Cash money and diving questions

[diversteve]

Dive Friends signed me up for about 4 days out of the week for boat dives. I guess the question is -- is it really worth paying the extra for boat diving or is it better to rent a car and shore dive? I talked to a guy at my local dive shop who visited Bonaire and stayed at Buddy and says he just boat dives and doesn't bother with rentals because he doesn't want to deal with the thieves and sees no reason to drive anywhere since there isn't much to see. I'm diving alone anyway. I still wanted the option to visit some places on the island, but I could save $384 if I decide to not rent the Jimny and just be lazy at the resort and do boat dives and maybe a cab from Sand Dollar for a few things. The main thing is the ability to get groceries and sundries for the room.

Are they also providing transport to the boat? It's docked at their Yellow Sub location on the north end of town - neither the Sand Dollar or Hamlet locations slightly farther north have a dock.

I think anyone going to the Shore Diving Capital of the World and only boat diving is missing the bigger picture unless they physically can't shore dive. I'd bet a majority of the people on your boat dives will have a vehicle, they're 4 door pickups so probably not a problem for most to accommodate another diver. We buy a limited number of boat dives and shore dive afternoons and all day later in the week. Rappel is a good boat only dive, there's the 26 sites at Klein - Forest is a great dive you can't do anywhere else. I'd personally do 1000Steps via boat next time also - it's not the walk down that's the problem...Boat/shore divers often meet on the Hooker as well - it's a healthy swim out and one of the most jumbled entries. Out to Slagbaai park is another one - you can drive up there on lousy roads and risk a flat from all the thorns or get on Dive Friends boat and dive the same sites.

There used to be a small market in the plaza within walking distance from Sand Dollar. Maybe it's still there. Like you'd find in a small town, 4-5 times the size of a 7-11. The two large markets are the Warehouse and Van den Tweel - they're located about 1/2 mile inland from the Divi Resort on the south end of town. There are cabs on Bonaire but not a lot of them. Bonaire Taxi Services - Home

There's also places to rent a car besides the airport so if you decide you need one later in the week it's an option. ABCarrental will even pick you up at your resort or the airport on arrival and take you to their office on Kaya Industria. When you drop the car, they'll take you back to the airport. https://www.abcarrental.com/Services.html I don't have any personal exp. with them but Telerin also gets good reviews.

 

[cjibber]

There used to be a small market in the plaza within walking distance from Sand Dollar. Maybe it's still there.

It isn't!

 

[jimw]

The little shopping center on the road in front of Sand Dollar has 2 restaurants including Between2Buns which is inexpensive and good--serves breakfast and lunch and is open until 5pm. The other place has Surinamese food and a selection of ice creams. Next to the north is a bank and beyond that--Eddy's Restaurant. Then next north is BuddyDive and Habitat resorts. About a quarter mile north of Habitat is Zung Kong Grocery. The grocery is pretty well stocked with booze and snacks and most of what a visitor will need. It's bigger than the usual convenience store and is our go to place if we are walking and staying at Habitat. Zung Kong is about a half mile north of Sand Dollar Condos.

Van Den Tweel out near the airport and Warehouse just down the street have everything edible, pretty much. If you are taking a taxi from the airport to a lodging, stop at Van Den Tweel on the way........