So I am trying to talk my home bud into Bonaire this summer...

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I have done Cozumel approx 40 times , Bonaire 4 times . My trips are all about diving so I choose Bonaire . Yes , it costs more money , however I do so many dives , almost twice what I would do In Coz , the cost per dive is actually less on Bonaire . This formula being my total cost for trip divided into number of dives.

The crime on Boniare comes in waves and it seems to be flooding right now . Common sense prevails . I have heard of burglary's in the bigger gated resorts as well as smaller villas etc.

My worst experience on any trip was bringing home a bout of dengue fever from Boniare , it held me back from booking my next dive trip . Even with diligent spraying of deet you risk catching it .

I would like to try Curacao as there too you can get in your truck and do you days diving at your pleasure . I am worn out with aggressive divemasters and especially the cattle boat 80 feet / 45 minute tours .

So after you look at the bottom line remember ... Diving Freedom ... Priceless
 
It is probably different for me than some of you, since there are four divers in my family, but every time I run the numbers, it is much cheaper to dive Bonaire or Curacao than Cozumel. First, we like to do an average of three dives a day and four is not unusual. Also, given the opportunity, I will do at least 3 night dives in a week. When you look at the per dive cost on Cozumel vs. the cost of "unlimited" diving, it is cheaper by far to shore dive, even factoring in the rental vehicle.

In calculating Cozumel costs, don't forget taxi charges if applicable and don't forget the DM and Captain tips.

I think the Sand Dollar may be one of the cheaper options on the water. Do check out Bonairepros.com for their package deals, which will typically include lodging, air, and trucks and a lot of places do not charge extra for nitrox.

Bonaire pros is listing the following option:

Sand Dollar 1 br condo for 2 people $839 pp low season

"Package includes 7 nights lodging, deluxe twin cab truck, 6 days unlimited shore diving, FREE NITROX upgrade, weekly rum punch party, all taxes. Add $105 for 6 tanks of boat dives during Low Season or $125 during High Season. Additional boat dives available - please request for pricing.

Oh and the $25.00 park fee is good for a year, in case that helps, and you get this cool little disc you leave on your BC to impress people next time you back on Coz.

Also if you are looking at Buddy Dive, Capt. Don's and some others, you are comparing larger "resort" type properties to one of the most economical choices on Coz.
 
coldwaterlloyd brings up what can be an annoying problem. Depending on the time of year you go, the mosquitoes can be bad...and I mean really bad. In Dec. 2007, we got eaten alive. It was so bad I had to leave my wetsuit on after night dives when breaking down my gear at the truck. We were getting bitten as we kicked out on the surface during dusk dives. Rinsing dive gear at the end of the day was painful. Daytime wasn't too bad, though. Bring your favorite mosquito repellent and apply it liberally especially in the evenings. One time of the day that they can be especially bad is in the early evenings. Wear pants and shoes to dinner. If you don't, your ankles/feet will suffer under the table.

In the past, my dive group has been able to limit on-island costs (truck rental, unlimited nitrox diving, accommodations, not including food) to about $450pp for the week. These costs can go down even more with parties divisible by 4 as the truck rental can be split four ways and condo costs can be slightly more affordable. We stayed at one of the off-resort condos (not on the water) with a kitchenette. Accommodations looking over the water aren't that big of a deal to us since we live very close to the water at home. We also ended up cooking several meals in the unit on account of the restaurant food being over-priced for the quality (IMO). For reference, I went in Dec. 2006 and 2007. We booked everything separately and it wasn't a problem at all.

If I were to go back (which I probably won't do until things change over there), I'd probably choose one of the large resorts for security reasons. I wouldn't be happy knowing that this would likely double or almost triple my on-island costs...but the recent crime wave must be considered.

Here's a YouTube link to our trip in Dec. 2006. Maybe watching the video will help convince your friend to go to Bonaire. Enjoy!
 
