Bonaire - Where to go?

[SpaceCoastDiver]

What better to do than decide on a sunday afternoon to go to Bonaire (late nov)....But then what?
Can anyone share their experience on where to go (resort, dive school, dive site)
in order for me to plan my trip.
Of course I am also interested in any cool diving story about bonaire.....

I'll be in Bonaire next week (3rd year in a row). Others have already posted great advice. I have stayed at Buddy's 3 times now and they just keep getting better. Room, Truck, Drive thru Fill Station, Breakfast and all the friendship you can stand!

 

[Jetwrench]

Rira...

The only sharks I have heard of were nurse sharks found on the east side of the island. This is the windward side and shore diving is difficult at best and can be dangerous. There is a boat operator called Larry(Larry's Wild Side) who does do boat trips to Cai and Blue Hole on a custom built zodiac. Other than that, sharks are rarely if ever seen on the usually dove west side. You will find plenty of other things to see and the larger animals that are seen frequently(turtles,rays,baracuda,tarpon,eels,etc) will surely get your adrenaline going. Don't forget to think small and look around closely in the shallows. Some of the best critters are hidden or camoflaged. Glance out and away from the reef every so often, as you never know what might be cruising by in the blue.

I have stayed at Eden Beach twice and loved it. The Domingos family will take very good care of you. You will also love Wannadive as they are just a bunch of fun people. Tell Bob and Bart that Smack says HI! Make sure you visit the cams both above and below the water. Ask for their locations if you would like to be seen world wide. You're gonna have a great time. Trust me.

Jet

 

[Damselfish]

What everyone else said, plus this:
Do not pay for boat dives to sites you can access from shore. I saw this all too often during my stay two weeks ago. Get a vehicle(truck or van) and drive to those sites. Boat dives should be to Klien or sites NOT listed as shore dives such as Rappel or the east side(wild side). Anything else is a waste of money and time.

Jet

Personally, given a choice between hopping on the boat at the dock and slogging stuff in and out of the car, I'll take the boat any day. It's worth it to me. YMMV.

If you're staying someplace on the north side of town their boats may visit few sites to the south, and vice versa. The only shore diving (besides off my hotel) I tend to do is to make up for that.

 

[Rirarianneke]

Personally, given a choice between hopping on the boat at the dock and slogging stuff in and out of the car, I'll take the boat any day. It's worth it to me. YMMV.

If you're staying someplace on the north side of town their boats may visit few sites to the south, and vice versa. The only shore diving (besides off my hotel) I tend to do is to make up for that.

It is becoming more difficult every time I read your messages on the board.
Some many places to see and so little time (9 days diving).
My last question now: If you would have 1 boat dive on Bonaire ....what place would you go to (I have a diving packge of 8 days unl. diving and 1 day boat dive...that's why

 

[diversteve]

It is becoming more difficult every time I read your messages on the board.
Some many places to see and so little time (9 days diving).
My last question now: If you would have 1 boat dive on Bonaire ....what place would you go to (I have a diving packge of 8 days unl. diving and 1 day boat dive...that's why

Klein Bonaire or Rappel...

Rappel is a site that you absolutely can't dive from shore. It's said to be one of the most asked for dive sites on Bonaire. Great clumps of coral formations, my buddy thought it was the best site we'd dove on Bonaire. However as the mooring is right up against the cliff face, conditions have to be right to moor there. And back surge off the rock reduces the visibility somewhat.

Klein is slightly different than the rest of Bonaire. I would go to Klein. There are some excellent sites there. We liked South Bay, Forest and Hands Off. And I'd say the visibility is better also.

Also if you dove Rappel first, the second dive would be shallower, maybe Witches Hut or Jeff Davis and they're just average dive sites that are also shore dives. If you shore dive Karpata and 1000 Steps it would be similar to diving Rappel, it's between them and the reef structure is the same.

Don't let the captain or anyone suggest going to any south Bonaire site on your boat dives. Every single site south of Capt' Don's is shore accessible all the way down to the very last one at the south end of the island(Lighthouse).

Steve