First Time Going to Bonaire - Rent Apartment or Book Through Dive Op?

[scubadada]

Thanks for the input all. After talking with my buddy, I think we're pretty solid on the idea of doing everything a la carte or close to it.

Dive Friends Bonaire sounds great, 7 locations near dive sites seems like a huge convenience!

As far as a house or apartment, we've compiled some of our wishlist. Anything else you guys can think of or any additional places you can recommend would be great.

Wants/Needs:

- 2 bedroom
- Air conditioning in bedrooms
- Kitchen
- Gear rinse tanks (want but not need)
- Gear storage (want but not need)
- Relatively close to a Dive Friends Bonaire location

My wife and I are quite fond of Den Laman Den Laman & Dive Friends, August 11-25, 2018 Alternatively, you could stay next door at Sand Dollar. Both have 2 bedroom, full kitchen, A/C. Dive Friends is on site between the two, gear storage, rinse tanks, dock access for easy dives on Bari Reef. Dive Friends boats also leave the dock for Klein Bonaire and north sites not accessible from shore.

 

[Diver-6873]

VRBO or AirB&B certainly have great options and you can pick your location and accommodations that best fit your group. For tanks and any rental gear, we prefer VIP Diving, the advantage of not being part of any resort and very personalized service. They have a great staff and guides if you want to take advantage of that. You are quickly made to feel like family from the minute you walk in. Their shop is conviently located and also has rinse and storage facilities, if needed, available to customers 7x24. I’d suggest looking in the Belnem area which is convienient to all southern sites, the wind surfing beach/bars at Sorobon, and the town of Kralendijk, even the farthest northern sites (outside of the park) are at most 30minutes away.

We moved on island earlier this year and would be happy to answer any questions as you plan your trip.

 

[uncfnp]

Den Laman, Sand Dollar, Caribbean Club, Bellavue, Elegancia, Playa Lache, Belmar, Port Bonaire Residencia, Buddy Dive,Bamboo Bali, Hamlet Villas, Hamlet Oasis, Lighthouse, Delfins, Harbour Village...The options are almost limitless.

How important is oceanfront, house reef, all the bells and whistles/economical/or something in between? North, South or downtown?

 

[diversteve]

BelMar condos has everything on your list but no food onsite - or walking distance. The other Buddy Dive shop is there, it's a small property with a pool between you and the reef. I actually think tank pickups are more convenient there than Buddy's since it's 50' from the main road at BelMar and your condo key gets you in the gate 24/7. Also the Classic Superior ground floor condos have a locking closet outside the back door for gear and a night watchman on patrol. Upstairs units get a locker inside the public area of the dive shop which you can also access 24/7 - suit storage, rinse tank, nitrox analyzer are all there. Plus they have a 2nd rinse tank on the dive dock 100' away

Nicer, quiet property - all the patio's face west. A/C only in the bedrooms as is typical. The only downside is the drive to town for food (or at least near the Plaza Resprt) All the southern dive sites start 5mins. south and you'll pass your condo on the same road, we found it convenient to leave most things there instead of in the truck unsecured. In fact later in the week we figured out that if we did two dives south, went past for lunch, change batteries etc, then drove north to dive in the afternoon - that was our surface interval also. 4 dives was easy, 5 with a night dive.

Buddy's also keeps a boat at BelMar. And you get a card to use the Buddy's drive-trhru. Belmar does not have the best house reef but interesting once or twice.

Bari is probably the best house reef for that. And with two Dive Friends locations - plus since they took over at Den Laman they now boat dive from the dock there - b4 you had to go to a less convenient DF location in town - or at Port Bonaire - which is not as convenient since you have to drive into the condos - they're sort of by the airport but not across the street exactly.

Anything you like on airbnb likely has a dive package with someone so ask. The only advantage to staying in town is walking access to the shops/restaurants - the dive site in town is average and a lot of the waterfront not divable - or worth diving.

The other "Buddy" option is Caribbean Club but they're a good 2 blocks up the hill from the water - and their closest dive is one of the Leap sites - you'd have to drive there with gear.

I'd go with something Dive Friends affiliated just for the convenience of all those pickup locations.. Although a couple of their locations are retail only.

Plus they offer the BMP Orientation till about 5pm so depending on your arrival time, you can get that done the same day - otherwise at Buddy's and elsewhere it's the next morning - that costs you a 2nd dive that morning as it's not real early. Since you want to dive your faces off...

 

[Willar]

Sounds like Treasure by the Sea, Kas Di Amore, meets all your criteria. Dive Freinds Yellow Submarine is just north of there, walking distance to several good dining choices, central to the island, AC in 2 bedrooms, rinse tanks and gear lockers, etc. That's where we paln to return again next time.

Google Map location of Treasure by the Sea

 

[Taath]

Thanks all. Appreciate all the feedback!

 

[agd]

Wants/Needs:

- 2 bedroom
- Air conditioning in bedrooms
- Kitchen
- Gear rinse tanks (want but not need)
- Gear storage (want but not need)
- Relatively close to a Dive Friends Bonaire location[/SIZE]

An apartment in Elegancia del Caribe or Playa Lechi Resort tick all of those boxes, are short steps to Dive Friends Yellow Submarine and Something Special dive site. Plus, easy walking distance to all the restaurants in the center of town. There are other apartments nearby, but we have not stayed. Try VRBO, Home Away but also Bonaire Comfort Rentals, Paradise Rentals and Sunbelt to find these properties.

Overall we like this area better than staying past the roundabout