Sand Dollar

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jjach

Contributor
Messages
133
Reaction score
25
Location
Chicago area
# of dives
100 - 199
Has anyone stayed in unit A-2 at Sand Dollar. What else can you tell me about the whole complex. Is it a good place to stay?
 
We stayed there several years ago. Nice place then and they have been remodeling since then. We'd go back.
 
Loved it. Dive friends has an excellent operation with several locations. House reef one of the best. Tanks easy to get to and easiest entry we found. Condo we stayed at was great. Truck was included in package. Really we had no complaints and have talked about going back. Pm me if u want. Bill
 
...and easiest entry we found.

If this is an issue, is this still dependent upon which dive op. onsite you use? Historically, I was told those diving with Bonaire Dive & Adventure could use the pier, and those who dove with Dive Friends Bonaire could not, although they could still get in, and I believe a forum search will show quite a number of people on this forum speak highly of Dive Friends Bonaire.

Richard.
 
If this is an issue, is this still dependent upon which dive op. onsite you use? Historically, I was told those diving with Bonaire Dive & Adventure could use the pier, and those who dove with Dive Friends Bonaire could not, although they could still get in, and I believe a forum search will show quite a number of people on this forum speak highly of Dive Friends Bonaire.

Richard.
At the moment, those electing to use BDA as their operation have access to air/nitrox right at the foot of the dock and can use the dock, either by doing a giant stride from it or walking down the exit stairs. Or, they can go in from shore, but why bother? Those obtaining tanks from Dive Friends cannot use the BDA dock. They pull tanks and gear via wagon from the DF rental local just streetside of the south end of Sand Dollar to a gear-up location with benches just above a few steps that lead to the sandy beach entry. The two ops are so close together that the distance differences from Sand Dollar are not worth considering. DF is very popular. BDA less so, but some folks use it (like me) because they have difficulty with even the easiest of shore entries. The A2 unit is a second floor, 1BR unit about as close to the dive ops as is possible. All Sand Dollar units are privately owned and the quality of the furnishings vary.
 
My husband & I stayed in a second floor studio of Sand Dollar around 2011/2012. It was perfect for us. It had a screened porch which increased our evening living space considerably (mosquitos). At that time we used DF (and again last year when we stayed elsewhere) but DFs did not have a refill station at Sand Dollar at the time. Unless you stay at Sand Dollar, you are not supposed to dive the house reef (Sand Dollar's house reef is great - lots of critters & right next to Something Special - highly rated - reef).

Last year, I could not find an open unit at SD during our 2 wks of diving, so we had to look elsewhere. On our next visit to Bonaire, I will try again. Pluses - Choice of 2 on site (or nearly) dive shops (one being a help yourself air refill station - DF), a great house reef, a good central location to the other island shore diving sites. Negatives - Each SD unit is individually owned, so do your homework regarding $/amenities. SD's pool is streetside, so not real handy to some units - if you are into that, not a big deal to us. The complex is pretty basic - not new, but suitable for most divers who care more about location. Good luck!
 
"Unless you stay at Sand Dollar, you are not supposed to dive the house reef (Sand Dollar's house reef is great - lots of critters & right next to Something Special - highly rated - reef)."

Oh, no. You can dive the 'house reef' whether you stay at Sand Dollar or not. To the immediate south is a round-about, where you can turn off (there's a yellow rock for Bari Reef) and drive down and find a place to park (probably not the ones that say 'Verboten') and walk in, then swim north.

People who don't dive with Bonaire Dive & Adventure aren't supposed to use the pier that BD&A leases, IIRC, but Sand Dollar, BD&A, etc..., do not own that stretch of reef.

Richard.
 
Thanks, @drrich2. I stand corrected. We also parked and dived through that spot. I guess I would be more accurate in saying that you cannot pick up your tanks at the DF station at SD and then walk them through the property to the shore unless you are a guest of SD. But there are other places of access, as you mentioned. (Having stayed at SD on our 1st visit, last year we did ask around to see about getting access to the Bari Reef, & getting in there worked out fine). Also, I mentioned in my earlier post that Something Special is nearby. It is actually down the coast a little drive, by car.
 
We've stayed at both Sand Dollar and Den Lamen. The BDA dock is very convenient and accessible. Their boats also leave from there. The Den Lamen and BDA combination cannot be beat. I have been to the Dive Friends shack several times where there was nobody around and have had to go elsewhere for what we have needed. However, if you are with Dive Friends, you can use their other facilities without question. Then again, many shops let you use their facilities (except BDA) for a small fee or by checking in.
 

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