Very confused about conditions in Bonaire

[Murphy in NC]

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

Mind your depths?

Can you elaborate?

 

[Murphy in NC]

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.

Kathy I warned her but the same as when we are in GC, she wants to sit by the pool with a book, if we do end up doing a boat dive she will go for the ride

 

[Murphy in NC]

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.

The keys are way beyond competitve, cheap as hell when compared to Bonaire but we have been to the Keys way too much, I love it and plan on heading down there or someplace like it when the career ends

 

[KathyV]

Kathy I warned her but the same as when we are in GC, she wants to sit by the pool with a book, if we do end up doing a boat dive she will go for the ride

A lot of the resorts on Bonaire don't have pools and many places are simple, no frills venues that are geared toward divers. Take a look at Harbour Village, it is more of a luxury resort than most other properties on the island; but they do have a house reef and offer both boat and shore diving.

Bonaire Resorts | Home Page | Harbour Village Bonaire

 

[Murphy in NC]

A lot of the resorts on Bonaire don't have pools and many places are simple, no frills venues that are geared toward divers. Take a look at Harbour Village, it is more of a luxury resort than most other properties on the island; but they do have a house reef and offer both boat and shore diving.

Bonaire Resorts | Home Page | Harbour Village Bonaire

Thank you Kathy!
I was just going to follow Ray and Pams idea of telling her to "wait in the truck!" while my boy and I went diving.

Your idea sounds like a happier alternative

 

[hilljo88]

+1 on Harbor Village. Luxury resort, beach, pool area. great shore dive in front of you and to the south, dive shop on premises.

 

[boat sju]

There's a new place too: Luxury defined by nature - Delfins Beach Resort Bonaire

Place looks pretty nice. I don't know how expensive it is.

Oh, in over 100 dives I don't think we've ever encountered a current we couldn't swim against. But do make sure you start your dive against it. I think Klein causes a funnel that effects the current at Bari and that area in general.

 

[arew+4]

The reef in most places slopes gently down to 100 feet or more. So if you see something a little deeper you want to check out you can easily exceed your planned depth.

 

[drrich2]

I wonder if something like Sunscape Resort Curacao, an A.I. resort with a free shuttle service to the capital nearby, and a popular cruise ship stop with various excursions, and known for much more sandy beach than Bonaire, would appeal more than Bonaire. I'm told there are more sandy entries than Bonaire; if so, might help ease your anxiety about shore diving, though as others said there are some easy Bonaire entries. You may find airfare to Curacao a little cheaper. The capital city is much larger, it's a larger island, more topside going on.

But in fairness, if one is driven & takes advantage of whatever,there are topside things to do in Bonaire. I like the ride through Washington-Slagbaii Park and the Donkey Sanctuary, and there's kite boarding & wind-surfing.

St. Croix was mentioned; if it's of interest, here's some info.

In the January/Dec. timeframe, the far southern Caribbean (e.g.: Curacao, Bonaire) may be a bit warmer than some other options. If you don't like A.I., nearby Lions Dive Resort might fit the bill.

Just in case you're Curacao-curious, highly driven & have a lot of free time:

Curacao Trip Report Dec 2017 - ERRN’s informative report - Trip Report Dec 2017
Curacao Trip Report - Jan 2018 (tkaelin’s informative report) - Curacao Trip Report - Jan '18
Curacao vs. Bonaire - http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/lesser-antilles/473036-curacao-vs-bonaire.html
Bonaire vs Curacao - http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/bonaire-vs-curacao.535918/
Curacao 1st Timer Trip Report - http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/curacao-1st-timer-trip-report.527457/
Curacao Trip Report - Curacao Trip Report
Curacao Suggestions - http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/curacao-suggestions.536523/
Place to stay in Curacao - http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/place-to-stay-in-curacao.518346/ See Damselfish Post #3.
Curacao Trip with Teenagers in June - http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/curacao-trip-with-teenagers-in-june.525886/
Curacao Lodging - Curacao Lodging?
Curacao - First Time Opportunity - Curacao - First Time Opportunity
Curacao Solo Diving with Cert. - Curaçao solo diving with cert
Did I miss the Better Sites on Curacao? - Did I miss the better sites on Curacao?
Diving in Curacao - Curaçao Shorediving - Home

Richard.

 

[Murphy in NC]

I wonder if something like Sunscape Resort Curacao, an A.I. resort with a free shuttle service to the capital nearby, and a popular cruise ship stop with various excursions, and known for much more sandy beach than Bonaire, would appeal more than Bonaire. I'm told there are more sandy entries than Bonaire; if so, might help ease your anxiety about shore diving, though as others said there are some easy Bonaire entries. You may find airfare to Curacao a little cheaper. The capital city is much larger, it's a larger island, more topside going on.

But in fairness, if one is driven & takes advantage of whatever,there are topside things to do in Bonaire. I like the ride through Washington-Slagbaii Park and the Donkey Sanctuary, and there's kite boarding & wind-surfing.

St. Croix was mentioned; if it's of interest, here's some info.

In the January/Dec. timeframe, the far southern Caribbean (e.g.: Curacao, Bonaire) may be a bit warmer than some other options. If you don't like A.I., nearby Lions Dive Resort might fit the bill.

Just in case you're Curacao-curious, highly driven & have a lot of free time:

Curacao Trip Report Dec 2017 - ERRN’s informative report - Trip Report Dec 2017
Curacao Trip Report - Jan 2018 (tkaelin’s informative report) - Curacao Trip Report - Jan '18
Curacao vs. Bonaire - http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/lesser-antilles/473036-curacao-vs-bonaire.html
Bonaire vs Curacao - http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/bonaire-vs-curacao.535918/
Curacao 1st Timer Trip Report - http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/curacao-1st-timer-trip-report.527457/
Curacao Trip Report - Curacao Trip Report
Curacao Suggestions - http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/curacao-suggestions.536523/
Place to stay in Curacao - http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/place-to-stay-in-curacao.518346/ See Damselfish Post #3.
Curacao Trip with Teenagers in June - http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/curacao-trip-with-teenagers-in-june.525886/
Curacao Lodging - Curacao Lodging?
Curacao - First Time Opportunity - Curacao - First Time Opportunity
Curacao Solo Diving with Cert. - Curaçao solo diving with cert
Did I miss the Better Sites on Curacao? - Did I miss the better sites on Curacao?
Diving in Curacao - Curaçao Shorediving - Home

Richard.

Dr Rich you always have an answer and an excellent one

Now tell me what is this AI you speak of ?