Late arrival & getting supplies

[Hintermann]

OK, on a slightly less negative subject about Bonaire, my flight arrives at 20:30 at Flamingo Airport and so I guess there is not a lot I can do that night except get a taxi to Blachi Koko apartments. I have arranged to meet the VIP Divers staff the following morning to sort out the paperwork and the Bonaire orientation course. I hope to start diving the same afternoon and have pretty much scheduled a busy week.

My question is, where do I get supplies for breakfast and stuff? I am not renting any vehicle but have heard that there is a place called Joke's Minimart right opposite Blachi Koko; assuming that it has not been robbed to closure by next May (), can I get the essentials there?

Also, are there restaurants within walking distance?

 

[wwguy]

I'm not sure what you'll find at Joke's, as I haven't been there. Sunshine Market is 500 m walk from Blachi Koko, and another 500 m will bring you to Warehouse Bonaire.

Tipsy Seagull (Plaza Resort), Joe's Grillhouse, Sebastian's Restaurant (formerly Richard's), Chibi Chibi Restaurant (Divi Resort), and Unbelievable are all within 500 m or so walk of Blachi Koko.

 

[diversteve]

Warehouse won't be open that late. They close at 7PM and Van Den Tweel closes at 8PM. I assume Sunshine also - 8-8 is standard there.

Voordeelmarkt Warehouse B.V. - Van Den Tweel Groep
Van den Tweel Supermarket - Van Den Tweel Groep

Maybe walk over to Calabas at the Divi Flamingo for breakfast. Chibi Chibi is lunch/dinner only.

The Calabas Restaurant serves a casual beachside buffet breakfast daily, offering both a light continental breakfast as well as a full American breakfast.

People walk downtown from the Divi for dinner also. It's not that far and opens up other options - many are downtown - several are south downtown. http://www.infobonaire.com/restaurant.html From Blachi Koko the area is less than a mile north - Google puts it about 4000'. http://www.bonairebest.com/bonaire/dining-drinks/

You should be diving by about 10-10:30 that morning. All you have to do is the BMP orientation followed by a checkout dive. With VIP that's most likely done at your convenience. You can't go wrong with Bas (OB1) either...he has a great reputation.

One other thing to be aware of with your plan is that there's only about a dozen Taxi's on Bonaire. So you may want to make a reservation - can't assume one of them will be at the airport that late at night. I've never seen one and we arrived around the same time. http://www.bonairetaxi.net/

 

[Hintermann]

Thanks Diversteve. That taxi link useful but if I request a pick-up using the on-line form (closer to the time) will the taxi be reliably there?

OB1 did suggest a late morning dive - which might still be possible - but I thought that I'll use the morning to do the BMP Orientation bit followed by a visit to the shops to stock-up for the week. As things stand we have agreed on an afternoon and a night dive on that first day.

By the way, is it worth renting a small car to use for shopping, going to the restaurant etc? I do not know if Blachi Koko have private parking facilities - I have asked but they are away at the moment. As I am booked with VIP I'll be using their truck for the dives and will be doing 3 day dives and a night dive every day from Day 2 onwards. The only exception to this (apart from the last diving day, of course) is one day planned to visit the East Coast with the other Bas (Tol). That includes 2 day dives and a night dive. I have to check how that is arranged.

With the above arrangement, will renting a car be an expensive waste?

 

[diversteve]

Thanks Diversteve. That taxi link useful but if I request a pick-up using the on-line form (closer to the time) will the taxi be reliably there?

I don't know, we get a truck at the airport. There is a list of all the drivers with their cellphone #'s on that site - that could be handy...

OB1 did suggest a late morning dive - which might still be possible - but I thought that I'll use the morning to do the BMP Orientation bit followed by a visit to the shops to stock-up for the week. As things stand we have agreed on an afternoon and a night dive on that first day.

By the way, is it worth renting a small car to use for shopping, going to the restaurant etc? I do not know if Blachi Koko have private parking facilities - I have asked but they are away at the moment. As I am booked with VIP I'll be using their truck for the dives and will be doing 3 day dives and a night dive every day from Day 2 onwards. The only exception to this (apart from the last diving day, of course) is one day planned to visit the East Coast with the other Bas (Tol). That includes 2 day dives and a night dive. I have to check how that is arranged.

With the above arrangement, will renting a car be an expensive waste?

It seems like they do in front.


You seem to be doing a lot of dives with someone so for you a week rental might be a waste. We like it because we could shore dive all up and down the coast every afternoon - we bought 9 boat dives during the week but did 20 something dives.

The two markets I listed are farther away than I'd want to walk with a lot of groceries. So maybe a car the first day or so is a good idea.

We stay south of town in Belnem and there's nothing there - no food/restaurants/shops so it was a necessity for us.

One other option that just occurred to me. AB Car Rental will pick you up at the airport and take you to Blachi Koko. Then pick you up the next morning and take you to their office to rent a car. That deal is contingent on renting from them - IDK for how long. AB Car Rental Bonaire - Taxi and Shuttle Service They're located just inland from the Divi Resort on Kaya Industria. Maybe get a car the 1st day or so then return it till later in the week - we did that on Cayman.

If you needed the car for the East Side dives keep it until the next day and they'll give you a ride back to the airport also. You'd have a chance to check out the north side resorts/restaurants or drive up to see the Flamingos and pass thru Rincon on the way back. Or the Donkey Farm. Or Lac Bay to see the kitesurfing. If you decide to go up into Slagbaai Park you'll need something more durable than a small car - a jeep with thorn-proof tires would be good. I wouldn't do that alone - it's a long walk back...

 

[Hintermann]

diversteve;7198801
You seem to be doing a lot of dives with someone so for you a week rental might be a waste.

I am doing ALL my dives with someone. After mulling about the risk of rental truck break-ins etc, I decided to get guided dives for all my dives, especially as I will be travelling alone. So, it will be VIP Divers for 5 days and BAS Diving for the visit to the East Coast. Bas Noij told me that they are in the process of moving closer to Blachi Koko (2 minute walk, he said) and he was happy for me to secure my gear in their lockers overnight. I will be in their truck for the dives and I expect they know how to take care of their stuff.

Moreover, I do not like diving alone and I have always believed that the local divemasters know the best dive sites.

If you needed the car for the East Side dives keep it until the next day.

Once again, I am assuming that Bas Tol will pick me up from Blachi Koko. I have sent him a query to check this. If he does, it will be his truck that I am going to use for the east side dives.

If you decide to go up into Slagbaai Park you'll need something more durable than a small car - a jeep with thorn-proof tires would be good. I wouldn't do that alone - it's a long walk back.

That is a consideration for the last diving day but since my flight the following day is not till 14:55 hours, I might as well do 3 day dives on the last diving day rather than the planned 2.