cheap accommodations for solo diver

[soonerwatch]

Working out details of a feb. trip to bonaire. Will be going solo. Looking for inexpensive place to stay. I'm a relatively new diver with 10 dives in following OW certification. I'm not comfortable doing solo shore dives at this point. So I was hoping to find an inexpensive place to stay but dive out of buddies or capt. dons or other similar place where i could do boat dives with dive master or join up with groups doing shore dives. And I'd like to have use of the house reef for some practicing.

Are there places to stay near these operations or is it better to just stay at the resort you dive with?

 

[darook]

The Dive Hut is likely one of the cheapest places on the island but is not on the water. It is affiliated with Wannadive for tanks and boats. In your situation I would lean towards Buddy or Divi as it is really easy to meet people, store your gear by or over the water and they have lots of boat dives which means seats on the boats. Another idea to consider is to go ahead and sign up for an Advanced Open Water class to keep learning, get advice on your weight set up and become even more people. I will be at Buddy Feb. 6-14 so if you are there then I would be happy to buddy up. The one place you won't find me is on a boat, I LOVE shore diving.

 

[soonerwatch]

I will just miss you. Flights i am looking at are 2/16-2/21. But thanks for the offer darook!

 

[Kharon]

I stay at Coco Palm Garden http://www.cocopalmgarden.org/CocoPalmEnglish.html). Apartments with a full kitchen, bathroom, living area, bedroom, patio with grill (charcoal). AC at extra cost but usually unnecessary in the winter. Apartments are in an enclosed area and are quiet. Coco Palm brings in a local restaurant to provide a $10 buffet on tues & thurs evenings when 10 or more renters are interested. Mirasol is a mere $64/night.



I have them arrange my truck and unlimited air packages as they have always beat what I could find on my own. Their driver will pick you up at the airport and take you to Coco or your vehicle rental depending on time of arrival. If you get in too late for vehicle pick-up the truck rental will deliver next morning. The location is just across the main north/south road about at Bachelors’ Beach (mid island N/S). Not on the water but very, very close. Convenient to get into Kralendijk, the markets/gas, northern or southern dive sites. Air is through Dive Friends Bonaire - five locations spread north and south - pick up and drop off at any location http://www.dive-friends-bonaire.com/. If you are Nitrox certified the upgrade is free.



Most of the resort dive shops allow you to dive - either for free or for a small fee. There are over 80 shore diving sites and boat dives can be alacart or done as a package. No problem whatsoever with diving solo. All things considered I don't think it can be beat. For what I would spend for a week at a resort I can stay two weeks at Coco.

Another option that I might try next trip is Hamlet Oasis http://www.vrbo.com/1665852ha . It's a wee bit more than Coco but is on the water at the Cliff dive site and Dive Friends is right there. You have to arrainge your own air and transportation but you get a 10% discount with DF if you stay there. Cliff is a really nice and interesting site. One of my favorites. That's why I might switch.