darook and family in Bonaire 6/14-6/20

[darook]

My lovely wife and two daughters are going to spend a week in Bonaire in June. We are staying at Divi Flamingo via a good air/lodging deal on Orbitz and are really looking forward to it. My oldest daughter (15) and are going to do our AOW checkouts the first couple of days and my wife and youngest daughter (13) are going to do their OW checkouts the first couple of days as well. The gals that are doing the OW checkout have dived a few times and did very well so I expect that to be fine. The remaining 4 days we have on island we intend to do some shore diving and maybe get a boat dive in as well so the newer divers can get a taste of that. I would appreciate any sage advice that can be offered on the following:

I am wondering if getting a guide the first day of our shore dives is a good idea just so we can learn the ropes of shore diving on Bonaire and to make the newbies feel more comfortable. Any suggestions on arranging a guide are welcome.

Are the pickups you generally rent on the island large enough to get 4 people into? Should we just get a minivan?

Will our US cell phones work on island?

What non-diving activities can you suggest that would interest 13 and 15-year old girls? Plus the lovely wife and myself.

I have been reading the other threads in this sub forum and have found them very helpful but appreciate any advice that is offered.

Thanks in advance,

darook

 

[reefdiva]

My lovely wife and two daughters are going to spend a week in Bonaire in June. We are staying at Divi Flamingo via a good air/lodging deal on Orbitz and are really looking forward to it. My oldest daughter (15) and are going to do our AOW checkouts the first couple of days and my wife and youngest daughter (13) are going to do their OW checkouts the first couple of days as well. The gals that are doing the OW checkout have dived a few times and did very well so I expect that to be fine. The remaining 4 days we have on island we intend to do some shore diving and maybe get a boat dive in as well so the newer divers can get a taste of that. I would appreciate any sage advice that can be offered on the following:

I am wondering if getting a guide the first day of our shore dives is a good idea just so we can learn the ropes of shore diving on Bonaire and to make the newbies feel more comfortable. Any suggestions on arranging a guide are welcome.

Are the pickups you generally rent on the island large enough to get 4 people into? Should we just get a minivan?

Will our US cell phones work on island?

What non-diving activities can you suggest that would interest 13 and 15-year old girls? Plus the lovely wife and myself.

I have been reading the other threads in this sub forum and have found them very helpful but appreciate any advice that is offered.

Thanks in advance,

darook

If you would feel more comfortable with a guide for your first shore dive you can talk to the folks at the dive shop at the Divi. Many of the divemasters can be hired to do guided shore dives. That being said, Bonaire shore diving is very easy even for first timers. I would suggest getting a copy of Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy by Susan Porter at Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy, BSDME, Author Susan Porter. It lists sites and gives info on entries and exits. For first time shore divers you might want to choose a site with a mooring so you will have an easy marker on your return. Swim to the marker, take a compass heading to shore, descend and note the depth of the mooring block. Go in one direction (usually very little current to think about) to your predetermined time, turn and make your way back to the mark. No need to ascend there -- just use your compass to get you back to shore. Hard soled booties will help with the rocky entries and exits and leave nothing of value in your truck.

The trucks in Bonaire are double cab and well set up for diving. No need for a mini van. Fill large soda bottles with water and leave them on top of the truck during your dive as they make for a nice warm rinse at the end.

Not sure about the cell phone as we always rent one there at Chat and Browse and use Skype on our computer for calls home.

Above water ... take a drive around the southern end of the island to see the salt and slave huts, visit Lac Bay to watch the windsurfers, drive to Gotomeer to see the flamingoes, drive to Sera Largu for the view, stroll through downtown and visit the shops, visit the donkey sanctuary, watch the waves on the east side.

Enjoy!!!

 

[Martha]

Bonaire shore diving navigation is pretty easy. Click on this link for more information (BonaireTalk has a lot of useful information): Bonaire Talk: Shore diving and sharks

If you do feel you want a guide, Bas Noij & Bas Tol I are both recommended a lot on BonaireTalk. I don't have personal experience diving with them, but the people that mention them always give rave reviews. Contact them through email to set something up. According to BonaireTalk, Bas Tol's email is Loonybin@bonairelive.com and Bas Noij's is bas@noij.com

Yes, the pickups are large enough for 4 people. Definitely get the pickup.

I'm not sure about getting your cell phone to work while you're there. Hopefully someone else can answer that.

Some non-diving activities: learn to windsurf, landsailing (kind of like a go-kart with a sail), visit the donkey sanctuary, visit Washington Slagbaii Park, check out the Indian inscriptions, and take the water taxi over to Klein Bonaire to hang out on the beach (good snorkeling there too).

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[tvictory]

If you're doing your checkout dives at the Divi, they'll undoubtedly be conducted on the house reef there. I imagine that the instructor will lead you out to the drop-off and, after checking out the skills, would lead you on a short swim down the reef and back, demonstrating how you orient yourself to your exit point. After a couple of days of this, you'll probably feel ready to go unescorted by a guide on the house reef and other shore dives. You may find that for your last few days, it's cheaper and preferable to do a couple of boat dives per day than it is to rent a vehicle. One nice thing about Divi is that you don't need a vehicle for anything other than dedicated shore diving as you are in strolling distance of most restaurants, stores, etc.

 

[DiveMaven]

We'll miss you by a week, but make sure you post a trip report right away so I can be tortured just days before we leave.

 

[DiverVince]

drook.. Non diving activities...We always try to do something different on our frequent trips to Bonaire..Last time we had a very enjoyable time horseback riding. A totally different experience of Bonaire. Here's the website of you're interested..
The Riding Academy Club at Kunuku Warahama, Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

 

[darook]

Thanks to all for your information, and DiveMaven I will do just that!

 

[handben]

Darook,

I spent a week last June in Bonaire with my wife and 2 kids aged 12 and 10 at that time. My 12 year old daughter and I did 17 dives that week all of which were un-guided shore dives. Granted, I've been diving for 25 years and would not want a guide, but the diving there is really pretty easy. The only difficulties we ever had were entry and exit at some sites (Hilma Hooker as an example). There can be rocks and ledges and with the waves these can be pretty tricky. Be especially careful if you see something black underwater. My wife nearly sat on an urchin when we were putting on our fins in Lac Bay.

We had little desire to do anything other than dive, eat and sleep - well ok a couple of beers at the end of the day. I suppose if your family gets tired of diving, then the donkey sanctuary just immediately south of the Airport might be a good outing. I did enjoy a fantastic lunch in Rincon at a locals restaurant. The curried goat is quite good. We also had a nice drive around the southern tip of the Island on our last full day (non diving day). We snorkled Lac Bay and had lunch at Jibe City. The rest did shop in Kralenjik that afternoon, which there report of the shopping was not so great. In short, the main attraction of Bonaire is going to be the diving.

We will be back in Bonaire this June the same week as you. This time all four of us will be diving, along with my brother and his family - seven divers in total. For our non diving last day, I think we will explore the Washington Slagbaii Park in the far north. I am told that it is worth a day of exploring. If you all enjoy diving, I am sure you will love Bonaire. We may even cross paths that week. Have fun! Ben in Baltimore

 

[darook]

Thanks Ben. I expect we will spend the bulk of the week with a reg or snorkel in our mouths and just site see a bit. I hope we cross paths there and have a great time.