Bonaire photos and trip review

[lsorenson]

Bonaire review



Underwater photos Bonaire


Bonaire still is one of the best spots for diving in the Caribbean. The reef is one of the healthiest and has the most fish.

On the negative side, Crime still exists and they don't seem to do anything about it. The last time I went to Bonaire was 15 years ago. I did not return for 15 years due to the crime. It is a shame as the reef really is quite nice.

Hey Rick... I tried to get to your review but it looks like the link is broken... Site can not be found. Can you help out can check this?

Thanks, lee

 

[rickcavanaugh]

Hey Rick... I tried to get to your review but it looks like the link is broken... Site can not be found. Can you help out can check this?

Thanks, lee

Yeah, I crashed the database on my site bad. No backup......Yeah I know....:shocked2:

I started rebuilding it but the link for the bonaire review is different

Review of Bonaire and Buddy Dive | Scuba Trip Reviews

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

My point is they should enforce the laws. My point is they down play the problem instead of addressing it.



It is a shame that a great spot like this is ruined by a few and those who choose to ignore it.

First, I fully agree with you... They should enforce the laws.

Now, I couldn't get a cop in the US to respond to a pair of sunglasses and some water stolen from my car anywhere... You state there was security and someone who had the "Keys to the snack stand"... There is no security and the snack stand hasn't been open in many years. Not only that, but the door has no lock on it...

Again, I fully agree that police should step up their response and execution of law enforcement for crimes. On the other hand, I consider room break-ins and hostage situations a much bigger crime issue than some sunglasses and water taken from a vehicle where even dishonest divers could be at fault, and where you couldn't coax a US cop to come out and get a statement for the crime...

 

[adurso]

First, I fully agree with you... They should enforce the laws.

Now, I couldn't get a cop in the US to respond to a pair of sunglasses and some water stolen from my car anywhere... *SNIP*.

Speaking as a retired US cop, who was a boss, in a tourist area, a pattern of thefts from autos always resulted in stake outs, decoys and general aggravation of the petty thieves until it stopped.

Hotel burglaries of tourist hotels, robberies, or abduction would result in overwhelming force.

City councils generally put much stock in what merchants say...merchants who stand to lose income can bring much pressure to bear, and you know what flows downhill.

When the right people complained I had to detail men to stake out an area for alleged "tomato worshippers" hanging around a church at night "shooting heroin".....

Bonaire is not the US, people will still go there, the petty theft does not result in a mass exodus to another island.

There are other considerations that will be obviated when the Dutch get more involved.

A Bonaire police officer put it this way to me:" It is very difficult to arrest someone who is related to you in some fashion causing family trouble"

They also have folk come over from the mainland and other islands to steal, and to purchase stolen goods. Te island police do not have the resources to conduct investigations following suspects to other islands...

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

Speaking as a retired US cop, who was a boss, in a tourist area, a pattern of thefts from autos always resulted in stake outs, decoys and general aggravation of the petty thieves until it stopped.

Hotel burglaries of tourist hotels, robberies, or abduction would result in overwhelming force.

City councils generally put much stock in what merchants say...merchants who stand to lose income can bring much pressure to bear, and you know what flows downhill.

When the right people complained I had to detail men to stake out an area for alleged "tomato worshippers" hanging around a church at night "shooting heroin".....

Bonaire is not the US, people will still go there, the petty theft does not result in a mass exodus to another island.

There are other considerations that will be obviated when the Dutch get more involved.

A Bonaire police officer put it this way to me:" It is very difficult to arrest someone who is related to you in some fashion causing family trouble"

They also have folk come over from the mainland and other islands to steal, and to purchase stolen goods. Te island police do not have the resources to conduct investigations following suspects to other islands...

Yes, I agree with what you have stated, and what has not been stated yet implied by your post. I too have heard there are issues with funding through the current "administration" of "everything is sent to Curacao and Bonaire receives what Curacao sends them"... Not a very good representative government application...

Here is to hoping further Dutch integration will centralize the enforcement efforts and allow funding for such stakeout operations and "stings". I also hope to see their school funding increase as well as other educational efforts

 

[adurso]

Yes, I agree with what you have stated, and what has not been stated yet implied by your post. I too have heard there are issues with funding through the current "administration" of "everything is sent to Curacao and Bonaire receives what Curacao sends them"... Not a very good representative government application...

Here is to hoping further Dutch integration will centralize the enforcement efforts and allow funding for such stakeout operations and "stings". I also hope to see their school funding increase as well as other educational efforts

Hope you are enjoying your trip. We will be back there next year. Next week we will be in Florida diving the Blue Heron Bridge...

 

[lsorenson]

Thanks Rick...

lee

 

[Rythmmaker]

Just returned from a weeklong trip to Bonaire. We had a great time, but we did find it inconvenient at times to have to worry about leaving anything of value in the truck. We did leave water bottles, towels and cheap sunglasses in the truck, but left the windows rolled down and the doors unlocked. Our stuff was rifled through and on one day someone stole a ball cap - lightweight dryfit Nike brand. They left the sunglasses, towels and waterbottle alone. Then two days later someone stole the other cap we brought (same type, different color). At Andrea II, there were distinct piles of broken glass in three rows where someone had apparently decided to lock their cars and had the windows broken out.

It was sad and unfortunate, but would not deter me from going again. I was told that the northern dive sites (distinct from the ones south of the airport) have more trouble than the ones on the south side. I also was told by some of the locals that the police have a pretty good idea who the main offenders are, but there are familial ties to the authorities and there is no determined effort to take the problem seriously, in any case.

Don't let it worry you or deter you from going - just follow the recommendations and leave nothing of value in your vehicle and make sure it is unlocked and windows open. I carried a waterproof "divers egg" that was provided by our dive operator on the island (on loan) so that I could put cash and keys in it and carry it with me when I dove.

 

[RICHinNC]

A Bonaire police officer put it this way to me:" It is very difficult to arrest someone who is related to you in some fashion causing family trouble"

QUOTE]

Then, IMHO, they are in the wrong job. Do something else.

 

[adurso]

A Bonaire police officer put it this way to me:" It is very difficult to arrest someone who is related to you in some fashion causing family trouble"

QUOTE]

Then, IMHO, they are in the wrong job. Do something else.

Different cultures, different mores, different folkways

Small town USA cops and reservation police have the same issues