Newbe to Bonaire

[ucrtwf]

Hi Guys,
My wife and I just booked our tickets today for our first trip to Bonaire. We've been to Cozumel three times last year and wanted a change for this year. I've learned so much from the Coz forum, it really helped during our trips there. I hope to get to know you guys over here and am trying to sponge up as much info before our trip as possible. We're going on 12/28 coming home 1/4. We're both Nitrox/ advanced certified divers. I've ready numerous things about buddy dive, my first question is there any resort that you guys would keep away from? I've also heard about theft on the island, is this mostly hype? Any tips or hints would be more than appreciated. If there is a FAQ list started, I'd love to see that too.
Thanks in advance,
Tim

 

[underwasser bolt]

do a search in this forum; lots of good stuff. Good tips on bonaire talk website too; google it. the tips i found on SB were invaluable when i went to bonaire.

petty theft, sure. i had no problem but i didn't leave anything of value in my vehicle. show me a place without petty theft.

dive resorts i have no knowledge of. i stayed at happy holiday homes. very nice. they made arrangements for rental truck and unlimited nitrox. you can google them too. HHH is a mile or so from the airport. no bar or restaurant at HHH, but the bungalow setting is spacious.

you can also get bonaire shore diving made easy, a book, but there was a brochure at the airport that contained almost as much information as BSDME and was free.

 

[herman]

I hate to say this but grab a couple of beers...Amstel or Polar and do a search on Bonaire. There are hours and hours of reading with hints, tips, trip reports and pretty much everything else you want or need to know about Bonaire on the board. I have posted several pages of hints, tips and other info over the years. There are at least 3 or 4 on island members of the board and at least 8 or 10 of us that know Bonaire very well. Once you have spent some time reading over the post, we (or at least I) am happy to answer any unanswered question you have, either here, by PM or I will even take phone calls if you like.
To answer your questions. I do not know of a single resort I would not stay at (other than price). Some are better than others and which one you choose is best choosen by your needs/wants/price. Tell us what they are and we can put you on a good choice.
Theft does occur on occasion but if you follow the simple rules you will likely not have any problem. DON'T take anything to a dive site that will not go in the water with you or you don't mind losing (ratty Tshirts and shoes). Leave the windows down and doors unlocked...nothing to protect, no reason to lock doors. To put this in some prespective, I have made 11 trips to Bonaire with groups ranging from 2 to 24 and none of us have had any problems. The last being July/Aug for 2 weeks, the first week of which I had 18 people in the group including DeputyDan and Gypsyjim of this board.

 

[DiveMaven]

I agree with Herman, you'd be wise to spend some time with the search engine on the board and do some reading. However, if you have specific questions you don't want to search about, anyone here would be happy to answer.

To answer your first couple of questions: Buddy Dive is a popular resort and gets pretty consistent reviews. We haven't stayed there, instead choosing a smaller, less expensive resort (Den Laman). I haven't heard of anywhere to stay away from, per se, so you're pretty safe with whatever you choose.

As far as crime is concerned, we spend 2 weeks on Bonaire this summer and had no problems at all. We left our truck unlocked all the time, and at dive sites left the windows down with nothing of value inside. The petty crime is no more (and probably less) than 99% of any other Caribbean island.

Best advice I'd have is to stay somewhere that you have kitchen facilities instead of a hotel room.

 

[salth2owannabe]

I would like to put a plug in for Coral Paradise.
Coral Paradise Resort, Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
We stayed there in April of this year and the folks that own it are great. They contract their dive packages threw Capt. Don's which is right out their back door. I think it would be perfect, especially for a couple, and hope to get my wife there some day.
Everyone mentions theft on the Island, but I treated my gear the same as I would in the states. Don't leave stuff laying around which is just an invitation to take it. Bring your gear in at night if it is drying outside on a porch or deck. We left our cheap gear bags in the bed of the pickup along with stuff we could live witout if it was stolen, and nothing was taken. We did see one couple at a site on the north end right about dusk who was obviously there to go threw the vehicles (I work law enforcement in the states). Again, I wouldn't leave my stuff laying around in the states either. Enjoy the trip, I'm trying to get back.

 

[ucrtwf]

Thanks guys,
I am searching the back posts. A lot of great info here.

Thanks again,
Tim

 

[georoc01]

I think you have to decide what type of experience you would like to have. If you would like to have a Cozumel like experience in a different place, I would look at Divi Flamingo. Whe we were there in May, we had four boat operations going and could easily do 3 boat dives a day, good DMs that new how to find stuff. It is also easily within walking distance to town.

However, the true difference between the two is the shore diving in Bonaire and the ability to check out whatever dive sites you want to when you want on your own.

 

[GradyDiver]

I don't have any resorts to steer you away from (I've only stayed at one (twice) and loved it). I do have a restaurant you should avoid though and I can't remember the name. If you were leaving the Plaza from the dive shop side (guard shack, not the main entrance) and you turned left, it would be on the right hand side about 1/2 way between the Plaza entrance and the bend in the road heading toward Richard's and the Divi.

We had a group there on the first night we were on the island and it was so bad, we're still joking about it over 2 years later. Four of us ordered three different cuts of beef, each with a different sauce and they all came back exactly the same. I'm not entirely convinced any member of the cow family was ever harmed or killed to contribute to ths meal. When one of us ordered a gin and tonic, they we're surprised to discover the tonic had been forgotten. Nothing like that refreshing first big sip. The funniest part was when a stray dog came over and refused to take anything we offered from our plates.

My understanding is this was once a great place to eat, but the new ownership solved that.

There are many great restaurants on the island, but I'm sure most have been covered. The Japanese Steak House downtown overlooking the water is great (not sure I saw that one here - but I wasn't looking too hard).

 

[Martha]

Another great source of Bonaire information is located at Bonaire Talk - The place to discuss everything and anything about Bonaire! and accommodation info at Info Bonaire - The Bonaire Information Site - The Most Current and Up-To-Date Information

We've never had a problem with theft on any of our trips, but we follow the same rules as herman.

 

[driftwood]

The big beef I have about Buddy's is that two very different resorts that were combined into one property. When we were there last year, the unit we stayed in on the Lion's Dive side really needed some work. On our previous stay, the newer Buddy Dive side rooms were great. When you look at the picture on the home page of Buddy's, go for the buildings on your right. Do not let them roll the dice with your vacation dollars.

The dive shop at Buddy's is first rate and the house reef is excellent. I would stay there again in a heart beat, but only on the Buddy's side of the resort.