My wife and I live in the UK are planning our first visit to Bonaire in January 2006. We are snorkellers not divers but we plan to stay at Capt Don's since it seems to offer a good mix of facilities and locations. My question is about the beaches - there seem to be a lot of comments about the lack of sandy beaches on Bonaire. Is this just at some dive sites or are there no sandy beaches around that part of the island?

Chris don't worry...there are lots of sandy beaches...

Chris, Cap Don's doesn't have a "sandy beach." The public sandy beaches are really south of town, Bachelor's Beach, Windsock, and then south of the houses on the south end of the island.

Near town, playa cha cha which is just North of the Divi, and right across from Dive Inn is a really pretty good sandy beach if you want to lay out and snorkel. There isn't a lot of coral rubble there.

Remember to not leave anything of value in your vehicle, and if you are snorkeling, don't leave you things on the beach if they are unwatched.

The "sandy beaches" are not like they are on some other caribbean islands. There is a lot of coral rubble mixed in with sand. you will need either booties, or wear teevas or something like that and then clip them to your body while you are snorkeling at the dive sites.

Now, of course, Tim's picture above, Bongo's is a great place to catch breakfast lunch or dinner on a sandy beach, and dig your toes in the sand while you eat.

Have a great trip!

Seven Body Beach was just north of the Habitat buildings? (So named by Don because it is just seven bodies large!) Is it still there? Open to Habitat customers or only the villas?

i think plaza resort has the largest beach but they do charge for visitors i believe

LOL, Never heard it refered as 7 body beach. it comes and goes, depending on the tides. You can reach it by driving into Hamlet Oasis near the dive shop... park by the water and use the stairs, just walk to the left.
Also don't forget Lac Bai or Cai... nice sandy beaches with shade.

Jan,

Ask Don about it. One of his treasures.

We hang out at Ole' Blue. It's not a very big sandy beach, but we love it just the same. It does have a BBQ area if you want to BBQ.

Liz

Chris -

As fellow snorkelers, let us assure you that the lack of miles (or even many feet!) of palm-studded beaches is more than made up for with what you will find in the water.

Just a word to suggest that if you've never been that close to the Equator, take and use plenty of sun protection in and out of the water. While snorkeling, we wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts to prevent broiling. And, yes, even in January. We have been in January and the Equator is just as close!

I think and hope you're going to love Bonaire, in and out of the water. I am sorry it is so far from home, but belive it or not you might have an easier, more direct trip than many of us living in North America.

If you have the time and the inclination, we on this board would love to see a trip report upon your return. We personally think first-time reports are in many ways the most valuable.

Bon bini na Bonaire!

Charles Poteet
Dallas

Liz, ole' blue is now one of my top 2 dive sites on Bon! where are the BBQ pits there? down by the water or in the parking area? I guess I don't pay much attention to anything but the water...LOL!

Charles, thank you for your snorkelers perspective for Chirs

there's a sandy beach at boka slagbaai in washington slagbaai national park..

of course..there're some coral too..but i think it's a pretty beach..

Beaches.

I was glad to see sectors of Pink Beach are indeed beachy again. imo, it was the best beach in days of old simply because the amazing flour-like sand extended out so far into the water and created a chromatic effect between the aquablue, deep blue, sky blues, and pink hues. It was that way again Saturday.

Buddy Blue

Chris,

This thread seems to have died out some time ago, but I wanted to add just a couple thoughts about snorkeling. My wife and I are divers so we're under the water as soon as there is enough water to be under. Our last trip to Bonaire, however, we went with another couple who are not divers and snorkeled the first few days.

Our first stop was Pink Beach. We went out on the dive and when we came back they were both still in the water struggling to get back to the beach. The south end of the island doesn't have the greatest diversity near the shore so they ended up swimming out a ways. The wind was so strong that day it was literally pushing them away from the shore as they tried to swim. They are both strong swimmers so they ended up having to dive down (as best you can in salt water) and make up as much distance as possible underwater before coming back up for a breath. They were both pretty freaked out by it and it set up the tone to nearly ruin the trip. Later that day the wind died down and their snorkeling was much better.

On a side note, we also did some snorkeling while we were there in front of Captain Don's. Actually, it was a little more north up the shoreline. It was also night when we went in. Now, snorkeling in the ocean can be a little intimidating in the dark, but with a pair of decent dive lights, it was awesome. There was so much more life after dark than during the day.

I'll leave you with this image from Pink Beach...have a great trip.

Michael

Thanks, Michael. Joe and I tend to snorkel the more easily accessible snorkel sites with "calm" waters. We had an experience as you noted above once in Aruba and did not want to repeat it on Bonaire.

The snorkeling on Bonaire is absolutely fabulous, in case anyone is reading this now and has never snorkeled Bonaire's waters.

Love the photo, too, Michael! Carole