Help planning my first trip

[tkaelin]

And as an aside, we have used cars for diving on Curacao, specifically compacts with a hatchback and fold down seats. We put our gear in mesh dive duffles and don't bring tanks. We drive to a beach dive site that has parking lot for cars and a dive op on site for tanks, local up to date dive info and changing, rinse and drying areas. Places like Cas Abou, Lagun and Playa Kalki. The car stays clean and dry and works well for these locations. This would not work for most sites in Bon.

 

[NDL_Diver]

And as an aside, we have used cars for diving on Curacao, specifically compacts with a hatchback and fold down seats. We put our gear in mesh dive duffles and don't bring tanks. We drive to a beach dive site that has parking lot for cars and a dive op on site for tanks, local up to date dive info and changing, rinse and drying areas. Places like Cas Abou, Lagun and Playa Kalki. The car stays clean and dry and works well for these locations. This would not work for most sites in Bon.

Not like that on Bonaire. Dive sites more remote with no services.

AB car rental does not allow cars for diving. Only pickups.

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[NDL_Diver]

Checked an airport car company and they will charge $350 cleaning fee. Also only puckups allowed to be taken into park.

 

[jaz29]

We are thinking of making an 8-day trip in February - deciding between Roatan and Bonaire - We have never been to Bonaire, so we are thinking of doing that.
But a few things scare me a bit:
1) Truck rental - is it possible to get one with an automatic transmission?
2) Food -- seems like nothing to write home about - expensive and mediocre from some of my reading.
3) Safety - all those stories about vehicle break-ins...

I hope to get scuba board wisdom and go - it's always fun to dive into new places.

This will be my 2nd trip to Bonaire for Christmas break. A truck just makes loading equipment easy. There are automatic transmission vehicles available but for us was $300 additional. Learn to drive a manual. Food was excellent, but VERY expensive. There are no big resports so nothing fancy, but very good. Safety...never felt nervous. I think the stories are about folks rummaging through vehicles at dive sites. We never saw an suspicous folks and did not leave anything in the truck at the dive sites.