How lucky can you get when you leave two days before a major snowstorm in New York and get to spend it in Bonaire. We just returned from a week (Feb 15-22) staying in the two bedroom condo that we own at Sand Dollar Condo Resort.

The first dive of our trip was very special for many reasons. It was Joan’s 200th career dive and we got to do it off the new dock at Sand Dollar. What a way to celebrate! We have waited a long time for the new dock and it was well worth it.

Tanks are right on the dock, two fresh water showers, three large rinse tanks for gear, plus one just for camera equipment. Two benches make it easy for gearing up. A giant stride off the end of the dock and you’re almost on Bari reef. The new gear storage facility also makes it very easy to store your equipment.

The underwater highlight of the dive was having the resident frogfish shown to us. We had been hearing about this fish for months in e-mails from friends and it was great to see it!

The next day I let out yippee hearing about the snow in New York and us being in Bonaire. Well, I guess that was not a nice thing to do. On my next dive I had an o-ring failure on my Nikonos V, seeing water in the viewfinder halfway through the dive was not a good thing.

When I got out of the water I took the camera too Tim at Fish-Eye Photo, the photo shop at Sand Dollar and he saved it! I can’t say enough nice things about him and how he saved my photo dive trip. He also found another problem that I didn’t even know I had.

Almost all our dives were on Bari reef, the house reed at Sand Dollar. Joan is very comfortable on Bari and doesn’t like to venture to far from it. A couple of friends convinced her to try Oil Slick Leap and she realized there is diving outside of Bari Reef, but still says Bari is her favorite.

Went to Gibi’s on Tuesday night and saw a lot of fellow BT’er;s which was great. Having a full kitchen we did most of our cooking in. The only exceptions were a lunch and dinner at Mango’s , the restaurant at Sand Dollar, and two trips to Bobbyjan’s Take Away, the best value and place for ribs on Bonaire.

After three years w finally got to meet Chet & Jean Wood who were our guest for one night. Thanks for the Bari Reef t-shirts.

Michael’s Gaynor’s “Chat & Browse” located by the Sand Dollar Grocery store is a great place to hook up with the internet, rent a cell phone, or buy some really nice local art. I found his computers to be some of the fastest on the island for Internet connection.

It was a great trip, here is a photo of us at visiting the web cam. The second photo is Joan and Alan (l) with Chet and Jean (r) on the dock at Sand Dollar.

alan and joan, great trip report! joan, congratulations on your dive number 200! sounds like you had a very nice relaxing week on bonaire would love to see any pics you took (especially of the frogfish!) i did manage to identify you at the street cam on your visit, was nice to see you made it down!

what is this "chat and browse?" is it next to lover's ice cream? is it something new?

What a nice report, and a wonderful way to celebrate your 200th dive! I have PBD badly right now-we live in Michigan, the forecast is for below zero tonight.

"Chat & Browse" is a new store that Michael Gaynor just opened. It's on the corner right next to Lover's Ice Cream Shop. He has local art, computers for internet access, buy calling cards and rent cell phones

thanks alan and joan. a store like that on that end of the island is much needed!

Alan and I thought the highlight of your trip was sitting next to me on the Montego Bay to Bonaire leg of your trip!

Sue

Congrats on your 200th dive and what a lovely place to do it. Sounds like the new dive facilities are great - that was our only complaint when we stayed there last but it sure sounds nice now. Were you able to find the frogfish on subsequent dives? Whenever we dove Bari I made it a "to do" item just to practice my nav abilities. I found it each time which made my dive near perfect - not that it needed any enticement! The one thing we found on Bari once by accident was a huge anchor - in relatively shallow water - think we could find it again! NOT

You are really lucky in regard to your camera. It's a wonder it was able to be saved!

Wow, you were lucky, on many fronts! Nice to hear about your recent trip, glad you enjoyed it thoroughly! I spotted your cam appearances with pleasure. :-) All the best, Niki

Yes, we found the frog fish on many dives, most times with help from a friend who has retired there for six months

Here is the photo of Joan & Alan (l) and Chet & Jean (r) of the dock at Sand Dollar that should have been posted above