Divi Flamingo or Lion's Dive Resort?

[WallDiver77]

ON Bonaire,

Which place would you stay at..... and why: Divi Flamingo or the Lion's Dive Resort? I will be booking this through RCI and I didn't see many choices. I believe RCI mentioned something about a Yacht Club condos....

There will be three of us going to Bonaire for the first time. I think we're mostly going to shore dive due to the fact of all the positive comments I've heard.

I am an experienced diver, as is my son, but his girlfriend is not. I will admit that forgoing deep wall diving was very difficult, BUT I didn't want to get my son's girlfriend into any situation where she might feel uncomfortable. Are there any real advanced dives that my son and I could slip off and do? I have read that those seeking a little more advanced thrill tend to do more night dives.

Any and all comments are appreciated!

 

[Bosun]

Lions Dive was bought by Buddy Dive. If you want advanced dives - how about Larry's Wild side diving. Or try Walt at Rektek Scuba if you want to do Technical diving, he operates out of Habitat.

 

[Jetwrench]

I prefer Eden Beach Resort/ Wannadive dive shop. Smaller resort with everything you need. For a more private and very nice place to stay, contact Debbie Babcock at Light House Beach for a two bedroom condo that is fully equiped.

For an advanced dive you can sign up at the shop for the guided dive to Cai, or contact Bas(local guide) and hire him for the same dive to Cai. He's a blast!

To find Bas and Debbie, go to Bonaire Talk. If you wish, you can pm me and I will be happy to give you more info.

Jetwrench

 

[scubajcf]

Lions Dive was bought by Buddy Dive. If you want advanced dives - how about Larry's Wild side diving. Or try Walt at Rektek Scuba if you want to do Technical diving, he operates out of Habitat.

I highly recommend (tech) diving with Walt. Friendly, knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile.

 

[WallDiver77]

Thanks for the responses; I will research the advanced ops!

I'm stuck with booking this through RCI........ so what about Divi Flamigo vs Lion's Dive Resort, now know as Buddy Dive?

Thanks!

 

[Doc]

I have read that those seeking a little more advanced thrill tend to do more night dives!

The Divi Flamingo has always been my choice for a couple of reasons. It was the cheapest. It is the closest to town (a good walk or quick drve). It has the world's largest outdoor rinse tank. Many nieces (accompanying their uncles who are gambling at the Casino) tend to use the rinse tank... errr.... pool... while topless.

Advanced diving? Yes, you might try night diving... and not just under "the Town Pier". If you want a real challenge, pull your car over and wade out into the moonlight at one of the many shore dive sights. Let us know if that works for y:11:u!

There is no need to go deep on the walls to think you are experiencing advanced diving. Follow the Dive Masters, stay shallow- look for the camouflaged little stuff. Broaden your horizons!

The best diving Bonaire has to offer is given by a freak of geography- the location of the islet of Klien (little) Boaniare just off of the lee side population center of Bonaire makes for nice calm water no matter how hard the constant winds are blowing.

The resort based shore dives of Bonaire are a shadow of what they used to be, much like Cayman South of Georgetown. What has become mediocre by day but still holds wonders by night. I feel that all of the resort shore dives are equal.

Yes, the windward side of the island is a great adventure available on select weather days... but have you really exhausted the treasures of the more commonly dived lee side? Get to know the common, every day stuff before you give up on trying to find it!

There's lots for all levels of diving, no matter how experienced one might feel.

 

[WallDiver77]

Hey.... Well the topless girls are always a draw, however, I'm not sure that I want to base my decision on that! ha!

AS far as deep diving... well, each to his own.... Were all explorers; we wouldn't be in the water if we weren't. My interest just lies a little deeper. Thanks for the comments!

 

[WallDiver77]

I may have to start a new thread... but,

Anyone have comments on the The Plaza Resort, or the Sand Dollar Condos?

Thanks!

 

[diversteve]

My observations - consolidated answers to all your posts.

For wall diving, Cliff at Capt' Don's is one option. But it's not any deeper than the typical Bonaire profile. As I recall, the wall starts about 30-40' and bottoms out around 130'. It's the only vertical "wall" we found in a week of shoredives. There's some nice vertical structure(not really a wall per se.) around Rappel also, since the cliff goes down into the ocean there, it's a boat dive.

Most of the "advanced dives" on Bonaire, with the exception of Larry's Wildside are either far north in Slagbaai park or all the way south by Lighthouse. Mostly "adventure/advanced" refers more to currents and entry than anything else. Most of the south side sites look very similar as they're all mostly part of the same double reef, there's a little more variety up north in certain places. I could be wrong about this but from what I've read I think Larry's is more about adventure, live drops and rougher conditions than depth, he gets you to the bigger animals off the more pristine East side.

An option for deeper diving is with Benji at Caribbean Gas Training. Benji can maybe put you on the Windjammer, it's a deco dive to 200'. I think it's the very last picture in the photo section on his website.

Consider that since Benji's at BD&A (SandDollar) and Walt is at Habitat, staying at Buddy/Lions Dive or Sand Dollar puts you 2 minutes away. And Bari Reef off Sand Dollar is an easy entry site that's #1 in all the Caribbean for fish diversity so a good dive for your son's g/f.

Staying at Divi or the Plaza puts you 10-15min. to the south of them. But 5 minutes to all the south sites. Of the two, personally I'd pick the Plaza. It looks newer, has nicer facilities, both have a beach, Plaza usually has more going on at night. And to Doc's point, the KLM flight attendants work on their tans on the beach there. Plaza just reopened their casino and I like the staff at Toucan Diving, their on-site op.

Although it's bigger, Plaza is more of a non-diver resort also. 2 restaurants, a beach bar and a beach with volleyball. Since it's not a dive resort, although they have smaller boats, three of them go out with 12 or less. I heard they have a new bigger boat but I've not seen it. One afternoon dive there were 4 of us on the boat to Klein. Made for a nice long 45-55 minute dive at Forest.

Buddy's being more of a dive resort they have bigger boats for their divers and divers from BelMar, their other property. Also since they took over Lions Dive last year, those divers dive with them too. Explains the bigger boats/# of divers listed on their site. Personally I prefer smaller groups.

Wherever you stay, bundle your diving in your package, it's cheaper and easiest since all the facilities have gear storage and tanks available for their resort guests. If you stay at Sand Dollar, drive in to BD&A for tanks, don't walk over from Sand Dollar. It's the next road to the south, probably has a Den Laman sign there now.

 

[WallDiver77]

"If you stay at Sand Dollar, drive in to BD&A for tanks, don't walk over from Sand Dollar. "

Why? What's the scoop here? I'll look into the Plaza.... would a package here include a truck? Nevermind, I can look that up myself; I'll check their website.


Thanks again, Sjspeck! (I also made another post in the other thread about flights)