Hello all. Sorry for the delay in posting this, but I actually had some work to do when I got home.

Where to begin. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon, the air was hot and the breeze strong. The smell of the salt in the air permeated everything. A quick trip through cutoms and immigration revealed something unique. The luggage carousel was broken. All of our gear was scattered all over the terminal. They blamed that on the fact that all the luggage made it off the plane before we did and the carousel was not ready to handle the load that was placed on it. (the luggage beat us off the plane because they lost the stairs at the airport and had to try and find them). After getting our gear and cars we went to the Resort and were greeted with the news that our orientation would be that evening. Good news to all of us who were not wanting to wait until Sunday to dive. After the orientation and buying the tags we hit the water for a night dive off the house reef. Bliss just sheer bliss.

On Sunday we dove like madmen possessed. On Monday, much of the same. Monday night was really great. I met with Jake and Linda and some of the other BT'ers for Dinner at Raines Fishes. Great dinner, fantastic company. I also got to meet Martin (which I heard an interesting story about on Friday after I dove with Andy "the Pants" Keely.) (You know what I'm talking about Martin) And in regards to Andy I must say he is a really good guy and has phenominal dive skills. It was truly my honor and pleasure to dive with him. He took me to a site Friday morning that he calls his favorite. It is a site I would have never gone to, without him showing it to me. I can't tell you where it is, but suffice to say, It was great diving. I never had any problems with the vandalism or theft, however, several from my group had things stolen or vandalized. One group of individuals had stuff taken from their room at the resort. Unfortunately, they are talking of not going back. It seems to be a real problem there on the Island and I hope the locals understand that if divers are subjected to this treatment much longer then there will not be any divers left.

I made a total of 27 dives in the seven days of diving there. I got some really good photographs(surprisingly to me) and I got to meet some really great people. Overall, the trip was a great success for me. I especially liked that the room had no phone, TV, Radio, or computer. I was away from everything and was able to let my mind relax as well as my body. My favorite dive was Ol' Blue. Saw some very interesting life there. Couple of Big green morays and a couple of Lobster that would easily go 20 pounds a piece. Had I been anywhere else but Bonaire, I might have considered them dinner.

However, the one part of the trip I hated was also the part of the trip I dreaded all week. Coming Home. Every second of the flight I could just feel myself falling back into the "civilized" mindset. Getting off Island time has been horrid. I really will need a Post Bonaire Depression Group meeting soon.

I did do a couple of dives that I was asked to do for some of the BT'ers. I'll post that information later. Had a blast and I sincerely thank everybody for the captures at the cams.

Tim

Welcome Back and GREAT TRIP REPORT! When I got to the "coming home" part, I almost cried! I know how that feels. Now you understand why we are all so darn depressed the rest of the year?? Looking forward to seeing your pictures, let us know when and where we can see them.

Welcome back Tim! It was great to see you through the lens. We we’re all with you in spirit. I’m really sorry to hear that you had some problems with vandalism. I’ve been hearing more of this lately. Looked like the viz might have been a little low with Michelle bouncing around. Glad to hear you still enjoyed yourself. It’s hard not too in Bonaire.

Thanks for the trip report, always brings back great memories to read about some else’s experiences, and you can always learn something new…like where the heck is that spot you wont tell us about??? What are you a fisherman hiding you secret place. Cough it up!

Just kidding and just jealous…

Snork {Scott}

Tim, thanks for the great trip report. Sounds as if you had a fantastic time. Hope you will post the pics you took. One of my favorite past times is looking at Bonaire photos.
Welcome back to the real world!

So glad to hear you had a great trip. Where were you staying, Tim? The lack of amenities sounds familiar, but I am hoping it is NOT where I think it is.....can you tell us? I don't recall where you said you would be staying. Can't wait to see your photos....oh, to be in Bonaire....Carole

Hi Carole. I stayed at Captain Don's. The lack of amenities was absolutely the best part for me. Hope you have a great time when next you go.