My take is you can do Bonaire expensive or you can do Bonaire less expensive.
Expensive would be Buddy, right on the water, breakfast included, truck included, boat dives included, nitrox included. Mona Lisa, Richards, Casablanca for dinner.
Less expensive would be off the water (GRI usually has some specials) ala carte diving, rent a truck for part of the week, get groceries and eat in or Subway, Kentucky Fried and locals places for dinner.
Airfare is just plain expensive, and inconvenient, but there is no getting around that.
As previously mentioned, if you have AmEx and pay for the trip/rental with that, you can get CDW insurance through them. I think it is $20 or $25 for the rental period (yes, for the period, not per day). If you are Platinum or above, there is no charge for the CDW, but do let them know in advance, in writing.
There are many agencies that can put together a package w/ or w/o air.
Park tags, departure fees and tips have to be factored in at many destinations. (Check the air tickets details - many places now include them in price, along with enough taxes and fees to choke a horse)
For us the convenience of a Buddy or Sand$ is worth the price. We have a big breakfast, someone else cooks and cleans up for me, we pack up, and go diving. If I want to sleep in till 8:00 we can watch the boats go out and dive right from Buddy's. I llike the convenience of a condo - lunch and some dinners eat in helping cut down that cost/dive. If you like boat diving there is plenty of that and the prices are (IMHO) very reasonable due to the competition (local NJ boats are currently about $100 per day). Being from a large metro area, we find the food prices to be very reasonable as well, though others disagree. Leaving nothing in the truck just means fewer things to take back in. Yeah - beach diving can be a pain - literally and figuratively. I hate sand in my booties, my suit, fighting a current, off balance but the things you can see! Having an entire dive site to yourself is incredible. Stepping of the dock at 10 or 11 pm for a 'night dive', no one else on the dock what a sense of serenity (and a bit of isolation). I do worry a bit about being the only people out there, sometimes. Besides, the tarpon keep you company, just like walking my dog around the neighborhood at night! Of course posting in the ABC Islands of SB is going to get you all the fervent Bonaire supporters, but there are reasons we keep coming back to Bonaire. Good luck!
 
There's nothing to stop you from doing boat dives on Bonaire if that's what you prefer. (Except, since things aren't as oriented that way there may not be as many running and it sounds like they fill up some places, potentially shutting you out.) We haven't been in a long time, but when we did we mostly did boat dives as that's what we prefer too, that and convenient shore diving from our hotel.

Here's a different perspective - I keep vaguely thinking we should go back to Bonaire because it's so popular, we haven't been there in a long time, and I'm a little curious to see what everything's like now. Then I remind myself that I like other places better, I like the diving in other places better, other places are easier for me to get to, so why ever would I do that? (Same reasoning has kept me from going to Coz, so far. Curious because I haven't been there and it's so popular, but from everything I read I'm pretty sure we'd not be that thrilled with the trip.)

So you have to decide if you want to let the "I haven't been there and everyone raves about it" thing overcome the "I did my research and I don't think it's the right place for me."
 
Don - I don't know if they are still running it, but the Plaza Resort was offering a sweet deal that was 7 days of lodging in a very nice room, breakfast, all your shore diving, included a rental truck, and 11 boat dives for about $800.00. They are right on the water, have a beach and a big pool, bar and restaurant if any of that matters to you.

From what I am figuring they are going to be a mix somewhere between a mixture of The Hotel Cozumel and Fiesta Americana, with maybe a touch of The Hotel Presidente thrown in. (Probably just a little touch:D)
 
There's nothing to stop you from doing boat dives on Bonaire if that's what you prefer. (Except, since things aren't as oriented that way there may not be as many running and it sounds like they fill up some places, potentially shutting you out.) We haven't been in a long time, but when we did we mostly did boat dives as that's what we prefer too, that and convenient shore diving from our hotel.

Here's a different perspective - I keep vaguely thinking we should go back to Bonaire because it's so popular, we haven't been there in a long time, and I'm a little curious to see what everything's like now. Then I remind myself that I like other places better, I like the diving in other places better, other places are easier for me to get to, so why ever would I do that? (Same reasoning has kept me from going to Coz, so far. Curious because I haven't been there and it's so popular, but from everything I read I'm pretty sure we'd not be that thrilled with the trip.)

