 1 shore dive in the afternoon.
Day 3 Bonaire: All day shore diving.
Day 4 Bonaire: 1/2 day shore diving in the morning. Lac Bay in the afternoon, perhaps Windsurfing lesson if time allows.
Day 5 Bonaire: Relax and fly to Curacao later in the afternoon (keeping in mind the full 24 hours after dive).
Check in at Blue Bay, relax and check out town have dinner in Willemstad.
Day 6 Curacao: Scuba Dive
Day 7 Curacao: Scuba Dive
Day 8 Curacao: Drive around the island, check out beaches and snorkel.
Day 9 Aruba: Fly to Aruba early morning. Check into Bucuti. Beach/relax. Have romantic dinner on the beach.
Day 10 Aruba: Relax on the beach all day. Maybe check into town for dinner.
Day 11: FLY HOME.

Your first dive on Day 2 will be a required "checkout dive" after the required briefing. It is a very easy shore dive (stairs in and out) with plenty to see. It is for you to check out yourselves so no body will accompany you unless you make other arrangements, which I am sure you can. I'd suggest you push your planned boat dives off to day 3 and you may well find the shore diving to be more than adequate. With over 100 dives in Bonaire, I have yet to see a good reason to get on a boat.

 

[shrkdive]

Depending on what time you arrive on Day 1 you could always do your reuqired check out dive that afternoon. That is what I always do and can therefore hit day 2 running.

 

[Cherrynyc]

Thanks for all the traveling and airport concerns! My boyfriend and I are very well traveled between the two of us and know exactly what we're getting into in terms of packing/airports/settling in. We're crossing our fingers and hoping everything goes without a hitch, as we usually do. But of course there are situations where it's unavoidable and we have expectation levels. Our main concern really is the diving as we are beginners.

We looked into getting a private DM, which turns out it's almost $50 per person per dive! This seemed a lot more expensive than I had thought, so in despite my original concern, we are going to get our advanced open water certification where we will have an instructor with us for 5 dives and try out shore diving. We will also get an extra adventure dive for a total of 6 dives. We will determine whether we will boat dive, dive on our own, guided dive tour, or hire private DM 3rd day of Bonaire and 2 days in Curacao depending on our comfort level after our AOW.

From researching, all the islands have their own pluses. We will dive in Bonaire, soak in city and culture of Willemstad, and lay on the beach in Aruba.

Will keep in mind Dive Bus and Bas Hart!
And thanks for the links to Surf and Turf and Cheap Eats link. This is exactly what we were looking for.
We are going to one night dinner out on the beach last day in Aruba so I will bring something nice.