November Shore diving

[RJP]

Besides diving, what else can you do in Bonaire?

From the information I have, the shore in Bonaire is rocky which isn't great for lying in the sun...

If you want to lay on a beach too, then hit Curacao. Same diving, better beaches.

 

[DeputyDan]

The Marriott on Curacao would be a good choice for what you are looking for. The Hilton located beside it is not up to standard for a Hilton - as a HiltonHonors member I know!

Bonaire has excellent wind surfing and kiteboarding.

Nice sandy beaches don't really attract good diving.

 

[RJP]

The Marriott on Curacao would be a good choice for what you are looking for.

+1 on this, been there a few times and always enjoyed by my non-diving family (and me too)

The Hilton located beside it is not up to standard for a Hilton - as a HiltonHonors member I know!

+100 on that. I have more than a million HH points, and I still wouldn't stay at the Curacao Hilton for free.

 

[Gnashrak]

If you want to lay on a beach too, then hit Curacao. Same diving, better beaches.

Agreed, we are usually nomad when travelling so even if the nice sandy beach and the diving spots are not at the exact same location but less than an hour drive, that's acceptable.

Like in Costa Rica:

 

[RJP]

Agreed, we are usually nomad when travelling so even if the nice sandy beach and the diving spots are not at the exact same location but less than an hour drive, that's acceptable.

Like in Costa Rica:

Many of the nicest beaches in Curacao are also great dive sites...

If you go for that sort of thing!

 

[Gnashrak]

Kitesurfing at Lac Bay (world-class), a little shopping, the Donkey farm? Some good dining. If you really like to "lay out" Sorobon is a nudist colony.

If it's rainy season on Curacao, it is on Bonaire also most likely, they're 50 miles apart.

You might consider Aruba. There's about a dozen shore dives and they advertise excellent beaches. Also nightlife, casinos, nice resorts. I've never been there but a dive buddy has. He described it as a good mix of both.

Curacao could work also, there's some nice beaches both in town and to the west, most have facilities. Also good restaurants, nightlife, about a dozen casinos, the Seaquarium etc. It's the deepwater port for the area and there's also a refinery just north of town so there's more people. Look at Porto Mari, Playa Lagun, Jan Thiel in the linked site below and see if that's what you want. All are good shore dives also.

The Marriott in Piscadera Bay has one of the better beaches I've seen there - and their restaurant is adjacent. One night we had dinner in the sand. Nice pool also. The Hilton next door is supposed to be similar but it's a 70's looking hotel building - I've never seen their beach.

A further difference between Bonaire and Curacao is that the entries are much easier on Curacao - many are a walk in off the sand. Most Bonaire entries are over ironshore/coral rubble at the waterline. The actual reef in some areas on either island is virtually the same. Except for named sites off the dive resorts (most have one) there are no facilities at any of the shore dive sites eithre north or south of town on Bonaire. Many sites on Curacao have some sort of combo snack shop/dive rental place. You also pay a small fee in guilders to use the site - often there's showers, a dive dock etc.

The best shoredive on either island I've done is Playa Kalki at the western end of Curacao but it's pretty remote - except for Lodge Kura Hulanda - nice resort but a 45min. drive to civilization.

The site pictures here show the differences better than I can explain:
Scuba Shore Diving Region: ABC Islands

If there's any shorediving in the Bahamas, I've yet to find it. Maybe the out islands? I'm pretty sure it's non-existent on Nassau or Grand Bahama. Lack of tank rentals also seems to be an issue.

Then that rental tanks issue and shore diving thing definitely cross out Bahamas from the list.

Many thanks for that useful and detailled reply! ShoreDiving.com - Your Shore Diving and Snorkeling Web Community! is a very nice website, wish there was more up-to-date information for more destinations.

Curacao is not that rainy in November. It is partly sunny and mid-80's when we have been there twice in December. Shore diving is great from nice, sandy beaches.

About that rainy stuff, what should we expect in a week in Curacao? Seven days of full sunshine morning and afternoon then rain during evening and night? Grey skies 24/7 and occasionnal showers? or 3 days full sunshine and 4 days of severe rain fall or lightning storms?

And what about the wind and sea roughness?

 

[RJP]

About that rainy stuff, what should we expect in a week in Curacao? Seven days of full sunshine morning and afternoon then rain during evening and night? Grey skies 24/7 and occasionnal showers? or 3 days full sunshine and 4 days of severe rain fall or lightning storms?

And what about the wind and sea roughness?

Curacao is pretty dry, even in the rainy season:

Monthly Rainfall:

And the sunshine hours vary very little...

Average hours of sunshine: