Sand Dollar

[oldschoolto]

The wife and I have done some cross country swims on Bonaire....

Jim...

 

[lunula]

We stayed in the unit just below A2 this past December (A3) and we loved it. Obviously, I can't speak to A2 as far as the amenities within the unit, but the location is great. We used BDA, so we were able to use the dock - but the shore entry is just a few steps down right by the dock, so if you choose DF it's not bad at all. We didn't do a shore entry there, but it looked pretty easy. We had zero issues at all with our unit, didn't use the pool there (it was in an odd location) - but we walked to a couple shops/restaurants (and a bank w/ ATM) and it's centrally located to get anywhere else. We're already looking at booking again this year.

 

[herman]

I can't tell you much about A2 but considering I am writing from the deck of F14 (with the rest of my group in B12 and C4) I am in a position to give you a current update. By far, use Dive Friends, they have 5 shops that you can use to pick up or drop tanks, 4 of them on the water. You can dive at any place they have a presence so not only can you dive at the SD reef but at the others as well. At least this week, someone has been there from 8:30 to 4:30 every day and plenty of tanks have been available 24/7.One post above is a little inaccurate, you have to take your gear from the dive shop (or room) to the beach entry in wagons that are available 24/7 but tanks (both air and nitrox) can be picked up and dropped off at the entry point. There is a tank room and a setup bench there....they look new so this might be a recent addition. It is true you can't use the dock but its not a big deal.
So far the only "down" side is the breakfast that is included with some packages. This use to be a buffet style with a wide varity at Eddies but it has been replace with a one size fits all breakfast at the new place at Den Lamen, the name escapes me . It's not bad, quite good actually but you get what they are serving that morning. Pretty much plain yogart with granola on top, fruit bowl and eggs cooked some way with lunch meat and cheese on the side. Coffee is in small cups and you have to ask for more....a pain for someone who likes a lot of coffee. Like I said it's been very good but there is no choice, what they are serving is what you get.
If you have a specific question, fire away.

 

[divesergeant]

We stayed in A4 a few years ago. We dived Bari Reef many times and loved it. We used DFB before they had a shop there. We carried tanks from the parking to the beach and did not find it bothersome.

Bari Reef is a fabulous dive and Sand Dollar is a nice development. We recommend both highly. Like mentioned, Sand Dollar condos are individually owned and will vary. A4 is set up extremely well for diving and has mosquito netting. Not sure about A2 but ask a few questions of the owners or their agents and you should get that info.

 

[Scared Silly]

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.

We too have stayed at Den Lamen and recently at Sand Dollar. We found both to be very good and would recommend either. Dive Friends' multiple sites is nice but to be honest for two people grabbing 4-6 cylinders for the morning is no big deal. If a larger group with one vehicle then certainly worth while to be able to grab what you need and run back to the shop between dives.

My only complaint with the SD would not be with the staff but some guests being a wee bit noisy and not being able to park worth crap. Rather minor in the big scheme of things. We stayed in unit F9 which can be rented only through VRBO.com #91778 - Well-Maintained Sand Dollar Oceanfront Condominium F-9

It was actually less expensive to do everything al-a-carte and the unit was great as a studio. The owner is very very responsive. And one gets the keys from the SD main office, it comes with housekeeping, and everything else as if one rents via SD.

We did several night dives from the resort which was nice entering right from the steps. We were using our new UV lights. Which was fun. Not being able to use the DBA dock was not a big deal. However, their dive lockers are nice - we left our suits and BCD there and took our regs/computers each night. At SD we brought everything back to our condo.