We went to the Beneath the Sea scuba show at the Meadowlands Convention Center in New Jersey on Friday and saw people from Sand Dollar. They seemed very excited about the new dock and were showing an artist's rendering which listed a completion date of August 2002.

That's great!

Alan and Joan...thanks for the update this will mean our November trip should be back to the norm! I can't wait.....Any word on if they are going to put a restaurant down where the Parrot was?...I guess I shouldn't press it huh?

The new dock is being built right next to the Den Laman Restaurant and Sand Dollar. We hear that there are plans to have access to the restaurant from the dock side.

There can be no building as the Green Parrot and SDD&P were, by law passed in 1992 or so. All new construction over the water must be on driven pilings, as all the new docks are at SDD&P and the other dive ops. Also the insurance companies refused to insure any buildings on slabs with only coral boulder support. Lenny's waves scoured the sand out from under the old boulders and collapsed the slab from under GP and SDD&P.

The new SDD&P dock will be about where the old rock jetty was, with a section parallel to the shore for the boats. Access will be as it has been since Lenny. The on-shore facility will be upgraded to permanent structure over time.

All the arrangements for this have only just been completed.

Just received word that construction on the new dock for Sand Dollar is scheduled to start on Tuesday. We are looking forward to doing our first giant stride off the new dock this summer.

I just received an email notifying me that "Sand Dollar Dive and Photo has been declared bankrupt and is permanently closed. However, activities continue on a limited basis through Sand Dollar Condominium Resort. Sign-ins and Orientation takes place in front of the former dive shop, and Leonel is doing a fine job of accommodating divers, snorkelers, kayakers and birders. The compressor is going, so you will find air tanks available as usual. With a limited amount of dive and snorkel gear on hand, it is advisable that you make reservations for the gear you will need on your dive vacation or bring your own gear for the time being. Soon this should be remedied with the opening of the new dive shop, Bari Reef Divers, Bonaire. Members of the Sand Dollar Condominium Resort Property Owners Association have formed “Seaside Ventures Bonaire, NV, which is a company founded for the purpose of acquiring land and building a new dock and associated facilities in front of the existing dive shop. They tell me that work is scheduled to begin on Tuesday after Easter, and the first piling for the dock is to be installed soon after! Incorporated with the dock will be landings for dive boats, rinse tanks and a gear room where divers can safely stow their gear. Other facilities will be added in the near future."

Hi everyone, we just got back from Bonaire. In the past visit (2000) we stayed at sand dollar...this time choose buddys to avoid problems. We did dive bari which seemed to have much less coral and fish life than our 2000 visit. Did not see any signs of new waterfront construction, ie pier. and we noticed 2 of sand dollars dive boats (sand piper and sand diver 2) out of the water in storage. We also noticed the sand tiger had been sold to Bon Bini Divers. We did have lunch at the new restaurant which was very good and cheap. Anyway had a great time at Buddys, dive staff were incredible. The dock is in great condition with 4 working boats. Buddys and reef scientifico were very healthy with coral life and lots of fish...even treated to 2 squid and a green turtle sighting on one dive. Overall very happy with the trip!!! Not sure of the state of sand dollar, its not what it used to be...we sure hope it perks back up.

We were in Bonaire March 11 thru March 18. Fourth trip, fourth time at the Sand Dollar. Fourth incredible time on Bonaire. Leo and Malin are doing a great job with what's there. We're shore divers and had all the full tanks we needed. As Leo loves to say "no problem". Spoke to some condo owners while we were there and they told us the same thing as is being reported here. A new dock and dive shop is coming soon. Everybody has their favorites but we love the Sand Dollar. Everyone we have dealt with there has been extremely friendly and helpful. We'll be back there again next year. Right now I'm looking at my dry suit trying to get my courage up. Ocean temp is a balmy 40 degrees up here but if you gotta dive you gotta dive. EY-HAA!!!

