Last year I went to Bonaire for the first time and had a super time. We stayed at Sand$ and during our stay we found the Hamlet Oasis and found the apartments and the grounds to be nice; not to mention they had a pool. We were at Sand$ when the pool was being renovated (early April). While we did not get to check out the apartments inside, I wanted to know if anyone has stayed there and what was their experience.

Plan to dive w/ Bonaire Dive & Adventure as I had a good experience with them and I'm the only diver in our group and their boat dives are a great way to try different locations and meet other divers. Any other suggestions?

BelMar apts are very nice. they are small and do not have a restaurant on site but there is one across the street. Dive shop on site, a satellite of Buddy Dive. Boats will pick up at BelMar if there are enough going out. Nice pool and has 2 piers for sun bathing and swimming/snorkling/diving. Plaza uses Toucan dive and they are great. Have dove with them 3 times and love them. Toucan has 4 dive boats so they are never crowded. Have not stayed at Plaza but it looks very nice, have eaten at all the restaurants and they are nice. Nice dive at 18 Palm, right off the beach at Plaza.
Hope this helps some. Check out www.infobonaire.com for more info on accommodations.
Andy

Alan,

We rotate staying at Hamlet Oasis and Belmar. If we are traveling in a large group we stay at Belmar. If it's just my Hubby and me we stay at Hamlet Oasis. We find the savings enough to buy 1 persons airfare for the next trip.

Hamlet Oasis is well maintained, clean and has lots of room. In the 1 bedroom Apartment you will have cable TV, gas range, microwave, frig, no oven, no toaster, fan in the dining area, AC in the bedroom, a large bathroom and a very large porch. If you rent the whole unit you have a studio apartment (all AC) along with the 1 bedroom. Outside the 1 bedroom apartment is a shower and a water spigot (we bring a flat hose and spay nozzle for quick rinsing our gear). Doroty, the manager, is great to work with. If you check the web site you will find they have some great deals for the 1 bedroom apartments. I'm sure you noticed they are not waterfront.

You will have two choices for dive operators, Captain Dons and PhotoTours/Yellow Submarine. The last time we were at Hamlet, Captain Don's sent some one around to wake you up for your morning dives because there are no clocks in the apartment (no clocks at Belmar either).

We seldom Boat dive. We use Phototours/Yellow Submarine dive operation when we stay at Hamlet because they have tank pickups there and a mini dive store. The dive "store" has been moved away from the main road and is now sitting closer to the steps of the dive site, Cliff.

I would recommend using Bas for some east coast diving adventure and buying Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy by Susan Porter.

Yana