So you have to decide if you want to let the "I haven't been there and everyone raves about it" thing overcome the "I did my research and I don't think it's the right place for me."

You are right that one could go to Bonaire and stick to boat dives, and I know others will disagree, but if I was going to do only or mostly boat diving, I think I would go to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, maybe Saba, etc. There are lots of choices. I don't mean I would not do a boat dive on Bonaire, but if that was going to be my primary mode of diving, I think I would go elsewhere. There are only two really good shore diving islands in the Caribbean, I think, and it seems strange to me to go there for boat diving.

I'm curious, Damselfish, where do you prefer to go and why?
 
You are right that one could go to Bonaire and stick to boat dives, and I know others will disagree, but if I was going to do only or mostly boat diving, I think I would go to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, maybe Saba, etc. There are lots of choices. I don't mean I would not do a boat dive on Bonaire, but if that was going to be my primary mode of diving, I think I would go elsewhere. There are only two really good shore diving islands in the Caribbean, I think, and it seems strange to me to go there for boat diving.
I agree, and I'm constantly amazed how many package deals I find with boat dives and unlimited shore diving, but no car/truck included to get to any of the shore dives, except the house reef, of course.

What do you consider the other really good shore diving island in the Caribbean?
 
You are right that one could go to Bonaire and stick to boat dives, and I know others will disagree, but if I was going to do only or mostly boat diving, I think I would go to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, maybe Saba, etc. There are lots of choices. I don't mean I would not do a boat dive on Bonaire, but if that was going to be my primary mode of diving, I think I would go elsewhere. There are only two really good shore diving islands in the Caribbean, I think, and it seems strange to me to go there for boat diving.

I'm curious, Damselfish, where do you prefer to go and why?
Exactly, since boats will be my primary mode of diving it's one of the reasons other places make more sense for me than Bonaire.

As far as the Carribean, I like Grand Cayman, but not Seven Mile Beach unless I want to shop or eat there, then it's nice to have the options. I like the walls and UW scenery. It's easy to get to, and sometimes English-speaking civilization is just, well, easy. Good restaurants. I like Little Cayman too.

I like Curacao, similar diving to Bonaire but more boat oriented (even though there's plenty of shore diving.) I think the diving is more varied than Bonaire, there's a better selection of restaurants, it's easier for me to get to, and I just like it better. I find it an interesting place.

St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Interesting diving, neat place, I'd be there all the time if it wasn't such a pain to get to.

Belize on a liveaboard is pretty good, and lots to see on land, but I've had my fill for awhile. I'll probably check out a resort on one of the islands whenever next time comes around.

I've been some other places in the Carribbean that I'm not rushing back to, and there's some I'd like to hit that I just haven't gotten around to. Then there's the Indo-Pacifc - enjoyed the handful of trips I've done (Palau, Yap, Australia, Maldives) and want more, wish it weren't so freakin' far!
 
I don't get it. We go somewhere to dive. Why would it matter if I fumble my way around in a beat up truck or take a boat to the same dive site. Yes, I know they don't necessarily go to all the dive sites but they do get to many good ones including of course the island that shore divers can't access.
I've been to Bonaire 3 times and many many more places and I always boat dive if possible. It's just easier in most cases and I never have to worry about getting bashed around by the surf. I'm guessing many of you have been lucky enough to be able to shore dive on every Bonaire trip. On one of mine, no one did any shore diving for 4 straight days because of the huge waves. Sorry I don't remember the time of year however and it may have been a fluke but I didn't miss a single day of divng. I LIKE BOATS.
I know I"m in the minority here. Most people going to Bonaire LIKE SHORE dives. Both are excellent and no one should NOT consider a trip just because they aren't going to shore dive. Like I said, we go to DIVE.
There are many places I'd rather go than Bonaire but Bonaire is a great DIVE location that just happens to have shore diving. If I just wanted shore diving, I'd visit my local lakes.
 
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