Accommodations
We chose to stay at the Plaza Resort because of the convenience of all inclusive, and they were one of the few that would actually offer 3 boat dives a day with Toucan Diving who is their on-site dive operator.
The Plaza has had a reputation of going downhill over the last few years and has changed ownership several times, but it appears they are attempting to turn things around. They are working on major renovations and we were lucky enough to stay in a recently revised room. I‘d have to say it’s probably the best room we’ve been in at any dive location.
The 18x30’ room had two queen beds. The mattresses were rather hard but we still slept well. There were hardwood style ceramic tile floors throughout and modern amenities to include an oversized tub and waterfall shower, a built in safe, TV with multiple channels in various languages, large table with chairs, and a small refrigerator. There is also a plenty of drawer space and a large closet as well. Our view under the covered back porch was the marina causeway right next to a pedestrian cross over bridge. The room did have a few issues, the phone would not work, we ran out of hot water very easily, the large tub could only be filled ¼ before running out of warm water, some of the fixtures on the walls were obviously put up in a hurry and improperly installed as they were loose on the walls and even a support bar across the shower stall to hold a large plate of glass was wedged in with a piece of paper and the bar fell off multiple times. We advised management, but this was never fixed. You could not turn the shower on full or the entire bathroom floor would flood and water would go out into the hallway. So in essence in their haste to renovate they have overlooked quite a bit.
Dining
Meals were a challenge. Being buffet style there was plenty to eat. However, if I scaled it 1 - 10 I’d give it a 5. It was tolerable. Facility staff was amazing. Very helpful, polite, and respectful and more than willing to help, with the exception of a few of the grounds staff who spoke no English. So when you spoke to them you’d just get that confused look, then a smile and a nod. The resort lobby has plenty of chairs and sofas to sit and chat, however it is all open format and there is NO air conditioning making it a very uncomfortable place to “hang” …unless you like humidity and sweating so no one was “Hanging” there. I do think the casino has air, but we never went in there. The restaurant is right on the water and is also an open atmosphere and NO air conditioning. The dining area is large with only 2 ceiling fans which don’t move much air. Don’t plan on showering and dressing up before going to eat because odds are you will sweat through your meal. There is typically a constant breeze, but that offers little to comfort from the heat and humidity when you sit down to eat. Also word of warning, if you eat near the sea wall do not leave your food unattended, the seagulls will devour your food. I found this out the hard way. Staff however was friendly, attentive, and service oriented with the exception of the last night where they attempted, rather poorly, to run the dining area like a real restaurant where you stat and placed an order and it was almost an hour and a half before we got our entire.
Diving
My wife has a bad back which makes shore diving difficult so we booked 3 boat dives a day with Toucan Diving. Apparently all the all the staff there is only about a year old which indicates to me new management of the shop is involved there as well. The staff at Toucan I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed and they were a pleasure to dive with on the relative few dives we were able to complete. This I will explain further down. Staff was safety oriented, extremely polite and genuine. All went out of their way to assist you when required, and all had a fantastic personality and sense of humor which is a huge plus in my book. Boats rotated between crowded and not. Quite simply, morning dives are two tank, and the boats can be maxed. There were two mornings there were 13 divers on the boat. It was crowded, but manageable. Afternoon dives are single tank. One afternoon dive there were just 4 of us and the other there was just myself and my wife. Morning trips would return around 12:30 and the afternoon trip would leave at 2:00 so you had little time to eat and prepare for the afternoon. The captain would generally have a schedule of sites, but it was primarily vote of the boat which was great! So get educated on what sites you’d like to hit before you board. Conditions were scattered storms almost every day, some on top of us and some not. Our first dive we came up to thunderstorms, and lightning. Most days it was calm with only one day in white caps. Most of the dive sites on the West or leeward side are protected from big winds. Visibility varied. I had one shore dive that was maybe 40-50’, most dives were typically 80’+ clarity. Water temps were hovering at 81’. We were booked for 15 boat dives each and planned on doing several shore dives as well. However, plans dramatically changed during dive six.
While diving at Site H, Monte’s Divi off of Klein Bonaire my wife’s regulator flooded and she initiated an emergency ascent from 60’. Long story short, we quickly go her to medical treatment where she was diagnosed with near drowning, and decompression sickness. She spent a total of 13 hours in a hyperbaric chamber before she was relieved of symptoms. I want to personally thank A.J. and Ken of Toucan Diving for your professional demeanor and assistance in the incident. Dive staff was extremely attentive to the scenario. However, it was extremely disappointing and unprofessional that NONE of hotel management bothered to expressed a single word or concern about the event. When it became evident my wife was fully recovered I did get a few more dives in. I found the reefs to be extremely healthy and teaming with diverse marine life with the exception of a few areas where bleaching was evident. However, it was everything I expected Bonaire to be and we will no doubt return, and probably many more times to explore the true potential that exists there. From there I will let the video speak for itself.