David Robbins,
So glad you enjoyed your time at Sanddollar. We went in the day you left. Had a wonderful ten days. I sent a picture of the work beginning on the new Sanddollar pier to your email address. Work should be completed by August.
Thanks for sticking up for Sanddollar here on this board .
Anne Ferguson Sanddollar B7

Anne,

How about posting the Sand Dollar photo here so we can all see???

Here is one that at least shows there is some work going on:

P.S. Got the picture from Alan & Joan Zale a couple days ago.

Guys, there's a new animated photo at the Sand Dollar web site - see http://www.sanddollarbonaire.com - keep your mouse cursor over the photo which has a description about a "rollover" below it. The photo that pops up is an artist's rendition of what the pier will look like when it's completed later this summer.

Jake

Jeez, I am such a stooge...took me a long time to figure it out, lol...looks cool. Thanks.

They have just completed the first two pilings for the new dock at Sand Dollar. The next step is to make a concrete deck for a large crane that will drill the additional pilings that will be further out into the water.

Sounds like they are off to a good start. Hoping to see the new completed dock by August.

We just heard that they are pouring concrete into the rocks to firm them up. This will allow the big crane to be moved in so that the remaining pilings can be done.

Work is moving along at sand Dollar. Here are some progress photos:

One more photo:

Some new photos just got posted on the Sand Dollar Web site too, I believe - see http://www.sanddollarbonaire.com/pier.html

Jake

The walls are up for the new gear storage facility and rental shop. Works continues to move ahead on the new pier! Check out some progress photos on the Sand Dollar web site, see link in previous post.

I was there this morning and the cement truck was busy pouring cement for the walls. A frenzy of activity!

Jake

The pilings are going in for the new dock at Sand Dollar. Here are some progress photos of the working being done:

another view:

Here is the latest we have heard on work at Sand Dollar:

All of the pilings have been drilled into place for the new dock. They are being cut to the precise height and then will be filled with reinforced concrete. After that the I-beam frame will be put into place. The walls for the new gear storage facility are up and the electrical and plumbing work is in place. The next step is to make supports for the roof.

A giant stride off the new dock is not to far away!

A look at the new pilings that have been put in for the dock:

It just seems to be getting better and better at Sand Dollar. We just received a report from some fellow owners and work the pier and gear storage facility is moving along well. Everything seems to be on target for August. Click the following link for the latest news: http://www.sanddollarbonaire.com/news.html

Alan and Joan, that is great! I love that the Den Laman is going to expand and have the bar and restaruant right by the pier...what fun! I hope it is completed by August, are you taking your usual August trip?

A further update from 10 June- w/o pics at this point because I just got back at 0530 today from the island, a day and half late on Air Jam w/ a host of new friends after a night's stay and airport waits. Pics to follow.

The first stage of the new building at 'Bonaire Dive and Adventure', the formal name of André's new dive op, is virtually complete, painted a pastel blue outside, tiled inside the heads and shower, a new gear room several times the old in size being finished. The approaches (from land) to the pier are being poured, trenches for wiring, air and water to the pier dug and utilities being laid. A new 'dockside' bar at Den Laman is nearing completion-- you can pick up a Pina Colada or Amstel on your way to wash your gear.

André took me looking at lighting fixtures for the pier and, from our discussions, I am sure what he ends with will be as good as anything on the island.

I believe the fans of the 'old' SDD&P will be happy with the new incarnation. I will post some pics when I get organized.

HI Glen
Glad you made it home ok.
I'm one of the new friends Glen made on his slowwwww trip home via Air Jamaica. Thanks for keeping us company during the long lay over, Glen.

Sanddollar's pier and dive facility is looking great. Can't wait to sip a cool drink at the new ocean side bar.
The work is all going according to schedule now and really looks impressive.
Meanwhile the quiet times, spent sitting by the water on the huge paved platform were very enjoyable.

I agree with Glen, the new pier and facilities will be great.

