Staying/Diving in Bonaire
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DiveMaven
Contributor
Please post a trip report when you return. We're staying at Den Laman in June/July for 2 weeks and would love to live vicariously through you between now and then.
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Based on the OP's questions, if Liz from GRI recommends using BDA, then go with it. We have stayed at GRI before, but my wife wanted something on the water this time.
We stayed at Den Laman the last two weeks of November. It was not very busy - a great time for us to travel. Den Laman is a nice, quiet place. The accommodations are nice and well equipped. We were just two, but had plenty of room. The restaurant is good, not great, but does have the added benefit of being on site. We found BDA to be a good operation. The gear storage area is large, but is locked quite early at 2030 (as is the access to tanks - nitrox locked up at 1630, air locked up at 2030) and does not open until 0830. They have small lockers to store your gear and tanks. If you dive nitrox you have to grab a few tanks before 1630 and move them to a storage locker.
Check in and check out was very easy. We took the CO early flight out on Sunday. All you have to do is clear your account on Saturday then drop your key in the drop box before you leave.
BDA is located so that they serve both Den Laman and Sand Dollar. If both locations are busy it may be that the operation may not be able to meet all of the demand.
If you are not expert at identifing all of the critters on the reef, I high recommend spening a morning with Jerry, the on site naturalist. BDA offers this as "dive with the naturalist," and the cost was $40. Well worth it to us. The "house reef," Bari Reef, is highly rated because of the abundance of critters. The dock at Den Laman makes for easy entry and exit.
We stayed at Den Laman the last two weeks of November. It was not very busy - a great time for us to travel. Den Laman is a nice, quiet place. The accommodations are nice and well equipped. We were just two, but had plenty of room. The restaurant is good, not great, but does have the added benefit of being on site. We found BDA to be a good operation. The gear storage area is large, but is locked quite early at 2030 (as is the access to tanks - nitrox locked up at 1630, air locked up at 2030) and does not open until 0830. They have small lockers to store your gear and tanks. If you dive nitrox you have to grab a few tanks before 1630 and move them to a storage locker.
Check in and check out was very easy. We took the CO early flight out on Sunday. All you have to do is clear your account on Saturday then drop your key in the drop box before you leave.
BDA is located so that they serve both Den Laman and Sand Dollar. If both locations are busy it may be that the operation may not be able to meet all of the demand.
If you are not expert at identifing all of the critters on the reef, I high recommend spening a morning with Jerry, the on site naturalist. BDA offers this as "dive with the naturalist," and the cost was $40. Well worth it to us. The "house reef," Bari Reef, is highly rated because of the abundance of critters. The dock at Den Laman makes for easy entry and exit.
Got back from Bonaire on Sunday and we're still riding the high of such an awesome week.
We stayed at Den Laman as planned and found it to be very comfortable and convenient. Would definitely go back. Rooms are particularly well outfitted and it being not huge and centrally located were two real pluses. Found the rates to be pretty reasonable as well. Was very glad to have the full kitchen and fridge, as being able to make your own breakfast and lunch and eat in a couple nights is very convenient.
BDA was everything we needed in a dive shop. Gear rental was easy, staff was helpful and tank pickup and drop off couldn't have been simpler.
Did one boat dive with them to Petrie's Pillar which was great and very quick and easy.
Also enjoyed the two dives we did along Bari Reef, their "house" reef.
The wreck of the Hilma Hooker was a real highlight. Saw a big Porcupine Fish, a giant rainbow Parrotfish and some big Tarpon. The wreck itself is also really impressive at 200+ ft long.
The double reef at Angel City was also really cool. Not sure I've ever seen so much vibrant, healthy coral in one place.
We also dove Andrea II, Ol Blue, Witches Hut, and Oil Slick Leap. Really liked all the spots we went to.
Absolute highlight of the trip was the night dive at Town Pier. We went with German from BDA and he was a great guide. We had a very cool octopus encounter there, as well as our first seahorse sighting. A really huge Tarpon was hanging with us pretty much the whole time as well.
We flew in and out on the direct flights from Newark. Arriving at 5 am and having to get up before dawn to make the 7 am return is a pain, but we figured it beat connecting flights. Not sure if we'd do the same next time or not, especially since it means you don't really dive the last day.