VIDEO
We chose to stay at the Plaza Resort because of the convenience of all inclusive, and they were one of the few that would actually offer 3 boat dives a day with Toucan Diving who is their on-site dive operator.
The Plaza has had a reputation of going downhill over the last few years and has changed ownership several times, but it appears they are attempting to turn things around. They are working on major renovations and we were lucky enough to stay in a recently revised room. I‘d have to say it’s probably the best room we’ve been in at any dive location.
The 18x30’ room had two queen beds. The mattresses were rather hard but we still slept well. There were hardwood style ceramic tile floors throughout and modern amenities to include an oversized tub and waterfall shower, a built in safe, TV with multiple channels in various languages, large table with chairs, and a small refrigerator. There is also a plenty of drawer space and a large closet as well. Our view under the covered back porch was the marina causeway right next to a pedestrian cross over bridge. The room did have a few issues, the phone would not work, we ran out of hot water very easily, the large tub could only be filled ¼ before running out of warm water, some of the fixtures on the walls were obviously put up in a hurry and improperly installed as they were loose on the walls and even a support bar across the shower stall to hold a large plate of glass was wedged in with a piece of paper and the bar fell off multiple times. We advised management, but this was never fixed. You could not turn the shower on full or the entire bathroom floor would flood and water would go out into the hallway. So in essence in their haste to renovate they have overlooked quite a bit.
Dining
Meals were a challenge. Being buffet style there was plenty to eat. However, if I scaled it 1 - 10 I’d give it a 5. It was tolerable. Facility staff was amazing. Very helpful, polite, and respectful and more than willing to help, with the exception of a few of the grounds staff who spoke no English. So when you spoke to them you’d just get that confused look, then a smile and a nod. The resort lobby has plenty of chairs and sofas to sit and chat, however it is all open format and there is NO air conditioning making it a very uncomfortable place to “hang” …unless you like humidity and sweating so no one was “Hanging” there. I do think the casino has air, but we never went in there. The restaurant is right on the water and is also an open atmosphere and NO air conditioning. The dining area is large with only 2 ceiling fans which don’t move much air. Don’t plan on showering and dressing up before going to eat because odds are you will sweat through your meal. There is typically a constant breeze, but that offers little to comfort from the heat and humidity when you sit down to eat. Also word of warning, if you eat near the sea wall do not leave your food unattended, the seagulls will devour your food. I found this out the hard way. Staff however was friendly, attentive, and service oriented with the exception of the last night where they attempted, rather poorly, to run the dining area like a real restaurant where you stat and placed an order and it was almost an hour and a half before we got our entire.
Diving
My wife has a bad back which makes shore diving difficult so we booked 3 boat dives a day with Toucan Diving. Apparently all the all the staff there is only about a year old which indicates to me new management of the shop is involved there as well. The staff at Toucan I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed and they were a pleasure to dive with on the relative few dives we were able to complete. This I will explain further down. Staff was safety oriented, extremely polite and genuine. All went out of their way to assist you when required, and all had a fantastic personality and sense of humor which is a huge plus in my book. Boats rotated between crowded and not. Quite simply, morning dives are two tank, and the boats can be maxed. There were two mornings there were 13 divers on the boat. It was crowded, but manageable. Afternoon dives are single tank. One afternoon dive there were just 4 of us and the other there was just myself and my wife. Morning trips would return around 12:30 and the afternoon trip would leave at 2:00 so you had little time to eat and prepare for the afternoon. The captain would generally have a schedule of sites, but it was primarily vote of the boat which was great! So get educated on what sites you’d like to hit before you board. Conditions were scattered storms almost every day, some on top of us and some not. Our first dive we came up to thunderstorms, and lightning. Most days it was calm with only one day in white caps. Most of the dive sites on the West or leeward side are protected from big winds. Visibility varied. I had one shore dive that was maybe 40-50’, most dives were typically 80’+ clarity. Water temps were hovering at 81’. We were booked for 15 boat dives each and planned on doing several shore dives as well. However, plans dramatically changed during dive six.
While diving at Site H, Monte’s Divi off of Klein Bonaire my wife’s regulator flooded and she initiated an emergency ascent from 60’. Long story short, we quickly go her to medical treatment where she was diagnosed with near drowning, and decompression sickness. She spent a total of 13 hours in a hyperbaric chamber before she was relieved of symptoms. I want to personally thank A.J. and Ken of Toucan Diving for your professional demeanor and assistance in the incident. Dive staff was extremely attentive to the scenario. However, it was extremely disappointing and unprofessional that NONE of hotel management bothered to expressed a single word or concern about the event. When it became evident my wife was fully recovered I did get a few more dives in. I found the reefs to be extremely healthy and teaming with diverse marine life with the exception of a few areas where bleaching was evident. However, it was everything I expected Bonaire to be and we will no doubt return, and probably many more times to explore the true potential that exists there. From there I will let the video speak for itself.
VIDEO
