Where to stay Bonaire

[Thresa]

I think I've gotten it narrowed down to 3 places. Sand dollar, Denlaman, and Buddy's? Are any of them close to the airport and subject to a lot of plane noise?

Are they all convienant for getting tanks and gear from them?

I'm looking for a clean friendly place that looks nice and that is close to the water. I would like to spend around $1500-$2000 for 2 people including a vehicle and unlimited shore diving. I would like to be close to good food and good diving. Thanks in advance for the help.
Thresa

 

[DeputyDan]

Go to www.buddydive.com and look at the drive and dive packages.

Everything you want at a price less than you are willing to pay. Also they don't say this but pick up and delivery from the airport is included.

 

[Boat Chick]

I think I've gotten it narrowed down to 3 places. Sand dollar, Denlaman, and Buddy's? Are any of them close to the airport and subject to a lot of plane noise?

Are they all convienant for getting tanks and gear from them?

I'm looking for a clean friendly place that looks nice and that is close to the water. I would like to spend around $1500-$2000 for 2 people including a vehicle and unlimited shore diving. I would like to be close to good food and good diving. Thanks in advance for the help.
Thresa

Thresa, you will love Bonaire diving Den Laman is probably the most upscale amongst the 3 properties (no pool though). The units are brand new, have AC throughout. It is also right next to Sand$ and so they share the pier and the dive shop. Buddy's is next to Sand$.

If I had to choose between those 3, I would either go for Den Laman is smaller (just a few units) or Buddy's (larger and more of a "resort.")

Buddy's drive through tank station is another plus. Drive up, unload your empties, load full one's, and you're on your way

Plane noise will not be a problem at any of them.

Have a great time whatever you decide!

 

[blawler1]

As Cynde pointed out, Den Lamen and Sand Dollar share the same dive shop Bonaire Dive and Adventure (BDA) which is probably the best value for nitrox on the island as they offer unlimited nitrox tanks and weights for $105 for 6 days (not necessarily consecutive) They have a good pier set up with easy tank access and a walk in gear locker, along with smaller individual lockers (which you can use to squirrel away tanks for night dives and create your own 24/7 tank access). We've used them several times.

We have not stayed at Sand Dollar, but we stayed at Den Lamen in February and it is nice. As mentioned, it is brand new, well appointed and right on the water. We used to stay at the Yachtclub apartments, but now that we tried Den Lamen, we will be staying there in the future including two weeks coming up next January.

While we have not stayed with Buddys, we have dove with them a couple of times and they are very good as well. It is located only a couple of hundred yards north of Den Lamen/SD and now that they have taken over Lions Inn and Bon Bini Divers, their dock setup is as nice as it gets with a covered area with convenient lockers, an enclosed area with protected stair access into the water and 24/7 tank availability (although you have to lug the tanks up the stairs if you are going off site after hours) Buddys also has a neat drive through tank station open 8 to 5 which is very nice.

The dive sites at these locations are very similar and very good. In fact, Bari reef in front of Den Lamen/SD has had the most species identified on it of any dive site in the Caribbean according to Project REEF. There are approximately five designated dive sites which can be dove from either SD or Buddys pier and they are both perfect for night dives as well.

As mentioned these resorts are all located north of Kralendijk and several miles from the airport so there is no airplane noise.

 

[herman]

Hi Thersa,

Of the 3, my choice would be Buddy, super staff both at the dive shop and the resort itself, you can' t go wrong with Buddy. If cost is a factor and you don't mind staying a little ways off the water in a smaller, less upscale place, take a look at Golden Reef Inn. www.goldenreefinn.com The cost saving is considerable. Buddies is my resort of choice IF I have at least 6 people going because the cost comes down a lot with 6 in a condo but if it's just the wife and I, GRI is my choice. Having been to Bonaire a number times, being directly on the water is much less important to me than saving quite a bit of cash. In any case, any of your choices would be fine. Bonaire is small so there is really no place "far" from the water or good places to eat.

 

[Thresa]

Thanks to everyone for all the input. I’m still trying to decide between Den Laman and Buddy’s. Tough choice they both sound very appealing for different reasons.

For those that stayed at Den Lamon were you ever bothered by the noise at the restaurant? I’m more worried about being woken up early in the morning than evening noise.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Buddy is my answer. Look for my recent trip report located about two or three pages down from this one in this forum.

 

[Karen Dancheck]

My husband and I just got back from two weeks at Den Laman. We had a fabulous time. We loved Den Laman and play to stay there again on our next trip. There was no noise at all from the restaurant. Our room was right above it and we never heard a peep. Den Laman is a quiet place. We were also there at a very slow time. I have never stayed at Buddy Dive, but I think that the atmosphere is a bit more social than at Den Laman. Den Laman doesn't have a pool (which is fine with us) We did have drinks at the Den Laman bar a few times, but there aren't a lot of places to hang out. Do you plan to shore dive or boat dive. We did all shore diving and didn't deal with the dive shop much. One thing I will say is that Bonaire Dive and Adventure didn't give me that warm, we are so happy that you are are diving with us feeling. I'll leave it at that....but Hilde who manages Den Laman is GREAT! She saw that our truck had a flat overnight and made arrangements not only to have the flat fixed, but also for us to get a brand new truck. She could not believe that the rental place gave us such a crappy truck. Hilde is the best!

 

[Karen Dancheck]

One more thing that I forgot to mention. The house reef, Bari Reef, at Den Laman is great!!! There is so much to see...turtles, seahorses, Charile that tarpon. It is a fantastic night dive too. We convinced other divers who had never been on a night dive to check it out. I think they are hooked on night dives now. Super easy entry and you don't have to go far to see a lot. We dove the house reef about 6 or 7 times in our two weeks there. Load to see just around the dock.

 

[herman]

..
............It is a fantastic night dive too. We convinced other divers who had never been on a night dive to check it out. I think they are hooked on night dives now........... .

Now try the "other" night dive..without your lights on. Pick a moonlit night and ease along the reef. You will be suspired how much you see and the phosphorescent glow of your trail in the water is straight out of Disney. Tinkerbell would be jealous.