JUST CAME BACK FROM THE BEST DRIVE TRIP EVER.
STAYED AT CAPTAIN DON'S HABITAT AND HAD A GREAT TIME.THE DIVE STAFF WAS GREAT,THE FOOD WAS GREAT,AND MOST OF ALL THE DIVING WAS THE BEST.TALK ABOUT THE EASY DIVING IT JUST DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN BONAIRE AND CAPTAIN DON'S.WE WILL BE BACK MANY MORE TIMES FOR SURE.WOULD RECOMMEND TO RENT A CAR AND SHORE DIVE.THE SHORE DIVING IS AS GOOD OR BETTER THEN THE BOAT DIVING.IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT BONAIRE-STOP THINKING AND DO IT.

JUST CAME BACK FROM OUT TRIP TO BONAIRE.STAYED AT CAPTAIN DON'S HABITAT AND HAD A GREAT TIME.GREAT FOOD,GREAT DIVE STAFF,AND MOST OF ALL GREAT DIVING.TALK ABOUT EASY DIVING IT JUST DOES NOT GET BETTER THAT BONAIRE AND CAPTAIN DON'S.WOULD RECOMMEND RENTING A CAR AND SHORE DIVING.THE SHORE DIVING IS AS GOOD OR BETTER THAT THE BOAT DIVING.DOVE WITH A SEA TURTLE AT KLINE BONAIRE.MEET PEOPLE THERE WHO HAVE BEEN COMING BACK FOR 20 PLUS YEARS!IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT GOING TO BONAIRE STOP THINKING AND GO.

Now that is an enthusiastic trip report! Loved it.
Joyce

I'm going to Bonaire Aug. 16th - my first trip there. Can't wait! Are there any not to be missed dive areas? I have been diving for a year and have been fortunate to dive wreaks in Aruba and reefs in Cozumel thus far (not to mention two very cold quarries). Any suggestions appreciated.

well geez ginger,

there are just too many good sites on bonaire...you're gonna have to miss something

have a great trip!!!

A couple of suggestions 1000 steps and Karpata. Those were my favorites but I am a new diver and have only been to Bonaire once.

You cannot go to Bonaire for the first time and not do a night dive at the Town Pier. People who let that happen have been know to be swallowed up by the cargo hold on an ALM flight back to the States and never seen or heard from again. Take heed!

I think you CAN skip the Town Pier night dive. For a new diver, I'd recommend against night diving altogether. Wait until you have more experience. Try a night snorkel first. Then, try a less congested area. If you're staying at Divi or Carib Inn, it's an easy first night dive without any crowds.

Anyway, I'd second the recommendation for Karpata. The landscape (seascape?) is magnificent. With the return of the sea urchins, the shore entry is a little trickier, but still do-able. Then I'd head south for a completely different dive experience, Invisibles, Angel City, etc.

Just found a great site called ShoreDive.com Has wonderful description of every shore dive on Bonaire..plus view of site from the air..check it out and have fun

Ginger,

There are two dives that I highly recommend. They are favorites of myself, my family, and friends who have visited Bonaire. When we return in November, we will do these dives at least twice a piece.

One is the Hilma Hooker. Do it as a shore dive - it is a fantastic dive. Start from the shore, submerge and go towards the reef. You will not forget the sight of the vessel lurking in the deep as you approach it. I have done this dive from a boat and from the shore, and I will never do it from a boat again. I consider myself an enthusiastic wreck diver and have done fabulous wreck dives in Lake Superior, but the Hilma Hooker is one of the best I have ever done.

Another dive I would recommend is the Salt Peir. When we did this dive last March, I was not overly enthusiastic about the prospects of it. I went along becuase others in my group wanted to do it. Let me tell you - fantastic dive! I will do this dive on every subsequent trip to Bonaire. You will need to get permission from the harbor master. You dive shop can set this up. To do the dive, I would snorkel out to the pylons and submerge on the reef past the pylons. Work the reef a little (very little dive activity there - noce reef), then start looking over the pylons. Incredible amount of sea life - of all kinds! Just a very enjoyable dive.

I do agree with others though, I would think very seriously about doing a night dive at the town peir. My wife was a new diver when she did a night dive there, and it was pretty much a disater. Lots of people, three boats, lights everywhere, people bumping into you, blah, blah, blah.... However, some folks say to get a private guide and go later in the eveneing when theres less activity. Thats possible, but still, a night dive (in my opinion) is an advanced dive. Don't let anyone push you in that direction until you are comfortable with your equipment and at ease underwater.

Have a good trip.

dave.

Ginger,,,,,dives we love....off of Carib Inn,,,off of the parking lot at Plaza..(Coconut Beach)....Something Special, near Harbor Village.....Ol Blue....Thousand Steps....Margate Bay....Punt Verkant.....!!!Angel City!!!...ahhh..too many...to list...enjoy!

Thanks for all the suggests. I have my list- hopefully I will get to most of them! We will see about the night dive - maybe I will do one in front of the hotel and see how comfortable I feel. Generally I feel very comfortable in the water - even reasonably strong current didn't present too much of a problem. Shoredive.com has some really helpful info and nice pictures.
Thanks again!