Great trip report. Thanks for sharing.
This is a perennial challenge on Bonaire, for several reasons:
1) Saturdays are the busiest turnover day on the island, with the weekly Continental, Delta, and KLM flights arriving and departing.
2) The Continental flight arrives in the early morning, while the Delta and KLM flight depart in the late afternoon. If flying Delta or KLM, the previous guests typically don't have to check out of the resorts until noon.
3) There are only so many housekeeping staff employed by the resort, and the rooms can only be cleaned so fast once the previous guests have checked out.
4) All of the above challenges are exacerbated if a large group arrives on the early Continental flight and is waiting for rooms vacated by another large group departing on one of the afternoon flights. This sounds like what might have happened to you.
This is great advice. We stayed at Buddy Dive a couple of times when we first began visiting Bonaire in the 90's. We've since discovered and enjoyed other accommodations at a variety of properties elsewhere on the island.
To each his own I guess. You'd never find us in a large group of other divers... or even a small group. It's just not our thing. Bonaire doesn't claim the best diving or accommodations in the world. But they do have a healthy reef, an actively-managed marine park, and easy affordable self-paced diving at 60+ named sites (not counting Klein Bonaire boat dives.) Where else can you get unlimited air or EAN for $150/week and the freedom and diversity of shore dive sites to use it however you see fit? It's easy for folks to drive, dive, shop, dine, and sleep on the island. For us this makes the island additionally attractive for extended stays of 2 to 3 weeks. We've enjoyed other dive destinations too, but find ourselves drawn back to dushi Bonaire again and again. We're looking forward to returning this weekend to enjoy our 17th week on Bonaire.
It's a great world where we can all pursue the vacation destinations and recreational activities we enjoy.
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