March 6-13, 2002
T-Shirt Divers
John and Sue Ciurczak
Bonaire Trip report
OK, so it’s time I got around to writing up our trip report. It was great, OK. What did you think 16 dives in 6 days was going to be???
Transportation
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After the old 3 plane hop (Newark-Miami-Curacao-Bonaire) on AA and ALM, we have been trying some new routes. Last October, it was Air Jamaica down and the 3 plane hop back. This time we went with AA to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and American Eagle from San Juan to Bonaire. The reverse for the flights back. The flight down was fine, getting to Bonaire about 9:30 PM. Baggage made it with no problems. Security was elevated, (which is fine by me), and surprisingly organized.
The fun starts with the flight back. After hearing different tales about when we needed to be at Flamingo Airport for our 7:00 AM return flight, we stopped back at the airport 2 days before to ask in person. Good thing too. We find out that they want you there 2 hours before the flight, (standard for most international travel, but this is BONAIRE remember). And oh by the way… Our flight has been oversold. Now I understand about flights between most destinations being oversold so the airlines can still have a full plane when they get cancellations. But this is not NY to Dallas. Everyone is going to leave the island when their vacation is over. So the good news for us is we drag ourselves there at 4 AM to make sure we get on the plane. The folks that showed up after 5 AM did not. We take off and land on time at San Juan, but because of a baggage-handling problem, (we have to claim our bags and clear customs there), we make our connecting flight with about 5 minutes to spare. The plane is nearly empty so we get an easy flight back to Newark.
The flight down was fine, but the flight back was a bear. Next time, I think we are going to try Air Jamaica both ways.
Accommodations
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We stayed at the Divi Flamingo, as we always do. The renovations continue. Now that the main restaurant is complete, they are re-doing the breakfast area. The rest of the grounds are in excellent shape. No problems with our room. Top marks all around.
Diving
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I have to ‘fess-up here. The T-Shirt Divers had to don 3mm shorties for the cooler water this time of year. But the diving at Dive Bonaire at the Divi is always first class. The Everyone on the staff is helpful and pleasant. Serge was away on holiday, but everyone picked up the slack and the dive operation was running as well as always. There are several good shore dives right from the end of their dock,(where you do your mandatory checkout dive – we think this is a very good idea, by the way). Night diving from the dock is also excellent. Being the softies we are, we did mostly boat diving. After our checkout dive from the dock, we did… Bonaventure – Klein,
Rappel, Hands-off – Klein, Cliff, Oil Slick Leap, Cliff(again),
Small Wall as a shore dive the afternoon of the Bonaire Talk BBQ at Jake and Linda’s,
1000 Steps, Barcadera, an unmarked shore dive just north of the harbor,
Leonora’s – Klein, Bonaventure - Klein(again), Hands off – Klein (again),
Jefferson Davis Memorial, and Jerry’s reef – Klein.
More pictures can be found on our website. Its listed in our profile. Please check it out and sign the (donkey-proof!?!) guest book.
Next trip scheduled for the end of September. |
By T-Shirt Divers John and Sue on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 10:38 pm: 
