Trip report May 17-24th

[mbs]

This was our 8th (I think) annual trip to Bonaire. We meet up with a group we met there 6 years ago who have become great friends! We stay at the Plaza Resort and this is the first year that it is all inclusive. Many of us were leary of this and the group leader told the new owners at DEMA that unless they impressed us we would not be returning. I must say, they really came thru! New ac units in most rooms, seemed the cleaning staff did a better job in and out of the rooms. All meals are now at the Tipsy Seagull. There is always buffet and a live chef station. The fresh fish was always outstanding. Including one night the chef had a couple of fresh tuna on the counter that he proceeded to filet right there and offer filets seared or sashimi. On site Toucan Divers still offers a great service although I think the resort is now focusing more on non-diving activities. We truly missed eating at the great restaurants on the island, but the convenience, cost savings and excellence of the food made it a great time. We will probably return next year.

Enough of the plaza... The diving was excellent as always! We did 2 tank boat dives with Toucan in the mornings and 2 shore dives in the afternoons. Favorites - Sharon's Serenity on Klein and Vista Blue on the mainland. Lots of wind so the viz was definitely not at its best on some dives. But the sea life appeared extremely healthy. Lots of eels including massive green morays. Frogfish and seahorses. Lots and lots of schooling fish. I was chuckling on one dive watching this group of blue tangs that I referred to as the Keystone cops darting around. The only thing we missed this year was rays - not one all week!!! Where the heck were they?

Oh and last, but apparently not least, no problems with theft. Nothing left in the truck but a water bottle and towels. Oh and my little tube of mask clear left in the bed that must have been hidden well enough

Excellent week. The new United Saturday schedule to/from Newark made our travel (used to do ny-atl-bon) MUCH easier.

 

[ericjespersen]

Did you do any night dives? Any issues with box jellies? I heard they were out recently.

 

[mbs]

Not really... The latest in was around 5:30pm so it was barely dusk when coming out. There was a lot of stuff in the water and one of our folks said he got stung on the cheek, but felt fine by the time he came out so I doubt it was a box, just the normal garden variety stuff floating around.

 

[Scubawankenobi]

mbs,
Thanks for the trip report!

My spouse and I are just about (tonight) to book Bonaire for late June (20-29th), also staying at the all-inclusive Plaza (due to budgetary constraints).

If you don't mind a few questions, as this will be our first Bonaire trip:
1. When you say viz not at best - what kind of viz did you have? (just curious what we might expect 3wks out/this time of yr)
2. Any "must dive" recommendations? (I've been reading other threads on the site the last few days & have some ideas)
3. Water temp? (I like to dive shorts when I can, but will probably bring 2/3m shorty "just in case")
4. Shore dives at the plaza worth doing once? (thinking day1 - boat in morning, shore dive from Plaza beach afternoon)
5. Time of year - late June (3-4wk from now) a decent time to go? [ have to decide tonight if it'll be Bonaire, Bahamas, Cayman ] Seen elsewhere can be more rough(less viz?) this time of yr?
6. Recommendations on room locations (we're just 2x) - closest to dive shop/dining? [I'll be diving every morning]
7. Morning 2tank boat & afternoon shore - I was thinking of doing the same. Any thoughts/recommendations on renting vehicle? (*Cost estimate?) Or other means (bus/communal rides?)? No sure what options will be outside of the resort (Toucan) boat dives to get to sites if we don't rent a vehicle for the wk.
*Again this is a "budget" (8day) trip for us. Next time we're hoping to stay a couple of wks, go with friends & leisurely shore dive around the island.
I thought for the 1wk schedule, doing the morning boat dives might be most convenient.

I'm gonna post another thread - asking for some more advice. Don't want to *spam* scubaboard, after being a "lurker" for years and just registering today, as we'd really like to get some advice/guidance and it seems there have been many divers on the board who've dived Bonaire.

Lastly, have you ever dived "Larry's Wild Side Diving"? He dives the other side, including the Blue(White) Hole. Was thinking of possibly booking 2 dives with him one morning before we leave.

Thanks again for the report!

Glad I finally registered. Will look to contribute and plan further ahead for future trips.
[ BTW - our past Caribbean trips have been, on budget with all-inclusives, multiple trips to Cozumel, Aruba, Dominican Republic. Liked wrecks in Aruba & Cozumel for reefs. Was sadly disappointed at reefs in Florida this past year, but happily diving once I focused on wrecks in the FL Keys ]

 

[mbs]

@scubawankenobie,
1 - viz, there was plenty of wind and some moderate surge so the shallows got pretty murky, but on the wall or of course from the boat the viz was fine. I'm bad at this since I'm usually looking at the small stuff, but it had to be at least 60 feet.
2 - Nah... Do a variety. Boats will go out to Klein Bonaire. Go far north and far south (watch current/surge!). Double reef at sites like Angel City, The Lake, Hilma Hooker are cool.
3 - My comp logged 79/80F. I like a full 3ml for the protection
4 - The Plaza's Eighteenth Palm is a perfectly fine dive!! They leave tanks at either end of the resort that you can take. Recommend doing it as a twilight or night dive for the convenience.
5 - I've only been In May and once in Sept. I suspect the conditions are pretty much consistent year round.
6 - Some people find the resort too spread out. Now that they are doing all meals at the Tipsy Seagull it can be a bit of a hike, but honestly it doesn't bother us. The dive shop and the restaurant are on totally opposite ends of the complex. I like 2nd floor rooms for the balcony. Our room (2126 - why do i remember that???!!!) was a little closer to the dive shop end than the restaurant. It is facing the lagoon, not ocean side.
7 - We are the only folks in the group that we meet up with that shore dive so the morning boat dives work well for us. I don't believe you will have any option other than the house reef if you do not rent a truck. We booked the truck with the Plaza package and I believe it added about $230(usd). This is thru AB car rental and it includes the FULL insurance coverage meaning you don't have to worry about any out of pocket expenses.
We have not gotten around to giving the wild side a try. Sounds like a lot of fun though and definitely wise to do it guided from what I have heard.
You're gonna have a blast. Its a great place for divers!

 

[mchiapetto]

We'll be at the Plaza in just over a week. I appreciate all the information you shared.

How are the dive lockers at Toucan? Do they have locks on them? And did you have any trouble getting one?

 

[mbs]

We'll be at the Plaza in just over a week. I appreciate all the information you shared.

How are the dive lockers at Toucan? Do they have locks on them? And did you have any trouble getting one?

The lockers are fine. Get an upper one if possible (stinky water flows downhill ). They assign you a locker/key when you check in. The locker room also has hangers for your wetsuits. It is a buffet for skeeters! Get in and out real quick!

 

[deco_martini]

AI? Heresy...

I dig it in other places, but Bonaire? The local food joints are so good....

 

[hroark2112]

If you want east coast diving, contact Bas Tol at BAS Diving. I truly think he is part fish...he almost kept up with me on my rebreather. He knows where all the really cool stuff is. Baby spotted drum fish the size of a pencil eraser...black brotulas...every kind of crab & lobster. Too much fun!!!

 

[mchiapetto]

MBS - I have another question about staying at the Plaza. We just arrived tonight and are unpacking in our room right now. When you stayed here how did you handle tipping? Did you leave tips after each meal? And what about drinks at the beach bar? Is it expected you will tip each time you order drinks? Sometimes I am not sure how all-inclusive an all-inclusive actually is. And while I am on the topic, what about the boat dives. How much did you tip for each boat dive (per tank or per trip)?

If anyone has any questions about the Plaza while we are here this week, let me know and I will do my best to get you an answer. We will be here until June 14.