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Trip Reports: Disabled traveler
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2005: Archives - 2003-04-01 to 2004-02-05: Disabled traveler
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grace Schneider (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 3:00 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just a quick note, I hadn't planned on asking too much on this stream, but since everyone hear seems so open and has good suggestions, I'll venture forth.

I'm wondering what the situation is like for a disabled traveler to Bonaire. We found out early that most resorts are not very accessible in terms of stairs etc. What about around town and restaurants. I use a wheelchair for long distances, but am not bringing it to Bonaire because my sense is that it would be more of a hinderance than a help. I do wear a brace to help me walk, and am limited to what I can do. How are the dive centers for set up if at all to help someone with some disabilities--once I'm in the water I'm like any other diver, but I cannot walk far at all with my dive gear on because I cannot have my brace on too. Any divers with any helpful tips with this, or any operators with info. I think Louise has us booked with Photo Tours. Anything on that dive op???
It isn't a huge issue for me, but any info would help alleviate some worries too.

Thanks,

Grace

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1587) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 8:35 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Probably the wheelchair would be more of a hinderance. Let Photo Tours know right up front what your limits are and I'm sure they will accommodate you. A friend of mine divemasters there and was happy to accommodate me when I was diving from their boat. I go in the water with just mask, snorkel and fins and put the heavy stuff on while floating.

Note about our airport, we don't have gates directly to the plane so you have to walk down the stairs of the plane. If you are flying AirJamaica you will also be going up and down lots of stairs for your connection in Montego Bay. I find this difficult for my knee.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1703) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 9:14 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just a general comment. Divi Flamingo is set up for handicapped divers and wheelchairs.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Igor van Riel (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2113) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 9:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

If I'm correct there was a trip-report some time ago af a group of disabled divers. I think they indeed went 2 Divi Flamingo.
I'll go and search the archives.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Igor van Riel (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2114) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 9:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ok found the report.
Here's a link to the Trip Report.
I'm sure u're going 2 have a great time Grace!
Happy diving :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Annette Roswell - The Last Bite Bakery (BonaireTalker - Post #34) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 9:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Grace.

When I first moved to Bonaire it was as the Guest Service Mgr of Divi Flamingo. One of the things they did best (and at the time - the only resort who did so), was accommodate disabled guests. They are VERY experienced and accessible. The Dive team (many of the Dive team -from 1991- are still there) are experienced and comfortable and strive to make the guest comfortable. Hi highly recommend checking them out. Experience counts :-)

Re your wheelchair in and about town....so long as you have a companion to help, it shouldn't be a problem - especially as you are able to also use the brace to help you walk.

Good luck,
Annette

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grace Schneider (BonaireTalker - Post #16) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 6:05 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the input--

I'm not bringing my wheels just because I didn't think Bonaire would be that accessible via w/c. I'm ok as I said without it, I just adjust the amount of walking I do. I just haven't decided which brace to bring yet-- I mean--two tone or single--which truly will pick up on the ambiance of Bonaire:-)
My concern is someone ripping it off while I dive. I've heard horror stories about eyeglasses--prescription lenses no less. My upper part of the brace looks just like a professional football or a ski knee brace--who knows if someone might find that cool to have? Anyway, I'm happy to hear that there is a place willing to work with me. I think I'm tanked out of phototours, but if that ends up not working out, I'll know where to go.

Thanks again for the info.

Grace

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Cabus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #242) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 7:01 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Grace,

Do you intend to shore dive?

Peter

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #595) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 2:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Most places to eat are w/c accessible except for a few downtown that are on the second story of a building.

I also know that Divi Flamingo's first floor timeshare/studios are 'drive-in'.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2944) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 9:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'll bet some of us "old timer BT'ers" are wondering if Mimi is "lurking" out there and watching this topic....hmmmmm. Please, don't ask! cb

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grace Schneider (BonaireTalker - Post #20) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 6:38 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Peter,

Yep, planning on most of our dives being from the shore--we have tent. scheduled one week one tankers, and second week only shore. Any suggestions??

Again, I can walk ok, just not for long distances, and I know I'll have to walk lots between truck and water because I can't haul a lot of weight--other than myself that is:-)

Thanks for any advice,

Grace

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Cabus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #243) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 7:13 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Crace,

My suggestion would be to NOT leave your brace in the car. Can you take it down with you? Is it (sea)water resistant?

You will also have to pick your dive spots a bit more careful. Some of them have rather difficult entries (1000 steps, Karpata (very nice one though), ...). You better ask your dive shop.

