First trip to Bonaire and staying at the Divi. I'd welcome comments/recommendations on how to make the most out of this trip. Plan on doing only shore dives and renting a car from Hertz. Any comments about Divi, recommendations on eating , diving and site seeing...?

Thanks!

Oh how exciting Rachel. Tell us how fast you book your next trip once you come back home..it is part of the syndrome.

Hertz is GREAT. I love Jimeno Willem. GOOD CHOICE! I love Chibi Chibi's goat cheese citrus salad and coconut chicken and salmon roll ups (Divi restaurant). Have eaten there 4 times but once at XMas it was manic and noisey. For romance and a really special meal try Richards on the water next door. I also found Beefeaters to be really affordable and good. 35.00 USD for two full course!

Go to Washington, Lac Bay and well, anywhere. Karels at night for a drink under the stars is divine.

Annie
Cape Cod

Thank you for your suggestions. I'm glad to hear about Hertz. All the threads about thefts and car break ins have me worried. I'm printing your suggestions to take along with me.

Rachel:
My suggestions are:
To do the Hilma Hooker as an afternoon dive, if you decide to do this dive. It is an easy drive from Divi, after hanging out for lunch, and in the afternoon, there are rarely other divers there, the afternoon light illuminates the topside of the ship as it lies on the side with the topside to the west, and there will be BIG tarpon hanging around, usually.
Don't overlook doing a night dive right off the pier at Divi...it is a always a great dive, day or night.
Take to time to go over to Lac Bai, and go snorkeling in the mangroves...its a good final day activity, when you cannot dive.
Drink lots of Ponche Kuba and Polar beer.
Enjoy everything you do!

Rachel,
We are also going March 23 to the 30th staying at Buddys. This is our second trip. You will love it!!! I cant wait only 11 days to paradise.- Misty

Hi Rachel,
Sounds like there will be a few of us on Bonaire at the same. We'll be there from 22-31/3 staying at Casa Oleander apt 4(Coco Palms), planning to check out BTers night at Gibi's terrance on the Tuesday, maybe we will see you there!

Can anyone comment on the Divi beach at this point? We were there last May and it was fine for us...just curious to see if it has changed at all. Here is ap picture from last May. I just referred a friend to Amy at Caradonna Tours and we both felt Divi Flamingo would be the best bet for them but I want to make certain there is still a small, intimate beach there with walk-in water access for snorkeling. Can anyone give me any news from a recent trip? Thanks! Carole

Robert Deal: Please forgive me for using your photo! I could not locate my shots of the beach on my PC!! I hope you don't mind me "borrowing" this one for a moment...I will give it back to you! LOL. Is the beach still like this???? This is fine for us and will be find for our friends, too, if it is the same. Nice shot, too, Robert...you had passed it over to me a while ago as an updated pic of the Divi...thank you again.....I will return it now, OK???!! Carole

Robert....here is "another" picture you took at the Divi Beach...can anyone comment on the size of the beach today??? The same??? Thanks! CArole (PS Robert....Please don't kill me for "borrowing" the pics!)

Hello to all-
Just got back from the Divi. Beach was fine - same as picture. They are currently doing some major renovations on the terrace area above the beach - should be great when finished. I talked with the builder and they plan to really use the whole space - including the area currently behind the outdoor kitchen, put in buffet area, fountains, planting, etc.
Rachel- you will have a great time. Wish I was going back. I did both boat and shore dives. Boat is easier - but more costly. Many of the shore dives are resonable entries and you can often have the sight to yourselves.

Carole:
No problem with the pictures! I'll second Ginger's comments above...the beach is the same---we were there the last two weeks of January, and with Jessica along we spent a lot of time on the beach. The water sports concession at Divi has a little counter at the base of the ramp that leads down from the end of the Calabas Terrace: they keep an eye on the beach chairs, and the area in general, which I find to be a nice addition.
Interesting to hear from Ginger that they have already started the renovations of the Calabas area. Frits is really moving things along! They were talking about this at the end of January, and already this is under way. Must be some sort of record!
We'll be going back the first two weeks of August. It will be interesting to see how everything has turned out!

Thanks for the responses! And thanks to Robert for permitting me to "borrow" his nice shots of the beach area at the Divi! I am glad to hear the beach is pretty much the same. Hope there is not too much construction going on while we are there in May, but if there is...we will survive..just keep our heads under water more often! Carole