coldwaterlloyd
Contributor
Bonaire is a long way from Victoria . Expect delays , both ways . Once there I enjoyed one week of Dive , Eat , Sleep , Repeat with a few ice cold Bright Beer in between the gaps .
AB Car Rental was the best of the three I have used on Bon . I would use them again without hesitation . It was the first dive truck that everything worked , brakes good , tires fair.
Happy Holiday Homes is an island secret , keep it on the qt as it is a divers dream . Again , I would stay there again without hesitation . It is close to the south dive sites which have become my favorite .
24 Dives done in the week . All good dives although between white and red slave are my favorites . Just find a place to pull over and get in , a little trickier since Omar but still easy by pacific northwest standards .
The best part of diving Bonaire is the freedom . Get in your truck , go where you wish , go as deep as you feel , stay as long as you like . If you are comfortable with your diving skills there is no better way to dive .
I do not miss being on a schedule , be on the boat at 8 o'clock , go where they take you , get the old "we are going no deeper than 80 feet for 40 minutes" . If I never hear that one again I will be happy .
Water temp was cold by tropical standard . It was 76-77 degrees all week at all depths. I took Pinnacle Merino Elastiprine 3mm , Pinnacle Cruiser 5mm . Pinnacle 3mm beanie . The cruiser 5mm came out after 3 dives , it was just enough to keep me warm on multiple dives throughout the week .
Dining on Bonaire is just a lot of fun and great choices . Due to a short one week trip we did breakfast and lunch out of our cottage . Did Bobbyjans special and various small bar and grills . The local places are a riot , great food , cold Brights , and friendly locals . Nicest people on the planet .
Flamingo Airport has a nice new brick sidewalk but the service is still 1950's. Expect 1-2 hours to get your luggage and clear the airport . Not a problem but after 20 hours travel it boggles ones mind .
For those Bonaire regulars you know what I mean about Bon . I do not think I could go anywhere else in the Caribbean , as much as I love Cozumel . One image that I will never forget is watching my dive buddy , the good Dr exit the beach at sunset with a flock of over 30 pink flamingos fly just above the surface a few feet behind him , all I had to say was "turn around".
A few ice cold Brights after hanging the gear and do it again the next day .
Things blow out of vehicles due to the strange bonaire breeze , leave nothing you want or need and it is kind of funny . We lost an outdated dive guide from the glove box even though my beautiful beach wear was untouched , I did not think it smelled that bad .
If I go anywhere else it will have to be the south pacific , I know if I were on a dive boat in the Caribbean listening to a dive-master on a seasick boat , I would beat myself up severely knowing I could be a beach bum on Bonaire . If you have not tried it , check it out , as diver Vince says "the island is shaped like a boomerang , it keeps you coming back"
Words of Wisdom
AB Car Rental was the best of the three I have used on Bon . I would use them again without hesitation . It was the first dive truck that everything worked , brakes good , tires fair.
Happy Holiday Homes is an island secret , keep it on the qt as it is a divers dream . Again , I would stay there again without hesitation . It is close to the south dive sites which have become my favorite .
24 Dives done in the week . All good dives although between white and red slave are my favorites . Just find a place to pull over and get in , a little trickier since Omar but still easy by pacific northwest standards .
The best part of diving Bonaire is the freedom . Get in your truck , go where you wish , go as deep as you feel , stay as long as you like . If you are comfortable with your diving skills there is no better way to dive .
I do not miss being on a schedule , be on the boat at 8 o'clock , go where they take you , get the old "we are going no deeper than 80 feet for 40 minutes" . If I never hear that one again I will be happy .
Water temp was cold by tropical standard . It was 76-77 degrees all week at all depths. I took Pinnacle Merino Elastiprine 3mm , Pinnacle Cruiser 5mm . Pinnacle 3mm beanie . The cruiser 5mm came out after 3 dives , it was just enough to keep me warm on multiple dives throughout the week .
Dining on Bonaire is just a lot of fun and great choices . Due to a short one week trip we did breakfast and lunch out of our cottage . Did Bobbyjans special and various small bar and grills . The local places are a riot , great food , cold Brights , and friendly locals . Nicest people on the planet .
Flamingo Airport has a nice new brick sidewalk but the service is still 1950's. Expect 1-2 hours to get your luggage and clear the airport . Not a problem but after 20 hours travel it boggles ones mind .
For those Bonaire regulars you know what I mean about Bon . I do not think I could go anywhere else in the Caribbean , as much as I love Cozumel . One image that I will never forget is watching my dive buddy , the good Dr exit the beach at sunset with a flock of over 30 pink flamingos fly just above the surface a few feet behind him , all I had to say was "turn around".
A few ice cold Brights after hanging the gear and do it again the next day .
Things blow out of vehicles due to the strange bonaire breeze , leave nothing you want or need and it is kind of funny . We lost an outdated dive guide from the glove box even though my beautiful beach wear was untouched , I did not think it smelled that bad .
If I go anywhere else it will have to be the south pacific , I know if I were on a dive boat in the Caribbean listening to a dive-master on a seasick boat , I would beat myself up severely knowing I could be a beach bum on Bonaire . If you have not tried it , check it out , as diver Vince says "the island is shaped like a boomerang , it keeps you coming back"
Words of Wisdom