Tim, thanks for the trip report. We missed Andy's spot while we were there cause I accidentally put alcohol ear cleaner in my eye...ouch! Anyway, what was the situation with theft? When we were there, we put our valuables in the room safe and didn't have any problems at all. Did they lock their valuables up?

Tim,

We absolutely agree with you re the lack of amenities in our room at Habitat. I would have been disappointed to find a TV and phone in our room. The mini-fridge did come in handy, though. So that people don't get the wrong idea, our room (#103, right next to the dive shop) was perfect...very clean, very comfortable, and with a great view. Sorry to hear about the theft while you were there. We used the room safe for passport, wallets, etc, but left cameras and things on the dresser and had no problem. We plan to return to Bonaire just as soon as possible, and we definitely plan to stay at Habitat again - the property, and Jack and his staff, are something very special.

I'm surprised at some people's over-reaction to petty crime. I'm sure there's far less of it in Bonaire than in most U.S. resort cities. For that matter, thefts are commonplace in our schools, YMCA's, and workplaces. Sure, I feel victimized, but it's only "stuff" and it can be replaced. The happy times I spend in paradises like Bonaire CANNOT be replaced, and I won't let them take that away from me.

Steve

Tim...did you do any dive's up by the park...we have never been up that far and would like to go this time around...any recommendations.....also did you do Something Special....Sounds like you guys had a good time...a better bunch could not have been put together.....I think Andy gets home Sunday or Sat. this week...will be looking forward to his trip report also.....glad to see everything went well and again congrats..

Tim,

We also stayed at the Habitat and loved it. We used the room safe, and still left things out (change, batteries, various incidentals that might be hard to come by there) with no problems. I'm also curious as to the circumstances for that petty theft instance.

To put this in perspective: when I went to Italy a number of years ago, I was mugged by someone in a car. What made it all the more notable to me (not that being mugged by a speeding Fiat is an everyday occurrence for me): I was in Rome, it was broad daylight, lots of people around, and I was walking outside an historical church (Saint Paul's, outside the walls of Rome.) Just a bit tacky for such a "pious" population.

Personally, I feel that's the kind of petty theft to get upset about.

OK...Just so everyone knows. It was not me who had stuff ripped off. We used the safe and were on the top floor. Room 909. It was some other folks in the group, they had a cottage and the window was opened up and the thugs entered and took knives and such from the BCD's drying n the room. Same folks also had their window broken while they were diving. The doors were unlocked and all but one window was down. It was the one that was broken. They had nothing of value in the vehicle. But they did get their cookies and potatoe chips stolen and a broken window for their efforts.

Yes Meryl, I did do a few dives up North by the park. Mostly Ol' Blue and Karpata. However, When you see Andy. Ask him about his favorite Dive site. It is worth it if you can go.

Wow, Tim, that's too bad. Did they let Jack know?

Tim, that is really bizarre. Especially that both incidents were with the same folks. Even though not much was taken, having had been burned twice on one vacation, I would be a little upset too, although, not quite like Susan's slug and run!

On re-reading what I posted, I realized it came off as my saying "my petty theft is worse than your petty theft".

Not what I meant at all - I should have put a smiley there or something.

Whenever any kind of petty theft happens, to the person experiencing it, it's a personal violation. It's often the small things that anger you the most - for myself, I had this really cool pair of tweezers with scizzor grips that I really liked - hardly a big ticket item, but it was MINE, darnit. It mattered as much at the time as the cash (lost), plane tickets (replaced), and for that matter, brand new pocketbook (also replaced).

That the theft Tim describes happened at Habitat as well as out on a shore dive still surprises me - in the three times we've been there, we were never worried about our stuff and never given any reason to start worrying; this was both in the villas (201 and 301, both ground floor, and 207, second floor) and in a Jr Suite (82, second floor.) I'm sure that they're doing their best to keep it from happening again.

Hello, Hello....Yes Jack was notified of the incident. Also, Jack had run some of the local thugs off earlier in the week. Along with a security guard caught on Tape as it were. Don't get me wrong I loved the trip had a most womderful time, But it is little incidents like this that will drive you nuts.

