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Accommodations: Where to stay?? We were last there in 1997!!!
Bonaire Talk: Accommodations: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2006: Archives - 2003-05-01 to 2004-02-12: Where to stay?? We were last there in 1997!!!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Fitzpatrick (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 8:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We stayed at the Sand Dollar (in 1997) but have since heard (and seen) the destruction of the 99 hurricane! I am sad to see that the dive shop and the Green Parrot were not rebuilt! I have also heard that the Sand Dollar people are not as good as they used to be. We like good kitchen space to cook, so any recommendations?

1. How is the corral now since the hurricane?
2. Quality of Sand Dollar Staff now?
3. Where do you recommend to stay that has a dive shop on site?

We are thinking of going in March of 2004!

ANY AND ALL info is GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1446) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 9:03 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

One correction - there is a dive shop onsite with a pier and dive boats. It is under a different name but still run by Andre Nahr. The shop is on the south end of the property and actually has better access for drive up pickup of tanks than the old shop did.

I'll leave opinions on staff and coral to Sand Dollar regulars. You might ask the Zales when they get back. I had dinner with them last night and they have another week of vacationing here.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Fitzpatrick (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 9:37 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the info Linda!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8203) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 11:01 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Tim, we stayed at the Sand$ before they rebuilt the dock, and it was just great. The staff was wonderful. While there in July, we did 2 giant strides (2 dives) off the dock at Bari, and it still has the most abundant fish of anywhere. Even saw a hawksbill! From the time of September 2001, to July 2003, I was amazed at how much coral had grown back, and how very small coral is in the shallows now...so it looks like it is beginning to really recover!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By C. Kritagent (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #107) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 2:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Tim,

Bari Reef (as well as Playa Leche - Front Porch) suffered terrible from the wave of Hurricane Lenny. Much of the debris washed from Sand Dollar Dive Pier and the Green Parrot was deposited onto the reef as well as hundreds of tons of coral sand. The reefs are slowly recovering and the sea dwellers have adjusted to their re-modeled surroundings, however much of the reef remains silted and looks to be in horrible shape. It will take far more than just a few years for Bari and Front Porch to recover. Immediately after the waves all the denizens looked so sad and woefully confused, but today life has returned. So if you can overlook the silt and debris, you will have a most pleasant dive.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1463) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 3:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

My last dive on Bari reef was a year ago but unless things have changed drastically, C. Ktitagent is being way too critical, IMO. There was no more (man-made) debris from the dive shop and Green Parrot than before Lenny. The top of the reef just north of the shop platform was sculptured more than other places with maybe three feet of sand moved shoreward, uncovering coral rubble that had been sanded in. Most of the surface coral was knocked about; I don't remember 'silt' at all. The steep slope from 30 feet to the bottom break 'slumped' and is less steep.

Most of the reef top from the marina north jetty to the power plant was swept pretty well by Lenny. Large fire coral is growing now but it isn't 'as it was'. My favorite coral heads at Habitat are gone. So don't be put off from Sand Dollar by 'reef destruction' comments.

Bari still has the largest number of fish species in the R.E.E.F. book and my Sand Dollar experience in July 2003 was fine.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8216) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 3:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glen, I agree with you. I didn't experience it before Lenny, but as I mentioned, the NEW growth I saw this last time, that I didn't see in 2001 was noticible...small coral heads, but they will eventually get bigger. And the health of the reef looked better to me as well. Like I said, I am still amazed at how much different life Bari has...still one of my favorite dives!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By C. Kritagent (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #109) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 5:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glenn, "Reef destruction"...., those are your words not mine

For the record I dove Bari Reef 2 days after the waves did their damage and indeed, the reef has much improved. However Bari Reef was "tired" before the waves of Hurricane Lenny and the storm did nothing to improve reef conditions (top to bottom).

My latest visit to Bari Reef was more recent than yours and obviously with a more critical eye. As previously commented, life on the reef quickly returned, but the debris (both old and new) remains.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Louis Dessau (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 12:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi,
I had not been on Bonaire since 1997. Most dives were very intact ie Kerpata, Small Wall, Angel City, Bon Aventure to mention a few. On the surface you will note much change. A during my previous visit we stayed at Carib Inn. Bruce Bowker runs a great place. It is convenient in that you can walk down town and there is a small convenience store accross the street. There is
full service at Carib Inn for diving and very comfortable efficiency apartments. In addition, Bruce is one of the pioneers and can provide a wealth of insight about any of the sites. Plan ahead, there are not many rooms! Have a great trip.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Alan & Joan Zale (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #298) on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 3:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just got back from two weeks on Bari Reef and it could not be better! The fish life is great. All but one of our dives were on Bari. The only other dive was when I helped Jake clean the reef cam.

 


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