Peter

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #271) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 7:26 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Grace there are many sites where you can park fairly close to the water for shore diving. Some that come to mind are Andrea I (but not II -- farther walk), Windsock, Angel City and Alice in Wonderland. In addition to asking your dive shop for ideas you might want to consider purchasing the book Bonaire Diving Made Easy by Jessie Armacost as it gives good descriptions of entries. It is available at dive shops on Bonaire as well as by mail but you are leaving too soon for that!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DIVER DEBBI (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #337) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 2:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

is it true you will be sleeping in a tent ? are there tent sites in Boniare ? was'nt aware there were any..you might want to check this out before you go...also be aware of the extreme breezes and tie everything down, I can't imagine a tent in the southern part of the island...the walkways along the harbor and "downtown" are all very nicely acessable
good luck and have fun

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1138) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 2:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I think she was avoiding spelling tentatively, and I don't blame her a bit for it Debbi.

Carole (insert middle name here) Baker you go wash your mouth out with soap right now! Never invoke those you don't want to see!
If you feel compelled to speak of that one, maybe use "she who must not be named" so it won't show up in a search.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grace Schneider (BonaireTalker - Post #21) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 12:12 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Diver Debbi--
Nope--Seb had it right--just being lazy in spelling tentatively. I actually do have indoor accommodations, but I tell ya, tenting does sound like fun. Too bad if there's no sites, camping by the ocean in Bonaire sounds like it would be a blast!!:-)

Thanks again for all the lovely help fellas

Grace

ps. I'll be careful to not be so lazy in the future.:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1141) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 12:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Actually,some of the natives move down to the beach for Easter I know because we were there last April and Donkey Beach and Weber's Joy were filled with folk living there for the holiday, which seemed to go on for quite a while...

There is (or used to be) tent camping in St. John,USVI at the national park beach/campground at Cinnamon bay, you could bring your own or use their setups.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Frank (BonaireTalker - Post #26) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 12:19 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Grace,

A lovely site and a very easy shore entry is Tory's Reef. There is a small outflow channel from the saltworks in which a couple of rowboats are usually tied up. you can step in to water deep enough to swim in, put on your scuba unit in the water so you don't have to walk in it, and off you go, about as hard as getting into a pool. Many of the southern sites are easy to access in that you can practically back your truck up to the water's edge. We use the open tailgate of the truck like a bench to set up gear, then with the bc and tank standing on the open gate can slip it on and walk into water. If you can't walk a short distance w/ gear on you can probably inflate your bc and float it out in water deep enough to swim in then don it. But you'll usually be dealing with a somewhat slippery rocky bottom until it's deep enough to swim, with the exception of a few sites like Tory's.

When we pick up our truck from the rental agency we try to get one with the original gate rather than one of those nylon webbing things for the above reason.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Cordaro (BonaireTalker - Post #11) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 7:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We just returned yesterday from Bonaire and we stayed at Plaza Resort where many wheelchair divers (4) were staying. They dove mainly from Toucan's dive boats, Plaza's first floor villas and hotel rooms are easily accessible by wheelchair. I was curious about this because I am a PT. Anyway, our villa was a two bedroom, very large with wide doorways on the first floor. I found that most things in town are accessible for wheelchairs. Email me if you have any more questions.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By steve corley (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 12:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

hi,
We went via Air Jamaica. My mom is in a wheelchair and depends on one. We flew Air Jamaica from Boston and did the stop over in Montego bay. I called ahead and every step along the way I made Air Jam. aware of the situation. They were great getting her on and off the plane. They used a special chair. Then once out of the plane she went back to her regular chair. The only problem we had was at Montego bay. One person told us that we could all go into the airport via special doors. Once there we waited until the next leg of the trip and we would board the next jet via the special doors and would not have to travel the airport via steps. Well that same person was told different from someone else at the last moment. My mom was escorted to the jet and the rest of us had to take the stairs at the last sec. Same thing happened on the way back but we expected it.

We stayed at Carribean Courts near the airport. They were great. They gave us a 2 bedroom place that could have slept 9 people. They even built a small ramp for the 1 or two inch step into the apartment. We did not ask for this. They just did it on their own. The management was great and the front service person was great. My daughter came along with us and she was 1 1/2yrs old. She has asthma and needed her nebulizer. Well the machine over heated due to the 50cycles verses the 60cycles needed. Bert the management went to the store and bought the needed parts to convert the electric for us and it worked like a charm.
We could not say enough of great comments about this place. My mom loved swimming in the pool with my daughter.
The dive shop on the premises would have done a dive experience with my mom. But she got scared and did a lot of snorkeling instead.
I think that she would have had a hard time on their dive boat. We did do a lot of snorkeling from the beach near the airport. Her and her husband loved it snorkeling.
All 5 of us had a great time. It was her first time out of the states and now she wants to start filling her passport up with pages marked with Bonaire....

My advice.... Call ahead and have everything planned out. It made things very easy. Additionally if you bring your wheelchair bring a couple extra tire tubes. Just in case of a flat. I would not be sure if you would find an tube that would work for you.



 


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