This was the best dive trip I had ever been on and nothing can ever change that. I just hope that something more can be done for future divers and for the repeat offenders (customers). I will have some of my pics up soon.

I am sorry for the delay. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!

There is a story on dive location crime today in Bonaire Reporter as well as a letter to the editor from a victim of several petty crimes. Perhaps Tim, if you write a letter to the government (TCB inc.?) and cc it to Jack and the police it might help. I firmly believe in communication otherwise how can change happen?

Annie
Cape Cod

To add to Ann's post about the crime report in the Bonaire Reporter: 3 teenage boys were caught red=handed breaking into vehicles at a dive site. Apparently they had been going to the sites by bicycle. The article reads as though many, if not all, thefts by breaking a window and then stealing over several months had been their work. Hopefully this is similar to a spree of burglaries a few years ago that were all the work of a few people and that this, too, will stop now that these boys were caught.

Tim, I read your words about the security guard as though he was involved in the burglary. Correct??? 'A burglar's best friend is his security guard'. Works here in the States!!!

Yes, Glenn The "Security Guard" was involved in the Resort Problem. He was caught on Tape and dealt with apropriately for our civilized times I guess. I don't mean to sound bitter or uncaring, but I worked in Law Enforcement for many years and there is just not MUCH worse than a thief. I have a deep seated anger towards them.
Everybody that reads and posts on this board has worked hard to get what they have. We try to have a little break and go do something we all enjoy very much. And then some low grade Creatan decides that he doesn't want to work for anything and steals from us. I just think that fifty lashes in public with an old piece of barbed wire would deter much more of this activity.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and I hope your day has been as rewarding as mine has.

Tim

Crime on Bonaire...a very well traveled subject. same old crap, different players. If you talk to people that have lived on Bonaire for oh say 25+ years or so, they tell you the crime went nuts when cable tv hit the island, some blame latin influence and crack cocaine. As I suggested in a rant in 1998, if you are fluent in spanish and can defend yourself, hang out in rincon to get a real taste of the island, and the "new" view of tourists. The last time I had a relaxing time on Bonaire was 1990, you could leave anything anywhere, sleep with the windows open. Just as I do now at other locations. I refuse to go back since 1998, I am waiting for improvement and actually, to get a pulse on the problem, was the main reason I first read this board. Why people tolerate the theft and strongarm burglary, or say that it is not as bad as other places it beyond me. It is a very small island, there should have been some improvement by now.
I know this not a popular statement, Bonaire is a great shore diving location that offers novice to expert opportunities, unfortunately thats all it is. The crime is pretty much what you have in any third world location. To say that all the local folk are warm and friendly is to have no grasp of what the place used to be like. I refuse to sleep behind bars.
If I were indifferent to the problem, I of course would not have written this.

I will say it again and again.
If everyone reported their petty crime to the police, the numbers would show them that they DO REALLY have a problem. BUT, in talking to many people at dive sites, no one really reports it unless it involves credit cards or cameras (not that the police want to write it down anyway... and who wants to waste a half a day reporting the theft of just a few low cost items and sign something written in Dutch?)
BUT, if you don't report it - no one can really say that they have a problem! You can bitch and complain all you want on this site but unless you complain to the police, the tourist board and to the powers that be, I bet things won't change.
I know Michael will take me to task but I got yelled at by the tourist board years ago for passing on information about a Bonaire crime when people I knew were hurt. THAT fact irks me as much (or more) as the guys that stole stuff from us on a later trip!
With all that is going on in the world now, most people are not going to tolerate Bonaire crime. They will just stop traveling to Bonaire. I love the Bonaire shore diving but when that becomes impossible and our many friends on Bonaire move to other places, will I be back? I am not sure.
And yes, Bonaire should have done something years ago about this problem but didn't, couldn't or wouldn't depending on who you talk to.
But do realize that the new type of Bonaire tourist isn't from the US or Holland but from many South American contries and Bonaire is crime free compaired to where they live.

