Wanted to post a trip report from our sixth trip to the wonderfull island of Bonaire. We left Boston early morn. 4/4 on Air Jamaica to Montego Bay, Jaimaca to transfer on to Bonaire. Very pleasant trip, no problems and AJ's Champagne service lived up to it's name, kind of the Jet Blue of the Carribean. Arrived to pick up our car from Highway Rental and was pleasantly greeted by their agent along with the PSC - Mini Van. If you know Adam Sandlers Song about his lousy car you know what I mean. It had no spare tire, so we stopped by their shop accross from Lisa gas, near the Divi to pick one up, as well as to remove the rear seat to be replaced with a tank rack, which was a real trick with all the rust, but the spirit endeavored and a young man showed up with a small head of coral and beat the little bolts into submission. And we were thus on our way to the Divi, more on the "PSC" later, but it served our needs very well for the week. The Divi has been totally renovated since our last visit two years ago (we stayed in a water front room on the resort side) and it was a real pleasure. The staff and facilties were really top notch, except for possibly the faulty ice maker. The Divi Dive Operation also did a wonderfull job, while dealing with two large groups who descended on their dock every AM. Kudos to them all, nice job and professional support and assistance. My wife and I basicly enjoy Bonaire's shore diving and the freedom it brings, so we enjoyed watching the show from our porch every AM while we enjoyed coffee and prepared our plans for the day, which was usually 3 dives per day with a couple night dives during the week. Best dives came from the most southern spots, mostly unmarked, but we also enjoyed ole blue and points North as well. While down south on a couple of afternoons we enjoyed watching some of the most incredible kite surfing we have ever seen just north of the fish hut - incredible feats by the young men and their flying "machines", also fun to observe from below. As is common our best dinner was serendipitous, one night after a late start on a night dive, we ended up at the Lighthouse Bar and Grill at the Marina Harbour, which would not normally have been a place we would have gone for dinner. We joined two folks we met on our night dive and had one of the most enjoyable dinners of our trip. We later returned on our last night, the Saturday night before Easter and indeed had the best dinner of our trip and overall great company while being serenaded by a couple of troubadours. The chef and staff there do an oustanding job and if you like fresh deep water fish, check it out, especially the smoked marlin. Our only real dissapointment of our trip was our dinner at Mona Lisa, we had made reservations earlier in the week to ensure a spot at the restuarant we have previously decided was consistantly a great dinner. That evening we should have gone on another night dive, as they were incredible, but we honored our reservation and looked forward to a great dinner, but alas. I can only feel that their prior successes have led them to rest on their laurels but let me be brief and express my dissatisfaction with the experience and we will not be returning there in the future. During the week I took a long walk along the water front early one morning from the Divi to Harbor Village and then back and must comment what a great job Bonaire has done to rebuild their water front after the storm, outstanding job ! I have to get down one year in October to be part of the sailing regatta looks like it good be a fun time. From the Divi you get a great view of the cruise ships, and while I am not a cruise ship person and the population they bring seems envasive to me, it seems they have established a good symbiotic balance with the island, as it appears many proprieters benefit from their visits, and they are done in a pretty low key manner. It does seem to me the economy seems better then ever before on the island. We made our last dive on Saturday afternoon at a very southern most spot, which turned out to be our most eventfull and enjoyable for many reasons. We packed our gear up and headed back to the Divi for the last time on this trip. Next morning we checked out with the Dive operation, no probelms and we picked up some nice gifts for oursleves and fiends back home. Checked out from the Resort, also with no problems. Had lunch at the resturaunt there, "Chibi Chibi", which was very nice and we probably should have done that another time during the week, but we were busy diving and hanging out on the shoreline somewhere. All in all very enjoyable visit to the Divi and I would highly recommend it now that things are back in shape and the staff seems in a much more positive mode. So off to the airport to return the "PSC" to Highway Rentals. I had previously arranged to meet at 2:00 PM as the AJ ariving flight arrived at 2:30 and we were to board at 3:00 PM. So I show up with my wife and luggage at 1:45 hang out for a bit, then head over and check in, then come back and hang out till 3:00 PM when I had to board. Ended up tossing the keys into the locked office, having parked the "car" right in front of their office at the airport. I sure hope they found the keys and matched up the car. I think next year it will be another car rental agency. I don't expect much when it comes to transportation while on Bonaire, but not meeting me to return the car at the airport was a major bummer at the end of a great trip. Anyhow not letting that dull our glow, we boarded the Air Jamaica Flight back to Boston. Which occured with out problem and met some great folks in Montego Bay who were from Venezula but have lived in Vermont for 20 yrs, which struck a cord with me as I was born and raised in Miami, but have lived in NH for 20 yrs. Anyhow easy return home after a great trip to Bonaire of course now experiencing "PBB" and looking at the webcam with a different perspective, can't wait to get back next year and hope my right ear clears up soon. Thanks to all the Bonarian's who made our trip a wonderfull experience.

OOOPS what I meant was 4/4 to 4/11 2004. Fingers still revolting from dealing with a keyboard as opposed to a camera housing.

Great report, Frank! The Divi really has worked hard to bring everything up to date and remodeled, etc. We love being there, too. Sounds like you had a terrific time, again, on Bonaire. Time to schedule the return trip now! Carole

Thanks for the report! Glad you had a great time.

Buck, Liz,
Lets see some pictures..Hope all is well with the kids..Miss you guys..Jane too and the divemaster Keith.

Wanted to see if I could post a photo or two. Lets see how it goes. This is a Turtle from Red Beryl and a File Fish from Margate Bay.

Turtle


File Fish
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