Fortunately, we had a very enjoyable sunset sail on the Bowalie the night before we left. Was nice to enjoy the water around Bonaire in a different way after a week of diving.
We ate at richard's Seaside, Dona & Giglio and The Reef at Den Laman. All were OK, none great. Looking forward to finding some better restaurants next time we visit. Any recommendations would certainly be welcome.
Well, I guess that's about it. All in all, an amazing trip and I highly recommend it to anyone considering heading down there anytime soon.
Thanks again for all the help and guidance you guys provided beforehand.
We stayed at Den Laman as planned and found it to be very comfortable and convenient. Would definitely go back. Rooms are particularly well outfitted and it being not huge and centrally located were two real pluses. Found the rates to be pretty reasonable as well. Was very glad to have the full kitchen and fridge, as being able to make your own breakfast and lunch and eat in a couple nights is very convenient.
BDA was everything we needed in a dive shop. Gear rental was easy, staff was helpful and tank pickup and drop off couldn't have been simpler.
Did one boat dive with them to Petrie's Pillar which was great and very quick and easy.
Also enjoyed the two dives we did along Bari Reef, their "house" reef.
The wreck of the Hilma Hooker was a real highlight. Saw a big Porcupine Fish, a giant rainbow Parrotfish and some big Tarpon. The wreck itself is also really impressive at 200+ ft long.
The double reef at Angel City was also really cool. Not sure I've ever seen so much vibrant, healthy coral in one place.
We also dove Andrea II, Ol Blue, Witches Hut, and Oil Slick Leap. Really liked all the spots we went to.
Absolute highlight of the trip was the night dive at Town Pier. We went with German from BDA and he was a great guide. We had a very cool octopus encounter there, as well as our first seahorse sighting. A really huge Tarpon was hanging with us pretty much the whole time as well.
We flew in and out on the direct flights from Newark. Arriving at 5 am and having to get up before dawn to make the 7 am return is a pain, but we figured it beat connecting flights. Not sure if we'd do the same next time or not, especially since it means you don't really dive the last day.
Fortunately, we had a very enjoyable sunset sail on the Bowalie the night before we left. Was nice to enjoy the water around Bonaire in a different way after a week of diving.
We ate at richard's Seaside, Dona & Giglio and The Reef at Den Laman. All were OK, none great. Looking forward to finding some better restaurants next time we visit. Any recommendations would certainly be welcome.
Well, I guess that's about it. All in all, an amazing trip and I highly recommend it to anyone considering heading down there anytime soon.
Thanks again for all the help and guidance you guys provided beforehand.
DiveMaven
Contributor
Thanks for the quick trip report! Can't wait to enjoy our Den Laman and BDA adventure in a few months too. 
ShoeAddict
Registered
Thanks for the trip report! My husband and I will be staying at Den Laman in less than two weeks.
Was there anything that you felt was missing and would recommend we bring? (example-. in Park Royal Cozumel-- there aren't any clocks in the rooms)
This will be our first trip to Bonaire, we can't wait!
I'll post a report when we return.
Was there anything that you felt was missing and would recommend we bring? (example-. in Park Royal Cozumel-- there aren't any clocks in the rooms)
This will be our first trip to Bonaire, we can't wait!
I'll post a report when we return.
Bring your own shampoo and soap with you, there are only liquid soap dispensers in the rooms.
Bring bug repellent, as there are mosquitos at night.
Also, they didn't have a bottle opener or cork screw in the room, but the kitched was well stocked otherwise. That may vary from room to room.
Otherwise it was all there.
Bring bug repellent, as there are mosquitos at night.
Also, they didn't have a bottle opener or cork screw in the room, but the kitched was well stocked otherwise. That may vary from room to room.
Otherwise it was all there.
pediatron
Contributor
We were at Den Laman last July and are returning in June. I liked having my own beach towel with me. Sometimes used to dry face, etc after dive. Sometimes used at night to cover wet seats in car after I've changed to go out for dinner. I also liked having a hair dryer especially after a night dive. If you want any special dives with BDA, ask ASAP. We had some trouble with arranging Town Pier or boat dives to our choice of location (first listed on boat usually has choice).
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