We leave for Bonaire in just a few days and are staying at HHH. We have the kids ages 4 1/2 and 6 1/2 scheduled for the aqua kids program. Is there anything else on the island for the kids to get involved in. I've read about another kids program by Chris I believe, but isn't this for older children. Any ideas and advice for usual or unusual things one might bring or pack that is not available locally would be appreciated. My husband and I are divers and want to be able to enjoy that while also enjoying snorkeling and whatever else with the kids.

Thanks for your replys.

Grace

Karen Eckrich's Sea and Discover is great, and Karen will pick up/ drop off. Not sure about the age limit, suggest e-mailing her via her website, www.seandiscover.com or call when you get to Bonaire. Kids have to be swimmers.

Your children will absolutely fall in love with Karen at Sea and Discover. She is wonderful.

For food, bring the one thing that your child has to have all the time like Cheerios, or their favorite crackers. You may be able to get something similar but you can't guarantee it. Nothing worse than a grumpy child on vacation.

Thanks to those who have replied so far. The program by Karen sounds wonderful but it is for older children although I think my oldest would qualify but she won't go anywhere without her brave little sis. Thanks again,

Grace--8 days and counting til 2 weeks in what we hope is truly paradise

Grace

We brought our son to Bonaire twice in the last two years. He had just turned 5, then just turned 6 the second time. We found a local lady to come to our room at Buddy Dive and babysit. She was very good and very reliable. She would babysit from about 9:00 am to about 1:00 pm while we got our two dives in. The remainder of the time our son went with us snorkling or sight seeing with us.

If you are interested, email me and I can give you her name.

I am not familar with HHH, but they too may be able to help you out with a babysiter.

Good Luck, you will love Bonaire.

Dave

Dear Dave,

Thanks so much for the info. That sounds a lot like what we are planning on doing too. I would love her name, I'll e-mail my address. The folks at HHH did give me a name if we opt out of the Plaza aquakids program, which it looks more and more that we are likely to do as I have heard nothing from an experienced person, which doesn't say much about the program, but does speak volumes.

Thanks again,
Grace

We went to Bonaire in August for two weeks with our four young children, ages 8, 5, 3 and 3. It was a perfectly delightful and yes, even relaxing vacation. We packed life jackets and snorkel gear. The two oldest had a blast spotting this fish or that eel and then going back to our apt. to identify them in the book. The twins even did a bit of fish watching by holding their breath and looking through their goggles. When not in the water, they were chasing down lizards, building sand castles or coral rubble sculptures, eating food from the cooler. We did a lot of island exploring---they loved Washington Park (lots of lizards, goats, iguanas, birds), checking out the flamingoes, climbing around in the caves. We had to food shop every day because the Cultimara is somewhat variable--some days they have plenty of stuff, and other days it is slim, but we always managed. Good luck and enjoy. I know you will.