Trip Report Bonaire with photos

[Diver Dave1]

Visited Bonaire in May 2024. Delta Airlines messed with our plane schedule resulting in us having to overnight in Atlanta both going and returning. Quite frustrating.

Photos are posted at my website and here is a link to it. Photos from Bonaire diving

Stayed at Sand Dollar, our favorite place. We like having a full kitchen, being on the ocean front and having access to the dock next door for diving Bari reef.

Rented a truck from Ultimate Truck Rental. Liked the truck and its ability to safely lock things up when diving. I would use them again.

The favorite dives were Bari and the Salt Pier. Bari has coral damage but there were lots of fish and they did not mind divers taking their picture. At Salt Pier, there were lots of fish with many of them in schools. They did not mind divers or being photographed either. Sergent Majors were in blue phase with lots of eggs deposited on many pier supports. I gave them plenty of space as they were quite busy defending their eggs and did not need me as a distraction.

The highlight of the trip was at the end of the Salt Pier dive, which was also my last dive of the trip. At the end of the dive as we made our way back to the beach, two spotted Eagle Rays came to us and started swimming in a tight circle fairly close to us. They went round and round, like two dogs chasing each other’s tail. Then one swam off and the other came even closer to us for a bit.

Overall, a fun trip, our 4th to Bonaire overall.

 

[Greenwave]

Thank you for your dive report and your beautiful pictures. How lucky you were to be swimming with the Eagle Rays.

I’ll be going to Bonaire for the first time at end of August for 8 days. Any recommendations as to what other sites to go to? Any sites with healthy corals?
Thanks again

 

[herman]

I like Margate Bay, one of the farther south sites. Easy entry with a wide shallow area that has large areas of elk horn coral and soft corals.
If you are shore diving, get some HARD soled boots, think tennis shoe like. The soft rubber ones are hard on the feet as most all the entries are iron stone and coral , not sand.

 

[gng4life]

I like Margate Bay, one of the farther south sites. Easy entry with a wide shallow area that has large areas of elk horn coral and soft corals.
If you are shore diving, get some HARD soled boots, think tennis shoe like. The soft rubber ones are hard on the feet as most all the entries are iron stone and coral , not sand.

Do you have any specific recommendations for boots? I'll be there next month and I would like to order some now as my current boots have a soft sole. Also, I'm using the RK3 fins, are there any issues with these types of boots fitting into these fins? Thanks

 

[BigDaddyGlad]

Do you have any specific recommendations for boots? I'll be there next month and I would like to order some now as my current boots have a soft sole. Also, I'm using the RK3 fins, are there any issues with these types of boots fitting into these fins? Thanks

I bought these Mares boots before my recent trip. I did have to add extenders to the straps on my fins (Avanti Quattro) to accommodate the larger heel, but with Bonaire's shore, thicker soles are a must.

 

[Reeceh11]

Visited Bonaire in May 2024. Delta Airlines messed with our plane schedule resulting in us having to overnight in Atlanta both going and returning. Quite frustrating.

Photos are posted at my website and here is a link to it. Photos from Bonaire diving

Stayed at Sand Dollar, our favorite place. We like having a full kitchen, being on the ocean front and having access to the dock next door for diving Bari reef.

Rented a truck from Ultimate Truck Rental. Liked the truck and its ability to safely lock things up when diving. I would use them again.

The favorite dives were Bari and the Salt Pier. Bari has coral damage but there were lots of fish and they did not mind divers taking their picture. At Salt Pier, there were lots of fish with many of them in schools. They did not mind divers or being photographed either. Sergent Majors were in blue phase with lots of eggs deposited on many pier supports. I gave them plenty of space as they were quite busy defending their eggs and did not need me as a distraction.

The highlight of the trip was at the end of the Salt Pier dive, which was also my last dive of the trip. At the end of the dive as we made our way back to the beach, two spotted Eagle Rays came to us and started swimming in a tight circle fairly close to us. They went round and round, like two dogs chasing each other’s tail. Then one swam off and the other came even closer to us for a bit.

Overall, a fun trip, our 4th to Bonaire overall.

Hi I was on the trip with you. Can I use these in my social media and blog posts? Thanks, Reese @reesehwanderwild

 

[junkyard_dawg]

Do you have any specific recommendations for boots? I'll be there next month and I would like to order some now as my current boots have a soft sole. Also, I'm using the RK3 fins, are there any issues with these types of boots fitting into these fins? Thanks

I started using Chuck Taylors. I have a wide foot and the work great in Bonaire. Into my 3rd year with them so far and no sign of fatigue. A bit faded but I can deal with that.

 

[junkyard_dawg]

Visited Bonaire in May 2024. Delta Airlines messed with our plane schedule resulting in us having to overnight in Atlanta both going and returning. Quite frustrating.

Photos are posted at my website and here is a link to it. Photos from Bonaire diving

Stayed at Sand Dollar, our favorite place. We like having a full kitchen, being on the ocean front and having access to the dock next door for diving Bari reef.

Rented a truck from Ultimate Truck Rental. Liked the truck and its ability to safely lock things up when diving. I would use them again.

The favorite dives were Bari and the Salt Pier. Bari has coral damage but there were lots of fish and they did not mind divers taking their picture. At Salt Pier, there were lots of fish with many of them in schools. They did not mind divers or being photographed either. Sergent Majors were in blue phase with lots of eggs deposited on many pier supports. I gave them plenty of space as they were quite busy defending their eggs and did not need me as a distraction.

The highlight of the trip was at the end of the Salt Pier dive, which was also my last dive of the trip. At the end of the dive as we made our way back to the beach, two spotted Eagle Rays came to us and started swimming in a tight circle fairly close to us. They went round and round, like two dogs chasing each other’s tail. Then one swam off and the other came even closer to us for a bit.

Overall, a fun trip, our 4th to Bonaire overall.

Great pics....heading back there in a few weeks.