Booked for Bonaire

[Harro10]

I just booked a dive trip to Bonaire for 11/10 to 11/17. I picked up a lot of good tips from searching and reading the Bonaire threads and would like to thank all the posters.
I booked the Hamlet because they seemed to have good deal for solo travelers. Photo Tours has a site on the property and I will be using them for the six boat dives (and unlimited shore dives) that come with the package. I was able to get a pretty good fare for Air Jamaice from NY.
Thanks again to all the excellent contributors to this site.

 

[Doc]

Well, then, it looks like you owe ScubaBoard one, then, right?


"One" trip report, that is. It's one thing to get the info, hear the promises, then book the trip... but be sure to post a well reasoned trip report upon your return!

 

[Harro10]

Will do. (Although I can't promise well reasoned).

 

[Drewpy]

You are going to love Bonaire!!!
Great diving,great people and great food!
A good place to solo if you are so inclined...?
Take a drive over to Rincon and have a meal at the Rose Inn-good Island/local cuisine!
Dont leave anything of value in your car/truck and leave the windows down.

Have a great trip/be safe

 

[parrotman]

You'll like staying at the Hamlet, it's a cozy little complex, quiet and in a pretty good location. Grab a tank and do the shore dive right there in front of the complex. Enter the water and hang a left. At about 40 to 45 feet you will come to small wall and you may be lucky enough to see the resident moray that hangs out there. He frequently is out and about during the day and is free swimming around the reef. Don't make the mistake of trying to feed him though. He can get pretty aggressive. I was watching a diver one day that had taken in some lunch meat, that moray smelled it and chased the diver halfway back to the exit point. There is also a sea horse that hangs out in the area, or at least the last 3 times I have dived that site. You can walk to several restaurants from the Hamlet, all of them good. Photo tours are a good op, one bit of advice though. They charge extra for using credit cards and they do not take $100 bills under any circumstances, so just be prepared when you go to settle your bill.

Jim

 

[Harro10]

Thanks Drewpy. Jim, I will definitely look for that moray. I have had one memorable moray encounter and I always enjoy seeing them.

 

[herman]

Speaking of cash, $20s are the prefered max by most places, anything larger is hard for some smaller places to make change for. You can use your ATM card at several places on the island to get cash, your choice of Guilders or US$ if you need more cash. Have fun.

 

[dvrliz1]

Definitely agree with Herman! We bring abotu $500 US in 20's. We use some at Philly for breakfast, some at Jamaica Duty Free then put it in our pockets and "forgeddaboutit". Once on Bonaire we get our guilder (ATM to the right when you walk out of the security doors). It's just some much easier. They don't charge a fee, but your bank might. Mine doesn't. Anyway, we have the US money in case of emergency (ATM machine was down one afternoon and we needed to buy some things.). If not then we pull it out on our way home, pay the departure tax with US, duty free in Jamaica, tips for baggage, etc in Philly, then a snack on the way home. We always come home with US$ and it makes me feel like I didn't spend as much as I thought I would!

 

[Harro10]

I have to say that seeing all the larceny/robbery/rip-off threads pertaining to Bonaire has somewhat negatively colored my expectations for the trip. I will take the extra steps recommended in regard to property crime (leaving the vehicle unlocked and windows open and nothing in it, no gear unattended on balcony...). I will also give extra attention during the initial rental car inspection for damage and to make sure the spare tire and jack are in the vehicle. I am not worried about violent personal crime. Although violent incidents obviously have occurred even recently the problem does not seem to be endemic to Bonaire. I expect to have an excellent trip and will give my impressions in regard to the above upon returning.

 

[Doc]

I expect to have an excellent trip and will give my impressions in regard to the above upon returning.

Go and have fun. With your attitude and perspective, it will be a blast. Be sure to find the 'bird lady'. She runs a boat canvas shop on the right as you head North out of Krikydink. Great gear bags, too.

Doc