My family of five just returned 30 December from a wonderful five days in Bonaire (that should have been seven!). Depression sets in quickly!

Everything about Bonaire was as expected from our previous trip as part of a large group in the Summer of 1999, though the damage in the shallower areas of all of the dive sites from Lenny was extensive enough that we had to choose some dive sites based on the quality of snorkeling for my wife. My three sons and I dove, each completing 13 dives in 4 days.

The Plaza and Toucan Diving Staff were dependable and helpful, as expected. The lack of visitors was painfully apparent, with empty chairs on the beaches, empty restaurants downtown, extra cars in the rental lots, etc. We had planned on being there Sunday before Christmas, to stock up on groceries for the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays, but we unfortunately arrived Christmas Eve at 9 PM as a result of travel difficulties discussed below. The Plaza kept adequate facilities open to keep us well fed during that time.

Diving was, as before, simply delightful. Tarpon crusing by at Captain Don's and 18th Palm, Octopi and BIG Barracuda at Salt Pier, Garden Eels at The Invisibles, and two sailfish passing overhead while we dove Angel City (and I have pictures to prove it to my friends!).

Getting there was interesting. We arrived at RDU at 0545 for a 0805 flight, spent almost two hours in the line to check baggage, then an hour in line to get through security. We, as well as half the people traveling on American, missed our plane that morning. No connection later would get us to San Juan in time for the AE SJU-BON flight, so we were sent to Dulles, then cab ride to BWI Marriott, with vouchers, for the Sunday morning flight to SJU. Wearing tropical clothes, we spent the evening at the Inner Harbor.
Sunday morning, now traveling (delightfully) in first class thanks to AA, flew a late departure to San Juan. As we waited in the American Eagle terminal area for our flight, we watched our plane appear on the departure board, then disappear right at departure time. Announcement: "Flight cancelled. Crew rest problems." Another voucher for cab ride, meals, and rooms at the San Juan Marriott with instructions to call back after 10 AM Monday morning to see what would be done on a day when there was no regularly scheduled flight to Bonaire! The 24 hour Walgreens across the street from the Marriott was a welcome sight as well!
By noon Monday, no word, so we checked out and went to the airport. After convincing an American desk agent that we were serious about going home if we did not learn something good, we were issued boarding passes for flights back to NC if we did not hear from AE by 4:30. However, at 3 PM, AE announced that a special flight had been arranged, we left on time, and arrived on time in Bonaire, where all of our luggage had been waiting for us for two days!
On return Sunday, we decided not to wait for our scheduled flights and chance missing a connection in Miami during the Orange Bowl (!), went to the AA service center immediately out of Customs, found the same AA desk service attendant there, who without hesitation booked us on a flight to FLL and then to RDU, where we arrived six hours earlier than planned.
The same security line still existed at RDU, where they obviously had not figured out a solution to the delay in the past 8 days.

Can't wait to return to Bonaire, but may have to get a child or two out of college first!

Jim Stackhouse

Jim, I can't imagine that you "can't wait to return" even with all of the wonderful amenities which Bonaire has to offer. That trip of yours is an adventure from Hell! Not terribly comforting to us who are ready to head down there in a few days. Our re-revised schedule had a 35 minute stop in Curacao and with everyone's horror stories about Curacao and having to overnight there, we cajoled ALM into rescheduling us to give us FOUR HOURS in Curacao. Not great mid-day, but better than having to overnight. For a family of five to have dealt with such adversities...you're a good bunch! Congratulations! I'm glad that at least you were able to enjoy the rest of your vacation. You must all be very positive individuals.

jim, great trip report...and i have to say that your positive outlook (or so it appears) to your flight there is refreshing...i think when i schedule our next trip i am going to factor in a 2 day getting there quotient!

Hey, Cynde,

A corollary of Murphy's Law says that the things you plan for don't happen. Maybe your scheme will win you an extra day or two on Bonaire!!! :–)).

Happy New Year!!

Jim, can I be one of your friends?
What I'm really trying to say is...."Come on man. Show us the sailfish pic!!" (please).

As requested, for all my "friends," a cropped picture of one of the sailfish overhead at Angel City last Wednesday. Isn't much of a picture, but does prove we saw it!

Jim I am impressed! And my favorite dive site too

awesome jim...how big was it?

Hard to tell, but there were actually two sailfish , working a school of fish together. One would circle the school, the other would swim quickly through it while feeding.
One of my sons was with me as we explored the sandy bottom between the two reefs just south of the Angel City marker, when we noted all the fish to be somewhat agitated. Looking around and up, my first thought (coming from North Carolina), was "feeding sharks," and we dropped lower to the bottom. Then saw the clear silhouettes of the two sails, came up a little, and got two pictures. The second fish is hidden in bubbles to the right.
An outstanding dive experience!

to be in the water with marlin or sailfish is amazing...we were able to be right next to one in Utila, Honduras and the color of the fish plus the deep blue was unforgettable..no scanner here to show you our photo op...just got housing for the digital camera.. anxious to try it out in Bonaire...soon..we should be so lucky as to see your sailfish again but you never know untill your in the water

amazing !!!!!!

Wow!!

Maybe 15 years ago the Canadian cinematographer John Stoneman and his sidekick Adam Ravetch filmed sailfish out in open water somewhere north of Klein. They were on the way to film a project, they and the boat crew saw baitfish activity on the surface so John and Adam went in to see what was happening and had a marvelous film experience. I have not had the opportunity to see the footage but was told it was excellent. Herding and fishing as Jim saw. Like the whale sharks and mantas, these animals are out there for the lucky ones among us!!! :–)