Maine Diver
Contributor
Hi, I'm new to SCUBA board. Any information you can share about Sand Dollar would be great. We will be there 2/27/10-3/7/10.
Sand Dollar Resort
- Thread starter Maine Diver
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lmorin
Contributor
Been there twice with my wife. It has been fine. Once in a single BR and the second in a 2 person studio. The studio had fully adequate space. Sand Dollar does not water its landscaping, so the areas around the condos are rather dry. Nice shoreline to walk each AM on the way to the dive op at BDA. Shore diving from there is great and there are an awful lot of species right right out in front of the dock. Be sure to inquire about what can be seen in the water along the cliff at the water's edge and go snorkeling during a required surface interval. We saw octopi there within a few feet of shore. You can always dive it, too. Ask some of the permanent residents at Sand Dollar what to see and where to go on the reef. There are some very knowledgeable folks living there.
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Hi Maine Diver,
Welcome to ScubaBoard. There's a lot of information concerning Bonaire on SB and many active participants to give you advice. Interesting that you arranged your accomodations prior to inquiring but you did just fine.
My wife and I have been to Bonaire just 3 times and have always stayed at Sand Dollar, last time just under a year ago. We like the 1 bedroom condos and are partial to the 2nd floor. Kitchens are great for some of your meals. They say they have WiFi now for $25 a week, previously had to arrange through Chat N' Browse in front of the resort where there is also a small grocery and a great ice cream store (Lover's). There is a liquor store across the street, Bonairemart. Breakfast at Eddy's may be part of your plan, otherwise is just fine. Sunset Bar & Grill below Den Lamen is good
Bonaire Dive & Adventure has always worked very well for us. Marine Park orientation on the 1st morning can be a bit long, especially with Andre. Return visitors get to take a shorter version. House reef, Bari Reef, is fantastic day or night. I never get tired of diving it. I would consider taking a couple boat trips to Klein Bonaire and perhaps a couple to sites not available from shore. Remainder of your dives can all be from shore. I'd strongly consider taking "Diving with the Naturalist" with Jerry Lignon, it was a highlight from our last visit and learned an incredible amount we were able to put to use the rest of the trip. I'd also consider doing a couple of dives with East Coast Diving Bonaire Diving, unforgettable scubadive vacation adventure ! They bought the boat from Larry, of Larry's Wild Side fame. One of the DMs, Wietze Koopman, was a favorite of ours from previous dives with BD&A.
Feel free to send me a PM if you have questions. I'm sure you'll have a great time.
Good diving, Craig
Welcome to ScubaBoard. There's a lot of information concerning Bonaire on SB and many active participants to give you advice. Interesting that you arranged your accomodations prior to inquiring but you did just fine.
My wife and I have been to Bonaire just 3 times and have always stayed at Sand Dollar, last time just under a year ago. We like the 1 bedroom condos and are partial to the 2nd floor. Kitchens are great for some of your meals. They say they have WiFi now for $25 a week, previously had to arrange through Chat N' Browse in front of the resort where there is also a small grocery and a great ice cream store (Lover's). There is a liquor store across the street, Bonairemart. Breakfast at Eddy's may be part of your plan, otherwise is just fine. Sunset Bar & Grill below Den Lamen is good
Bonaire Dive & Adventure has always worked very well for us. Marine Park orientation on the 1st morning can be a bit long, especially with Andre. Return visitors get to take a shorter version. House reef, Bari Reef, is fantastic day or night. I never get tired of diving it. I would consider taking a couple boat trips to Klein Bonaire and perhaps a couple to sites not available from shore. Remainder of your dives can all be from shore. I'd strongly consider taking "Diving with the Naturalist" with Jerry Lignon, it was a highlight from our last visit and learned an incredible amount we were able to put to use the rest of the trip. I'd also consider doing a couple of dives with East Coast Diving Bonaire Diving, unforgettable scubadive vacation adventure ! They bought the boat from Larry, of Larry's Wild Side fame. One of the DMs, Wietze Koopman, was a favorite of ours from previous dives with BD&A.
Feel free to send me a PM if you have questions. I'm sure you'll have a great time.
Good diving, Craig
DeputyDan
Contributor
Sand Dollar is in an excellent location and the diving out front is top shelf.
The dive operation BDA is also the operation for Den Laman. The owner is Andre and he is an A**hole. That being said - survive the orientation and remember to hold out some tanks for any diving after 4:30 pm and you will be fine.
Have a good trip. I have not personally stayed at the sand dollar but would if conditions warranted.
Also, the breakfast at the Sand Dollar is way way way overpriced. Don't plan on eating there often...
The dive operation BDA is also the operation for Den Laman. The owner is Andre and he is an A**hole. That being said - survive the orientation and remember to hold out some tanks for any diving after 4:30 pm and you will be fine.
Have a good trip. I have not personally stayed at the sand dollar but would if conditions warranted.
Also, the breakfast at the Sand Dollar is way way way overpriced. Don't plan on eating there often...
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scubadobadoo
Contributor
You are gonna have a blast! The thing about Bonaire, no matter where you stay, is to remember that you are on Island time and that Boniare has what I like to call a "DIY" vacation feel about it. Keep that in mind and you'll be fine. Just go, relax, dive, eat and repeat! 
Let everything else slide of your shoulders. Your on vacation!
Let everything else slide of your shoulders. Your on vacation!
Jorgy
Contributor
Make sure you have a rental truck - the house reef is awesome, we dove it every night.........
M
M
lmorin
Contributor
Our two experiences at Sand Dollar included breakfast as part of the dive/truck/accommodation package. It was absolutely not overpriced under those circumstances. It was a bit repetitive, however.
PhilC
Contributor
Just got back from Sand Dollar Saturday. I enjoyed our stay which I wrote up in my trip report. Some of the units are nicer than others. We got B4 and my parents got B6 eventually which were both very nice. Breakfast for us was included and for the week we were there seemed to have plenty of variety.
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