Well Peggy, you're right. The process took a half day, I signed a bunch of dutch papers, I signed a petition, I watched Bonaire enews be bullied out of existance. I saw a police station full of fat mostly female police sitting on their ass. I endured questions about insurance and implications that I set up the whole thing.
It was a nepotistic social club, not a police force.
Has a lot has happened since 1998? It appears to me the ony thing that has changed is that the attitude that if something happens to you, well its your fault.

The bonaire cheerleaders which frequent this board are part of the problem.

Petty theft? More like grant theft auto. I love the spin that has evolved on Bonaire crime. "petty" theft. Kids on bikes. What a bunch of crap. Ever wondered where one would take a stolen auto in Bonaire and get away with it? Same answer as Chicago vs. Capone. Inside help.

The remainder of my last trip was spent setting traps for the local Bonaire trash, as they aren't too smart it was easy to entrap them, I slapped the living crap out of a few. Guess I'm lucky I didn't get thrown in jail.

I make a living in remote areas in South America, you see a lot of brutality in places like that. It is the very last thing I want to be exposed to at anytime, nevermind a vacation.

I live in South Florida, in one of the top five cities in the US counted in crime per 100,000 population. It is not Miami, just the opposite, its a damn safe place. Pro-active police work, citizen involvement down to the neighborhood level seems to be the key.

The caribbean basin is basically a third world nation. When one tiny island has a mass of immigration it is a problem.
Solutions seem to be retarded by the backward corrupt government in Curacao. The dutch government was petitioned some time back for help,(yep I signed that one too) I don't know what became of that.

One thing is for sure, the tax base of the island has to be restructured in order to redistribute wealth. It is the classic have vs have not.
The best solution I have seen to this was in Harbour Island, where everything cost about 3 times what it should. Excellent social programs are in effect and the tourist is regarded as the golden goose not the fattened lamb.

My point, I would rather be robbed by every merchant & government portal via extreme taxation and fees than have it taken from me by a hungry slug in the middle of the night.

Peggy, I don't know who Michael is. Maybe one of those guys down there trying to eek out some sort of a living teaching scuba(another favorite rant).
But it is that very action of shooting the messenger, that I found most distasteful. These people are every bit a part of the problem as the scumbags.
Most every diver I know, has written bonaire off. Thats not quite true, it should read every well traveled diver I know will not return to bonaire unless some positive changes occur.

Its a cheap vacation as far as dive vacations go, but who wants to put up with it.

There is a very simple observation on can make at any location relative to the level of crime. Look at the windows. Bars..you have a problem. The last time I saw Bonaire it was one giant prision, with the innocent incarcerated in their own homes and work places. pathetic.

Good police work does not catch the bad guys, it prevents the commission of a crime in the first place. You can't have an effective police force without the support of the community.
The Bonaire community it appears to me is STILL in a denial phase.

As a couple who has enjoyed Bonaire greatly, we applaud statements that although difficult to make are true and need to be faced before change can come. Dave's post above writes:
"The bonaire cheerleaders which frequent this board are part of the problem." AMEN!
Trust me, some of the authorities do monitor these boards, and when they read statements like "It's only petty crime," and "there are places at home where it's worse," they yawn and go back to sleep.
Such short sighted statements fail to face a crucial fact: Serious crime begins with petty crime! And when it gets serious, the very people who panic are the ones who never could face the truth until it broke in upon them. Then they wonder "How on earth did things ever come to this?" Next time you go to pull up an acorn that just sprouted, leave it alone and come back in 10 years and try your luck.........it's a whole different story!

Crime is crime...none of it petty. Feeling violated is a horrible feeling, especially when one is on vacation. None of this should be taken lightly by the "officials" and/or those in government. I DO hope they monitor this board and are able to see the potential of an horrendous disease spreading over the island. Bonaire is a special place and all efforts must be made to keep it free of crime, any type of crime. If not, as others have written before me, the "tourists" will not return. It is not healthy for anyone...residents included. I have not been a victim of crime in Bonaire, but I have elsewhere. It is a sickeningly helpless feeling and causes anger, distrust and resentment. I hope this does not occur in Bonaire. She is a precious jewel which needs to be protected...by ALL involved. Thanks for listening and I do hope someone is paying attention. Carole