OP
1_T_Submariner
Contributor
Thanks I got one before our first trip to Bonaire. Great book lots of Info.
Just booked Bonaire!
- Thread starter 1_T_Submariner
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Thanks I got one before our first trip to Bonaire. Great book lots of Info.
OP
1_T_Submariner
Contributor
Ok Another Question. Anyone have any experience with Island Car rental. They have a deductable of $565 on the insurance that kind of bothers me.
CLEAR BLUE
Contributor
We dove with Wannadive and they were awesome!
reefdiva
Contributor
We have used Island Rentals several times and have always been pleased with their service. The insurance is expensive on all rental trucks in Bonaire. One way to keep the cost down is to get an American Express Card and then before a trip pay for their extra rental insurance that covers trucks. It is only 19.95 and a lot less than the insurance offerred by the rental companies.
Bubbletrubble
Contributor
Reefdiva hit the nail on the head with using the American Express Card premium car/truck insurance. Compare the one-time $19.95 fee to a daily fee of at least $11 for the rental company insurance. IMO, the Amex coverage was actually better with no deductible for theft/damage to the vehicle. Be sure to read the fine print.
The last two years we've had the nice lady at the place we stayed (Happy Holiday Homes) arrange our truck rental. Both years we've rented trucks with Budget. I don't know what it was this year, but the Budget employees seemed grumpier. No problems, though.
If you get bored during a night dive...and want to play "Reef God"...pick out a "tasty"-looking fish and paint it with your light. The tarpon love this game!
The last two years we've had the nice lady at the place we stayed (Happy Holiday Homes) arrange our truck rental. Both years we've rented trucks with Budget. I don't know what it was this year, but the Budget employees seemed grumpier. No problems, though.
If you get bored during a night dive...and want to play "Reef God"...pick out a "tasty"-looking fish and paint it with your light. The tarpon love this game!
highlandfarmwv
Contributor
Hey! My daughter and I will be in Bonaire the same time. we should all get together for a dive or 2.
My wife and daughter and I are planning our first trip to Bonaire from 3/25 - 4/1 (or maybe 4/4). Does anyone have an estimate about the sea conditions likely to be present then? I found a climatological site that reports an average windspeed of about 13 kts, but it didn't say anything about wave heights.
Second question - I understand the boat dive packages don't provide that much extra value, but I wonder if there isn't some additional benefit for first-timers like us? BSDME looks like a great resource, but it still looks like a bewildering array of options for shore diving if you're a newbie. What are your thoughts?
It would be fun to meet any SB'ers who will be on the island at the same time as we will...
Second question - I understand the boat dive packages don't provide that much extra value, but I wonder if there isn't some additional benefit for first-timers like us? BSDME looks like a great resource, but it still looks like a bewildering array of options for shore diving if you're a newbie. What are your thoughts?
It would be fun to meet any SB'ers who will be on the island at the same time as we will...
jeepguy
Contributor
Hey John
My wife & I will be @ Divi from 3/23 to 3/30. Went last July. Being newer divers at that time (24 dives) we found it a little intimidating at first being the only two divers on the whole beach! Got over that real quick and had a great time. Found BSDME real helpful in deciding on and planning our dives. Found no real current or surface chop at that time of year. Considering a boat dive to Klien Bonaire just for the expieriance, but am told it is no different than mainland Bonaire. Had a great sunset sail on the Bowalie, and this time planning to see more of the island. Good luck with your planning.
Tom & Isabelle
My wife & I will be @ Divi from 3/23 to 3/30. Went last July. Being newer divers at that time (24 dives) we found it a little intimidating at first being the only two divers on the whole beach! Got over that real quick and had a great time. Found BSDME real helpful in deciding on and planning our dives. Found no real current or surface chop at that time of year. Considering a boat dive to Klien Bonaire just for the expieriance, but am told it is no different than mainland Bonaire. Had a great sunset sail on the Bowalie, and this time planning to see more of the island. Good luck with your planning.
Tom & Isabelle
Just got back from there 2 weeks ago. We used Wannadive for the first week and loved them!! I really can't say enough good things about them. Jeff, Andy, Rob and Fred were all really friendly and extremely helpful. Didn't stay at the Hut but they do not have hot water in the rooms.
We used BDA (Bonaire Dive & Adventure) on week 2 (we stayed at Den Laman) and wished we had stayed with Wanna Dive. Nothing but hassles at BDA. WannaDive is easy going and they let you dive like you want to dive. You can access your gear and tanks 24/7. The best part is that you can pickup/dropoff tanks at several places on the island.
We did the guided Lac Cai dive on the East side too. Fred took us and showed us some great stuff. I will not use anyone else from now on no matter where I stay.
Similar threads
