"Not to be missed" in Bonaire?

[Rick Murchison]

Grajan once bubbled...
but I have been a little put off by the reports here that it is all very similar.

I have made perhaps 75 - 100 dives over the years on the reef right in front of Buddy Dive - Lion's Dive - Capt. Don's and haven't had a boring one yet.
So I'm a little confused...
Of course they're similar - if by similar you mean they're all under water and teeming with life and you'll see something you've never seen before on every dive if you look.
I wouldn't concern myself with "must do" dives on a first trip to Bonaire. While my personal favorite at this instant is Karpata, (aside from the Windjammer but that ain't a "recreational" dive) I haven't been able to find a bad dive off Bonaire yet!
Oh, now it's "Forest"
Or "Small Wall"
Or "Thousand Steps"
Dammmm, I want to go there *now*! Anyone want to take me along?
No, Red Slave... or Hilma Hooker... or Alice & Wonderland... or...

Rick

 

[TedJ]

Here, here, Rick.

I've never been bored u/w in Bonaire either.TedJ

 

[Grajan]

Thank you all for the input. There are some very good ideas as well as some reassurance.

We are not always looking for spectacular terrain and really enjoy multiple visits to the same site to get to know it well so we think Bonaire is going to be ideal for us.

Finesse,
That was a very thorough and helpful trip report - thanks again.

 

[jepuskar]

43 days to my trip...thats the only thing that sucks about taking a dive trip....the waiting....then once you get there it flys by.

I need to quit visiting this section....it doesnt make the time go any quicker.

 

[SeaFlea]

I'm sure you will enjoy yourself. We went for a week last Sept. I never had such a relaxed, set your own schedule, diving trip in my life. We had a fully furn. apartment, took care of our breakfast when we were ready, packed a picnic lunch, loaded the truck with tanks and hit the road. What a cool way to spend a week.

As far as the "not to be missed", I would say the Island of Bonaire is "not to be missed". It may have been my state of mind at the time but I can't forget a wonderful surface swim on my back looking at a beautiful scene towards Pink Beach. It was like the Corona comercial.

Hope you enjoy.

 

[munkispank]

have to add my comments- salt pier is not to be missed- really cool and makes an awesome- if scary night dive. Seeing the pileons loom above you in the dark is really something.

As for the terrain looking similar- It does. But that doesn't mean it isn't good. Some sites are a little different- Obviously salt pier, Angel city is an awesome double reef and the second reef looks different than the first. The cliff- which is at the Hamlet villas is a mini-wall which was my overall favourite dive. Definately do that one- theres a ladder to the beach and semi- easy shore entry.

I would like to comment that as all is good in Bonaire- don't feel that you have to do all the sites, or change from a site you like. When you find one that suits your abilities, then stay there. Don't feel you have to go to the longer swim outs, or fight the harder entries. We saw turtles, octopus, squid and tons of species of fish right close to the resort.

Enjoy

 

[cstreu1026]

I was there for a week in June and the only thing I thought was worth skipping was Town Pier and that seems to be same thought of most of the people locally who frequent Bonaire. If you are the lest bit closterphobic (sp.?) you will definitely want to skip it. The owner of a LDS were discussing it not too long ago and he said he will never dive town peir again, but he did rave about salt peir which he did for the first time in July. So that will have to be a must try next time I am there.

While we were there we did 2-3 dives a day on the house reef at Buddy's and never really got bored. Always something different and the large tarpon at night is really cool.

 

[Grajan]

We have been back an age but I just want to thank you all for the great info. It really helped make the most of our first visit.

I don't have time for a trip report (I don't have time to sleep....) but the diving was awesome and Buddy's was great. We LOVE the shore diving approach, particularly for night diving.

I put a link to a photo album in this thread.

Once again thanks. The board delivers as always.

 

[NJDiveGirl]

the hilma hooker is an awesome dive as well... theres just so much to see there