Very confused about conditions in Bonaire

[caydiver]

Totally agree about Discovery Point and northern SMB properties. The widest sandiest part of SMB is the central area hence the higher prices. But if you someone who is not a diver and who likes the beach it does seem fair to stay on the beach. Most ops will pick do pick up and drop off do that is not an issue. None of the shore diving ops have great or even good beach (that’s why there are not hotels or condos in those spots). Places like Grand Caymanian is great for divers and big groups here for weddings etc but not for a beach lover and it is away from everything. I would focus on condos right on the beach for a great options that include everyone. To be fair it wouldn’t be that much fun for the divers to be zipped back and forth in air conditioned comfort or picked up right on the beach and expect the non-diver to either wait for a shuttle for everything they want to do or to lug their stuff across the road everyday to and from the beach. Sadly the whole world does not revolve around divers and unless you are on a tight budget they shouldn’t be short changed too much .

 

[Murphy in NC]

I really appreciate it however I booked too late, believe me I searched, I will return to Grand Cayman or go to Hawaii in July.

Right now looking hard at Bonaire

 

[scubadada]

Hi @Murphy in NC

My wife and I were in Bonaire last December Den Laman/Dive Friends Bonaire, December 3-14, 2017 and again this August Den Laman & Dive Friends, August 11-25, 2018 The conditions were very similar during the two visits, warm water, good visibility, little to no current or surge.

I share concern that a non diver may not be perfectly happy on Bonaire if SMB is the benchmark.

 

[noj3333]

Have you put any thought into key largo? Cheap boat dives with a pretty shallow hard bottom... plus some wrecks if you're interested in doing AOW on your own.

Once you factor the fight expense of Bonaire into the mix the keys become pretty competitive.

 

[oldschoolto]

I just look at the thread you posted.. All those dives were at the very southern end of the island and on the boat dive sites off klien ...

Jim ..

 

[uncfnp]

There are super easy entries and advanced entries. Yes there can be some wave, depending on wind and direction, and there can be some surge but if you pick your sites carefully this should never be a problem. There are a few sites that are sand entries.

I am on island now and its been rainy this past month, especially by Bonaire standards but otherwise the weather has been just about ideal and most of the rain for us has been at night. Wind, waves and surge has been minimal and no current that is more then mild. Entries this week have been unusually simple, at least on the south side of the island.

 

[lmorin]

No conditions are guaranteed. We have not been to Bonaire in late fall/early winter, but have been in April, May, July, August, January and February. Pretty much the same all the time, generally. However, rain is more likely in the fall and early winter. Usually, it's "tropical rain" meaning that it may pour for a minute or 10, but that will be it for the day. It seldom rains all day. "Lots of rain" usually means an increased number of episodes per day and/or bigger deluges per episode. Another significant variable is wind speed. The average across the year is about 16 mph, with the low in November (13) and the high in June (20). As you well know, your experience might be different. We've been there when the wind averaged over 25 mph for a full week in January and experienced a couple of days with the wind blowing from the northwest or even the south, as well as a few days with almost zero wind. As you can imagine, those events change the complexion of the shoreline a lot. They are not common.

Just go and hope for the best as we all do. When you are there, ask local opinion about conditions if you have concerns.

We dive Bari Reef from Sand Dollar a lot. Guestimating, the current there flows significantly to the south about 30% of our dives or north about 3-5 %, with the balance having no or insignificant current. I've tried to correlate local wind and weather events with current speed and direction, but have no clue as to why the Bari current acts the way it does.

 

[KathyV]

I really appreciate it however I booked too late, believe me I searched, I will return to Grand Cayman or go to Hawaii in July.

Right now looking hard at Bonaire

Just curious, what what will your wife be doing while you and your son are out diving on Bonaire? There are a few topsIde activities, not much beach, and some nature to appreciate, but the entire island is dedicated to diving. It's a unique place - for a diver.

 

[Ray and Pam]

She can snorkle she can go with yous twos. Keep an eye on the truck.

 

[arew+4]

Bonaire is great.
We got our kids certified there in December 2016. The diving is easy, but mind your depths.