My head is spinning-help

[Missdirected]

My sister, bf, and myself were 2 go to Coz this coming Thurs. Clearly, no longer an option. Those souls have enought to deal with - and of course I will help as I did with Katrina.

Anyway, due to our schedules we need to figure out another trip 4 next week. i have never been to Bonaire, so i was thinking that a good possibility. I don't know it is so last minute. I have been on and off the computer all day. Looking at places like Costa Rica (already been), Bahamas (been but never diving), Cayman (been but again never diving). In the end we are stuck with the airline that was originally to take us to Coz.

Bottom line. If anyone knows of a good dive company, place to stay, things to do, etc. I would like to hear about it, pretty please.

Thank u so much in advance it is really aprreciated

 

[diversteve]

This was a pretty useful thread on Bonaire a bunch of us recently posted to:
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=115038&highlight=Bonaire

It spells out a lot of the options there. Also look at bonairetalk.com, there's a lot of insight to be found there.

With such a short notice, I'd think the flights to Bonaire would be pricey. But it may be your best option. From what I've read the diving in the Bahamas is not so great anymore unless you go on a liveaboard to the outer islands, with "Alpha" coming in behind Wilma, this doesn't seem like such a bright idea, even if you could get 3 spaces now. Having been to Cayman you know what that costs. Also they took a minor hit this week from Wilma so things might be a little stirred up for the next couple of days.

Bonaire is geared around divers so you certainly won't have a bad time, the marine life is outstanding except that it's all on the small side except for the occasional dolphin. Not the big animals like you see off Grand Cayman. The water clarity is as good as Cayman, probably better than Cayman this week. And you can dive anytime 24/7, all the resorts provide tanks.

It's the easiest diving we've ever done, throw your stuff in the back of the truck, drive to one of 60 marked divesites(look for the yellow rock alongside the road) park, gear up, walk 30' to the water and wade in. Bring really good treaded boots though as most locations are ironshore mixed with coral rubble. Check shoredive.com for a list of all the divesites.

You won't go wrong with Buddy Dive/Lions Dive, Capt. Don's, the Sand Dollar, Divi Flamingo or the Plaza Resort. For something upscale, that would be Harbour Village.

All have diveops onsite, their own diveboats, diving offshore at their site and restaurants etc. A couple also are AI if you're looking for that, but we found it was easier just to go into town for meals/food.

There's a lot of good Condo options also, we like/stay at Belmar Condos just a little south of town. They have a nice house reef, the other Buddy diveshop onsite and it's quiet. Nice newer condos also and an extraordinarily friendly accommodating staff. Only downside is that since they're a Buddy's satellite location, you have to drive about 10min. north for any boat diving with Buddy's. Or you can dive with Toucan divers at the Plaza resort, which is just 2 mins. away.

Nightlife/other activities are about 1/3rd of what's on Grand Cayman. It's a peaceful, usually quiet place where everything runs on "island time" Some good restaurants, a few bars in town, a marine preserve and some caves are pretty much it. Unless you're a windsurfer, then it's definitely the place to go. Lac Bay is one of the premier windsurfing places in the world.

Getting to Bonaire might be the bigger issue, depending on what airline you have to use. AA flies there, Continental once a week, or there's some local options to get there if you can get to either Jamaica, Aruba or Curacao.

hth,

 

[herman]

While Bonaire would be my first choice as well, you may also want to consider Curacao. We dove there in July and were very happy with the island. Plenty to do and see, great easy shore diving and lots of good places to eat. It's a lot easier to get to than Bonaire- Continental, AA and I think Delta all fly there. You can also fly there and then catch one of the local fllights to Bonaire.

 

[Missdirected]

Thank u. This is exactly what I was wanting to know. American is the company we have to use - so that is a good thing. Even the fish size was helpful. This board has been great so far. Helpful ane often quit funny. Cheers

This was a pretty useful thread on Bonaire a bunch of us recently posted to:
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=115038&highlight=Bonaire

It spells out a lot of the options there. Also look at bonairetalk.com, there's a lot of insight to be found there.

