Well, I spent the entire month of August on Bonaire. My 5th trip over the last 6 years.
Much of this will be redundant to the Bonaire regulars, but I am going to write it as if writing to someone who has never been there.
The Overview:
Dive Operator: Dive Friends ($180 a week unlimited Nitrox tanks)
Total Dives: 91 (89 shore and 2 boat)
Flight: Seattle to Houston to Bonaire on United.
Accommodations: Week 1 stayed in a private waterfront villa with 3 friends. Booked through VRBO. Weeks 2-4: I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott (17 nights free on points- 5 nights paid at $99 per night).
Rental Truck: Weeks 1 and 2 I booked directly with Avis and weeks 3 and 4 with Budget. Pick up and drop off right at the airport.
The Narrative:
Week one, I had 3 friends come down with me and we rented a 3 bed/4 bath waterfront villa just south of the Bel Mar Apartments. It was a beautiful setup with ample parking, rinse tanks, locked gear storage, pool, private ladder access from the deck into and out of the water for diving. We were very happy with the setup. We rented 2 pick-ups in order to have ample space and flexibility during the week.
oceanfront villa Dushi Lugar with direct private sea access - Belnem
Diving that week was great, but there was a day that was out of the norm when the wind direction shifted and came in from the south, instead of the normal easterly winds, and as a result, it just pounded most of the west coast dive sites with big waves. Nevertheless, I still managed 5 dives that day with some ingenuity and good timing (right place at the right time).
Highlight of the week was a massive Bait Ball encounter at 1,000 Steps. My video wasn’t working, but see below for a compilation of my best photos in a YouTube clip.
This same bait ball was reported throughout the month between Jeff Davis Memorial and 1K Steps. My friends left at the end of week one and I had another friend show up to dive together during week two.
Week two, I moved over to the Courtyard Marriott. I am normally a strong proponent of staying at a waterfront location with direct dive access, in order to maximize dive count and have sunset views. But since I was going to be there for a month, instead of a week, I wasn’t worried about not getting enough diving in. And with all of the free nights of accommodations, it was a no brainer. I was also given $20 a day of free food and beverage credit at the Marriott. I wouldn’t expect others to receive that, but given my status with them, it was a nice perk.
Dive Friends also has one of their 7 fill stations located at the Marriott (soon to be 8 locations), so that was convenient. They provide rinse tanks, 24/7 dive storage access (personal locker with personal lock and key), and a fairly well stocked retail shop.
I don’t think I would recommend booking the dive, drive and stay package with Marriott. I would book all 3 independently, which I did. The stay and dive parts don’t seem to be an issue; but I heard too many reports of issues with the vehicle portion to scare me off (wrong type of vehicle, vehicle not there when it should be and thus lost diving… Etc…).
Weeks 3 and 4, I was on the island by myself and solo diving. I rented a pony tank from Dive Friends at a cost of $7.50 per day. Reduced price, since I had brought my own regulators. Would have been $17.50 otherwise. They will ask you if you are PADI self-reliant certified or Solo Dive certified through another agency and will want to see proof. If you are not, then I suggest bringing your own pony or renting from the TDI shop at Captain Don’s, who has never asked or cared. Or, dive without redundancy, if you are in that camp.
Next Section of report on next page
Much of this will be redundant to the Bonaire regulars, but I am going to write it as if writing to someone who has never been there.
The Overview:
Dive Operator: Dive Friends ($180 a week unlimited Nitrox tanks)
Total Dives: 91 (89 shore and 2 boat)
Flight: Seattle to Houston to Bonaire on United.
Accommodations: Week 1 stayed in a private waterfront villa with 3 friends. Booked through VRBO. Weeks 2-4: I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott (17 nights free on points- 5 nights paid at $99 per night).
Rental Truck: Weeks 1 and 2 I booked directly with Avis and weeks 3 and 4 with Budget. Pick up and drop off right at the airport.
The Narrative:
Week one, I had 3 friends come down with me and we rented a 3 bed/4 bath waterfront villa just south of the Bel Mar Apartments. It was a beautiful setup with ample parking, rinse tanks, locked gear storage, pool, private ladder access from the deck into and out of the water for diving. We were very happy with the setup. We rented 2 pick-ups in order to have ample space and flexibility during the week.
oceanfront villa Dushi Lugar with direct private sea access - Belnem
Diving that week was great, but there was a day that was out of the norm when the wind direction shifted and came in from the south, instead of the normal easterly winds, and as a result, it just pounded most of the west coast dive sites with big waves. Nevertheless, I still managed 5 dives that day with some ingenuity and good timing (right place at the right time).
Highlight of the week was a massive Bait Ball encounter at 1,000 Steps. My video wasn’t working, but see below for a compilation of my best photos in a YouTube clip.
This same bait ball was reported throughout the month between Jeff Davis Memorial and 1K Steps. My friends left at the end of week one and I had another friend show up to dive together during week two.
Week two, I moved over to the Courtyard Marriott. I am normally a strong proponent of staying at a waterfront location with direct dive access, in order to maximize dive count and have sunset views. But since I was going to be there for a month, instead of a week, I wasn’t worried about not getting enough diving in. And with all of the free nights of accommodations, it was a no brainer. I was also given $20 a day of free food and beverage credit at the Marriott. I wouldn’t expect others to receive that, but given my status with them, it was a nice perk.
Dive Friends also has one of their 7 fill stations located at the Marriott (soon to be 8 locations), so that was convenient. They provide rinse tanks, 24/7 dive storage access (personal locker with personal lock and key), and a fairly well stocked retail shop.
I don’t think I would recommend booking the dive, drive and stay package with Marriott. I would book all 3 independently, which I did. The stay and dive parts don’t seem to be an issue; but I heard too many reports of issues with the vehicle portion to scare me off (wrong type of vehicle, vehicle not there when it should be and thus lost diving… Etc…).
Weeks 3 and 4, I was on the island by myself and solo diving. I rented a pony tank from Dive Friends at a cost of $7.50 per day. Reduced price, since I had brought my own regulators. Would have been $17.50 otherwise. They will ask you if you are PADI self-reliant certified or Solo Dive certified through another agency and will want to see proof. If you are not, then I suggest bringing your own pony or renting from the TDI shop at Captain Don’s, who has never asked or cared. Or, dive without redundancy, if you are in that camp.
Next Section of report on next page
