Sun Dancer 2 (Belize) May 2015 -
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/li...ving-belize-via-sun-dancer-2-may-2nd-9th.html (It's now the
Belize Aggressor IV).
Dive Trip to the Blue Hole & Visit to Half Moon Caye -
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/belize/506647-some-blue-hole-impressions.html
My Research Notes for Bonaire -
My Research Note For Bonaire
8 Day Trip Report: Sand Dollar, Dive Friends
2022
Trip Report Bonaire Trip Report - V.I.P. Divers/Aqua Viva Suites
In a nutshell, my points will reiterate some things others noted.
1.) Shore diving offers great freedom to do your own dive (i.e.: as opposed to being led on a tour by a guide), when/where/how you wish...but it's a lot more work. A Caribbean liveaboard diving off the main yacht is about as 'fall in the water' easy as scuba diving gets.
2.) In Bonaire, unless you do an A.I. plan at the Plaza or Divi Flamingo, you'll eat out at various places, maybe buy groceries and eat in some. On a liveaboard, you'll eat on the boat, and eat well. Again, easier.
3.) I agree that the mainstream west coast dive sites of Bonaire tend to largely fall into the sloping reef wall type, and can seem somewhat repetitive (note: east coast diving is a different experience). Belize's outer atolls region is much more varied.
4.) In Bonaire the only mid-sized/large grouper I've seen were mostly tiger grouper. In 10 trips I've seen one black grouper. Don't recall yellow-fin or Nassau grouper. They do have cubera snapper that get pretty big, but are skittish of me. Bonaire does have tarpon, barracuda, green and hawksbill (I'm told loggerhead, too) sea turtles, and big green morays, so some big stuff but not really known for it. 10 Trips and haven't seen any kind of shark; some southern and eagle rays (1 manta or mobula).
5.) A week in Bonaire, you will experience something of the topside culture and get out and see the sights on the island. A week with a liveaboard in Belize, you might spend a half-day tour on Half-moon Cay, and otherwise you'll experience a big yacht and socialize more heavily with fellow divers and some crew.
6.) I love Bonaire, but it's not where I'd go to boat dive. I could probably get more consistently high quality reefs and more mid-sized/larger marine life if I headed to Little Cayman or Cayman Brac. A number of Buddy Dive Resort boats when I was there years ago were just 1 tank boat trips. I don't like to bother reporting to and getting on the boat for just one dive, then doing it again if I want another.
7.) My favorite Bonaire reefs are the far southern reefs - Sweet Dreams, Vista Blue, Marigot Bay and Red Beryl, due to lush gorgonian growth on the shallower part of the reef wall creating a striking impression. Yes, kite boarders get out aways from Atlantis, so be aware.
If you are strongly intrigued by Bonaire, it'd give you two the option to dive at your own pace, without having to keep up with a guide. That could be very nice.
Note: I discussed Belize as a liveaboard destination. If you want to stay at Turneffe Island Resort, for example, your experience will be different. You'll need to read some reviews from the resorts you're interested in. Of course, I'd ask why stay at a land-based resort instead of a liveaboard, but different strokes for different folks...some people have their reasons. If you've not going to 'dive-dive-dive' on a fairly small island that far out, consider what else you're going to do.
