We flew Air Jamaica, from NY to Bonaire with no airline problems. Mike packed the things that positively could not be lost, (regulators, computers, masks, and wetsuits) in the carry on bag. Unfortunately the bag was left sitting in the living room, which meant renting equipment in Bonaire.
We stayed at Buddy’s Dive. The room was not opulent, but adequate. It had a good bed, lots of room, clean and was within 75 feet of great diving. The dive operation at Buddies was 1st class, the staff was knowledgeable, professional, and always seemed to be enjoying their jobs.
We did 5 boat dives, but spent most of the time doing shore dives. The shore diving is really fantastic, you dive where you want, when you want, day or night, no restrictions, what ever dive profile you choose.
Some memorable dive sites were Webbers Joy, Oil Slick Leap (a giant stride off of a cliff entry), Windsock, Angel City, LaMachaca, and Buddy’s Reef. I was not impressed with the wreck Hilma Hooker.
The marine life is profuse, lots of free swimming eels, octopus, tarpon dive guides, sea horses, barracuda, trumpet fish, drum fish, sea cucumber, scorpion fish, trigger fish, cow fish, etc. etc. etc. etc.
We were privileged with an afternoon of playing with a pod of over a hundred bottlenose dolfins. They were playful and as curios of us as we were of them. This was a special treat. The dive master Boris said, he had never seen this before on Bonaire.
We also spent an afternoon cave snorkeling, but this deserves a trip report of it’s own.
This was our first trip to Bonaire, but it will not be the last.
Thanks to Herman for great recommendations.

What a great trip report, Susan. Sorry to hear the "can't live without" stuff vacationed on its own in your living room, but it sounds as tho you guys managed OK with rental equipment. It is so wonderful to see so many "first timers" posting positive trip reports almost every day. So, when are you returning to Bonaire???!! Carole

Susan,
I really don't care about the Hilma, but make it a point to return there. It's a great dive because of the second reef just past the wreck. It seems that I just have to go there every trip.
Bob

Sue would love to hear about the cave snorkleing...Steve wouldnt go inland with me.....also I noticed from you profile your a Parrot trainer...tell me more...we have 4...

Sue, I would also be interested to hear about the cave snorkeling. Please post. As well, where were the dolphins? That must have been great! Linda M

The caves are amazing. Mike and I were the only two people that went on the tour that day. The tour takes an entire afternoon. Henk was our guide. He was very knowledgeable.
There are caves all over the island. The caves we visited were between Oilslick Leap and the Street Cam. The first cave has a ladder of sorts of sorts to climb down. It is very warm in there and filled with beautiful stalagmites and stalagmites. There were also bats. On Bonaire bats are our friends they eat the evil mosquitoes.
The next cave we repelled down a rope to get to the bottom of the cavern after a certain point. This cave has fresh water and the local goats climb down to drink there. In this cave we waded in chest deep water with candles floating on circles of wood. Henk took what he called a romantic picture of us. This cave was even more beautiful than the first. The last cave was very far down in the ground. Again we went down with the rope. I found the swinging around on a rope a lot of fun, but everyone not might like this. This last cave is where we snorkeled with our dive lights through rooms of stalagmites and stalagmites.
I have never done anything like this before. I loved it. I would recommend it and Henk to anyone that does not mind climbing down cavern walls to experience something beautiful and completely different. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.

Mike wrote the trip report He posted it on a diffent scuba board.

Meryle I am the person with the Blue and Gold you were talking to before your vacation.

Glad you enjoyed Bonaire, Susan. I thought I had seen that trip report a few minutes ago. Always glad to help...I am going to have to try the caves, that's one I have not done.

Herman

Who did you arrange the cave tour with? Sounds interesting.

We arranged the tour through Buddy's Dive Resort.
If you go to their web site they have a picture of one of the caves on their website.

Thanks Susan. I have been to a few of the caves on Bonaire but the ones you spoke about don't sound familiar.