With such a short notice, I'd think the flights to Bonaire would be pricey. But it may be your best option. From what I've read the diving in the Bahamas is not so great anymore unless you go on a liveaboard to the outer islands, with "Alpha" coming in behind Wilma, this doesn't seem like such a bright idea, even if you could get 3 spaces now. Having been to Cayman you know what that costs. Also they took a minor hit this week from Wilma so things might be a little stirred up for the next couple of days.

Bonaire is geared around divers so you certainly won't have a bad time, the marine life is outstanding except that it's all on the small side except for the occasional dolphin. Not the big animals like you see off Grand Cayman. The water clarity is as good as Cayman, probably better than Cayman this week. And you can dive anytime 24/7, all the resorts provide tanks.

It's the easiest diving we've ever done, throw your stuff in the back of the truck, drive to one of 60 marked divesites(look for the yellow rock alongside the road) park, gear up, walk 30' to the water and wade in. Bring really good treaded boots though as most locations are ironshore mixed with coral rubble. Check shoredive.com for a list of all the divesites.

You won't go wrong with Buddy Dive/Lions Dive, Capt. Don's, the Sand Dollar, Divi Flamingo or the Plaza Resort. For something upscale, that would be Harbour Village.

All have diveops onsite, their own diveboats, diving offshore at their site and restaurants etc. A couple also are AI if you're looking for that, but we found it was easier just to go into town for meals/food.

There's a lot of good Condo options also, we like/stay at Belmar Condos just a little south of town. They have a nice house reef, the other Buddy diveshop onsite and it's quiet. Nice newer condos also and an extraordinarily friendly accommodating staff. Only downside is that since they're a Buddy's satellite location, you have to drive about 10min. north for any boat diving with Buddy's. Or you can dive with Toucan divers at the Plaza resort, which is just 2 mins. away.

Nightlife/other activities are about 1/3rd of what's on Grand Cayman. It's a peaceful, usually quiet place where everything runs on "island time" Some good restaurants, a few bars in town, a marine preserve and some caves are pretty much it. Unless you're a windsurfer, then it's definitely the place to go. Lac Bay is one of the premier windsurfing places in the world.

Getting to Bonaire might be the bigger issue, depending on what airline you have to use. AA flies there, Continental once a week, or there's some local options to get there if you can get to either Jamaica, Aruba or Curacao.

hth,

 

[diversteve]

A few more tips:

Since you're flying AA, you'll have to go through San Juan. Which is pretty much the worst airport/layover I've had in recent memory. To go on to Bonaire, you walk over to the American Eagle terminal and will board a bus for your plane out on the tarmac.
And we're pretty certain they only called our flight once. There's about 12 flights going out of 4 gates simulataneously so it's quite confused. Not to mention the fact that a lot of the locals are forced by AA to fly back through San Juan to island hop, so there's a lot of pretty p##ed off people speaking all sorts of languages, especially when there's a delay which frequently happens there.

It's a really small plane, even smaller than the little two-engine jets that AA flies regionally. So don't be surprised if while standing on the tarmac, you're asked to remove your in-flight items and check your carry-on bag. While other prop-jets are leaving around you. And although they tell you to recover your bag personally on Bonaire, ours were brought in by the luggage handlers.

Customs/Immigration in Bonaire consisted of a nice lady who said "Welcome to Bonaire" and pointed us to a door, through it was the parking lot.

One thing to note, if you're arriving late, have someone make sure there'll be someone at your rental car place. They also run on "island time" And it's incredibly easy to find your way around Bonaire, from the airport, everything is on the main road north(right) that runs past the airport and then along the water. Except for the Belmar or Port Bonaire Condos, they're south. Watch for the donkeys while driving around the lagoon north of the airport, they often get out of the refuge. And hover near the road looking for handouts at night.

If you have the 8a.m. flight out, the rental return won't be open when you have to check-in. The trick is to drop your bags at the check-in, park the car across the street - no one tickets that early in the morning - or maybe ever, check-in, then drive the car back to the rental place when they open at 7:00. It's across the parking lot.

And my best tip when leaving Bonaire, pay your departure tax and get the receipt prior to waiting in line at check-in. You buy it at the window just north of the giftshop. It's $20 per person U.S. and you have to have it to complete check-in.

Have fun, the water's great now - around 80-82' - actually it's always around 80-82'