My wife & myself are both divers,we are coming in july to Bonaire to dive.we would like some recommendations on a nice place on the water(it looks like the costs are all about the same) that will be convenient to dive sites. we would like to do one or two boat dives in the am & then drive to the pm dives.we don't plan on doing much cooking,internet access would be a plus.Pool & beach would also be a plus.A dive site near the hotel for the afternoon that we arrive would be important.

You're pretty hard core wanting to get wet the day you arrive. I think unless you've been there once this calendar year and got your tag you'll be stuck waiting til the next day with pretty much any dive operation. All the ones I have used on Bonaire had a single orientation meeting and check out dive in the morning.

I have stayed on Don's in one of their litle houses right on the water, but since Bonaire is so small I found being on the water wasn't that big of a deal other than for view.

Larry is right, you'll have to do your orientation before you can get in the water... but you can still snorkel!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Eden Beach Resort, and diving with WannaDive. They have recently agreed to house our webcams on their property, so we are all singing their praises and recommending them to everyone... check it out.. and good luck !

www.edenbeach.com


PS. When in July? Check out the Everything Else Bonaire thread for July Travelers to see who else will be there when you are. I will be there July 19-28th..

Larry is right, you'll have to do your orientation before you can get in the water... but you can still snorkel!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Eden Beach Resort, and diving with WannaDive. They have recently agreed to house our webcams on their property, so we are all singing their praises and recommending them to everyone... check it out.. and good luck !

www.edenbeach.com


PS. When in July? Check out the Everything Else Bonaire thread for July Travelers to see who else will be there when you are. I will be there July 19-28th..

In fact, I recommend it so highly, that I need to recommend it twice apparently.

Happy diving,

Kelly

Thanks Kelly, I'll never get tired of anyone saying "Larry is right". ;)

Bob, since you can't dive your first day, I suggest a twilight snorkel (or night snorkel) that's what I do

Cynde's right [I just love saying people are right apparently]. Doing a night or evening snorkel gets you somewhat acclimated and it's more relaxing since you're tired from the flight anyway.

Larry, you are right too. About what, I don't know. But I'm sure you're right.

For goodness sakes do not go to Eden Beach, dive with WannaDive or eat/drink at Bongo's. If you do there wont be room for Wally & Eva, Smack and myself and others who are regulars.

Tom

Thanks for your quick reply's,our flights are not set yet but around 7/22.
perhaps i can pay a dive master for a afternoon checkout so i can dive the day i arrive?
bob

Bob, the check out dive is more than just a dive. There is an orientation, that usually lasts about an hour (specifically if it is your first time to Bonaire) to cover the marine park rules, dive sites, pay the fee and get the marine park tag, etc. Then once you go through orientation, you do your "check out" dive. They don't monitor this dive, it's done on the house reef, and it's to make sure you are weighted properly. If you are a solo diver, you can ask to be put with a group, or hire a DM to go with you. In general, they only do them in the mornings. Once you determine which dive op you are going to go with, you can email them to see if you can set something up...however, in general, they won't do a special orientation.

So Tom are you saying it is ok if there is not room for Mark and me at Wannadive????

We got lucky once when we got to Bonaire, there was a large group on the plane staying at the same place we were and they actually did an orientation at 4:00 p.m. specifically for all of us! It was great! We were in the water by 4:30! But, that has only happened 1 out of 5 trips to Bonaire. It's definitely not the norm. I emailed them before the next time we came down to see if they would do it again. My response email was yes but, when we got there, they didn't do the orientation till the next morning. We were very disappointed.

This is Bonaire, not the Caymans ----life is SLOW. The air is clean, the sky is blue, and hurrying just will make you stressed out - even the diving is slow -no current, just hang out and watch the fish.

Susan, Sorry about this extremely late response to your post, and please do forgive my forgetting to mention you and Mark.

You folks like others of us, have come to enjoy the shoddy service, warm drinks (soft and alcoholic) and impolite people we encounter there (lol);-{)}

Someday we will do more than pass in the parking lot!! Still having no luck finding a "Cabot" shirt.

Tom, all is forgiven and I have been checking locally for the shirt for you -- will send a private email soon.

Bob, email Bob and Bart at WannaDive...they should be able to get you wet if you arrive with a little daylight.

Well guys, you're ALL right, especially Kelly Jo -wish we were going to be there at the same time so we could meet you but we'll be there from July 4 to 14th. This will be our second trip this year(of three - one more in Oct for the coral spawning). By that one definition we must be hardcore because last time we did TWO dives our arrival day/night. Of course we were already checked-out from our last trip, but we still needed to get our 2004 marine park "poker chip" and the keys to the gear/tank room. The place where we stay (which we better not mention since we don't want to make trouble for anyone) has a very accommodating DM who, after an exchange of emails, is there to greet us and set us up when we arrive - Air Jamaica by the way, and they always, it seems, arrive half an hour early - leaving plenty of time to pick up our truck, hit Cultimara for twelve liters of water (four go into the freezer - lids off and a little poured out to allow for expansion - for drinking at dive sites the next day and the other eight for "tailgate showers" during off-gassing), a late afternoon dive ("rush hour" on the reef), a sunset/night dive, and dinner at Garden Cafe or Donna and Giorgios. Bonaire is perfect for either the hardcore divedivedive folks or the relaxed 2-3 dives a day people. See ya soon...

Bill, you can mention the place as long as you don't have a financial interest in it...or are you talking about not making trouble for the accommodating DM's? Have a great trip!

I just made my first trip to Boniare- and while there checked out many of the waterfront resorts for "next-time". My favorite was Divi Flamingo.
Beautiful place, gated and very secure, pretty beach, in town walking distance to lots of cool shops and eateries, impressive dive operation, great waterfront restaurant etc etc etc. Thats where I will go (I hope)next year.
Anne