I did my first trip to Bonaire in November 2007 , i came back with a bad case of PBD . The doctor ordered me to get back asap and stay no less than two weeks . I did not argue with the good doctor and managed to get back in four months. Long enough wait . The following is a brief outline of my cure...two weeks to get the island in my blood and clean out the PBD's.

I live about as far away from Bonaire as you can get and still be in North America. I left my home on Vancouver Island at 5a.m. , Had to connect from Victoria-Seattle , Seattle - Houston , Houston - Bonaire redeye. In all its a 23 hour journey counting layovers.

My package from Golden Reef Inn worked out great , instead of having to line up for a truck they picked me up and delivered me to my room , a couple of hours later the truck arrived . I immediately headed to Wannadive at Eden Beach to get my tag , weights , etc.
Wannadive is a cool operation , professional with maximum fun , great people who have smiles painted on their faces . I did my checkout dive by 9:00 a.m. , im way ahead of my self imposed schedule!
I loaded a couple of tanks and headed south , somewhere around windsock my whole body started to react to my long flight . The cramps started in my toes and worked their way through every muscle in my skeletel frame. I admitted defeat, decided not to dive any more that day , decided to drive around and check out the island , make sure everything was still there.

I love Bonaire topside as much as i love its beautiful reefs. The salt dunes , the flamingoes , the east coast , and last but not least the amazing birds . What a diverse island. I had a great day checking the southern side of the island and casing out my dive sites for the next two weeks . I ended my first day with a couple of ice cold Brights at Pasa bon Pizza , top it off with one of Joe and Lisas Pies and you got an end to a perfect day . Yes , I was really back.

Next morning got up to meet Gibi for the first time and enjoy one of his Breakfasts. Gibi is a great guy and knows Bonaire as well as anyone. What a great way to start your diving days.

As most of you know by now the diving conditions were not what we are use to in the tropics , lower than usual visibility , cooler than usual water temp (according to my Suunto Eon 77 degrees ) and an unforgiving surge at times that just seemed much stronger than I was use to . No problem , i went prepared with a full 5mm jumpsuit and 3mm beanie . I needed it . I tried my 3mm suit for one day ( after witnessing the masses in shortys , 3mms and skins ) . Now i dont consider myself a wimp , I dive in 44 degree water at home in a dry suit , but people , i could not stay down longer than 30 minutes without shivering in my 3mm . I did three dives that day , took the 3mm back and packed it away , this was 5mm territory for the rest of my trip.

I did a total of 35 dives , not as many as I had anticipated but i found the conditions a little more tiring than normal . I was solo diving and I know my limits . You have to be at 100% at all times , three a day was fine. I dont like preaching to the choir but you know...there are no bad dives on Bonaire . My favorite spots are Candyland , Taylor Made , Atlantis , Soft Coral Garden , well anywhere between White Slave and Red Slave works for me.
I saw several Green Morays this trip , many large Groupers , and the usual array of fish the reefs always offer.

I ran into Larry from Wildside having lunch in Papagayos one afternoon . After meeting Larry I had to book a trip , Im glad I did . What a great adventure , a great crew , great ship , and oh yeah , the dives were unreal. Talk about big life , everything on that side of the island seemed bigger . The whole experience was a great way to break up a two week trip , and by the way "If this seems like a military operation...its because it is" What a riot!

Now ive read about people who go to Bonaire and cook their own meals to save a few bucks and save time. I dont get it , this is one of the few places on the planet that is not innundated with franchise slop houses or McDonalds! It is home to some of the finest owner operater establishments on the planet , Just like there is not a bad dive on Bonaire , there are no bad restaurants . Like the dives , you just pick the ones that suit you best , there was not enough time to check out all the places i wanted because i had become addicted to some of the ones i had allready tried .

If you want to open a restaurant , go to Bistro de Paris and watch Patrick operate , he is the epidimy of a good host . I felt like his best friend after meeting the man once , the food...awesome. I had lunch there three times and dinner once , Rack of Lamb!

Now i like good Pizza and i seldom buy Pizza in my hometown , then i go to an island with a population of 15000 and they have two of the best Pizza places in the world. I dont care what you like in a Pizza , Pasa bon Pizza and Rumrunners Pizza bar have the whole pie thing covered . I am envious , what i would give to be able to get on my blower now and order one up , if Joes closed and you want a Pie , Rumrunners is just as good .
Seafood on Bonaire is my favorite , I have to have seafood everyday on Bon , either lunch or dinner , I dont care , just give my my fix. Too too many good seafood dinners to name but...the fishburger at Papagayos is the best ive ever had in my life . The same is for the Seafood Soup at Banannas Bar and Restaurant , its worth the short drive. Tuna sashimi anywhere on the island is unreal. Yes dear , i enjoyed the dining as much , if not more than the diving , im not ashamed to admit it . And as far as time consuming , slow service , bring it on , im living on island time and the longer it takes the better .I found myself stretching my meals out as long as I could. It was like breathing during diving , take your time and let the experience last as long as you can . Enjoy the dining experience right down to the last 500 psi.

My room at Golden Reef Inn were great . I felt like I had my own little Bachelor pad for two weeks , it was not like a hotel shoebox. Liz and Ed are great people , they will go beyond the extra mile to help you , which i found out! Thanks Liz. If you dont need to be on the waterfront this is the place . I found the location perfect , flip a coin to figure out to go north or south in the morning .

Now ive covered the usual stuff there is one more thing about Bonaire that i still cant get over . The people . When they say beautiful people that is the bottom line . I thank the locals from the bottom of my heart , they are just nice nice people that try to make you feel good. Look up friendly in the dictionary and you have Bonaire folk.

The 23 hour trip back was not as painfull as the trip down , I left the hotel at 5:30a.m. arrived home in Victoria International at 12:00a.m . Due to Pacific time i went back three hours coming home . It helps expel the jetlag. I am back to nice spring weather and feel great . No PBD yet , having three weeks in four months I dont expect any . I had a good fix.

Hey Lloyd, good to hear the rest of your trip went well. You dove with me and my buddy Jason for a couple of dives. I just posted my trip report today, too. I, too, need my fresh seafood fix daily while I'm in Bonaire. It was nice to meet you, hope all is well with your family.

Thanks for the great trip report.

I suspect that it will not be long until you have to revise your statement about not expecting any PBD this time. Once you're hooked there's no such thing as no PBD. You are just experiencing a short delay before it sets in big time!

By the way, after my first exposure to Bonaire I ended up going two more times in the same year. After six trips my PBD gets worse each time.

Hey Richard , you are probably correct however this period of denial is cool and i will relish in it as long as possible. Who knows , after a couple of 44 degree 10 foot dives here , i may not miss it at all. Yeah , im ok , thanks !!