I had a long conversation with Andre Nahr about his progress with the new dive and eco-toursim operation "Bonaire Dive & Adventure" located between Den Laman restaurant and Sand Dollar Condos.

The new buildings for dive gear and education are virtually complete...and will be open soon. The pier is coming along quite well and should be operational soon. I was really impressed with the construction of this pier. First, they placed HUGE rocks from shore into the sea about 20 feet. They will act a an excellent "breakwater" when wind reversals create larger than normal waves on the West coast. Next, they filled the gaps in the rocks with concrete, then put down a layer of rebar and another layer of concrete. Next is a layer with pipes for electrical and water with rebar on top and below. After this was filled with concrete another "top floor" of concrete and rebar were added. The metal posts for the pier were set "by eye" by an elderly experienced pier builder from Curaçao...his workmanship is amazing. Andre showed me where the 3 rinse tanks will be, the rinse shower, camera area, lighting for night dives, and stairs. It will be NICE! Bari Reef made easy once again (not that the shore entry is in any way difficult today!).
I'll look forward to your picts Glen

Scott

Bonaire Dive and Adventure, the dive operation at Sand Dollar, just posted some new photos on the progress. Check it out at: http://www.discoverbonaire.com/dive/pier.htm

Just received some new photos from the GM at Sand Dollar. Work is moving along.


These are views of "I" beams for the dock and the concrete base being poured that leads to the dock.

That's truly impressive to see how the docks are made! Had no idea it was this involved. Thanks for the update! CArole

The link Alan & Joan posted above now has updated photos.

Jake

Jake, This is the link people should use, the one just above has not been updated yet. See you soon. http://www.sanddollarbonaire.com/pier.html

We just received a report from the president of Seaside Ventures Bonaire who is building the pier at Sand Dollar. The news is great! The construction of the new gear storage facility is finished and final trim out is now underway. The completion date for the pier is the first week of September and that date seems final. We’re going to inspect it tomorrow, how’s that for a reason for going to Bonaire!

Just returned from Sand Dollar and the pier project is nearing completion. They were painting the rinse tanks on Friday afternoon. The gear facility looks great and it's going to be a super dock! Just grab a tank and go diving. There is a great deal of excitement in the air with the people at the dive shop. We will post some progress photos in a few days.

Does anyone know if the Sand Dollar is going to charge to dive off there Pier?

As of now we hear of no plans

We felt it was important to supply as much information as possible so we descided to have Joan go inspect the work being done on the new dock. We felt the best way to achieve this was to go diving and check it out from below:



Ok, it was an excuse to go diving!

In early June, there were already fish hanging around the pilings even before the deck went on. Hopefully it will be like the dock at Bonaire Beach with big un's and little'uns underneath day and night. Maybe even shrinp, lobsters and fish in the shoreside rock pile too.

They just completed steps that go down to the beach from either side of the ramp leading to the pier. The view is from the dock looking back towards the dive shop

We hear that they are real close to putting down the decking on the new pier. The progress continues, the following are photos of one of the three new rinse tanks, shower, gear storage facility and a view looking out from on top of the new gear storage facility.

Do you know if the gear storage facility will have lockers that can be locked? It seems from the messages I have read on here, that most divers keep their dive equipment in their rooms. It sure would be nice to have a place to lock it up near the water after a night dive.

Edward

Much like the old facility it will be open all day and then closed at a certain time at night. Not sure what that time is going to be. In the past they had a few lockers set aside for night dives. I will see what I can find out.

Just received an e-mail from Andre at Bonaire Dive and Adventure about the hours of the gear storage facility:

For the time being hours are 8:30 to 4:30 with those doing
night dives provided with private storage lockers outside the new gear
storage area. The outside lockers are convenient to gearing up for night
entries and no one will be required to take their dive gear back to their
condos.

I just heard that the first boats left from the new Sand Dollar dock at 9:00am today. The gear storage facility has been open for a couple of weeks

YIPPEEEE!!!!!