We are planning on coming in June (first time). All four of us were only certified last year but have been diving quite a bit since then. Can't wait to try out Bonaire.

We are looking for a convenient place to stay with our boys, ages 13 and 15, that might give us a break on pricing for kids. Our youngest eats next to nothing, so I hate to pay for a breakfast for him. We might like to get a full kitchen and make our own meals to save some money.

We'd like a place where the kids can go snorkel right off the hotel if Mom and Dad feel like lounging in a chair and watching once in a while, and would love to get in a night dive or two.

Also, we have NO equipment. So far we have only rented. We have enjoyed not hauling gear with us, but wonder if it might be a good time to get some stuff. Or should we rent again, and are the resorts there well equipped with rental equipment? If we buy, what should we buy, and what should we rent? I read on this board that things might be cheaper down there?

Sorry to load so much up onto a question that is on an accommodations thread, but we have lots to think about!

Thanks again. We can't wait to get there!

Debra

Plenty of good places to stay. The Divi has a great house reef that is very "snorkel-able", Buddy Dive / Lion's Dive has a lot for the kids to do just hanging around. (We own at Lion's Dive, so its always our favorite place).

As far as equipment is concerned. The resorts I mentioned (and I believe every Bonaire resort) has great equipment rentals and in house maintenance of said equipment. You should be fine with rentals (from a safety point of view). As for buying, that depends on your usage. If you dive 1 week every couple years, renting would be my recomendation. If you dive a few weeks every year at different locations, buying the basics would be my recommendation. If you go places other than Bonaire, for example, you may feel more comfortable owning your own life support equipment (which is what SCUBA is, right?). We own everything but the weight belt and tank. If you use a computer, getting to know yours well is better thatn trying to figure out a new one each time you rent.

My 2 cents...

Debra, welcome to Bonaire Talk

The dive shops are well equiped with rental equipment, so it's a matter of how much you want to spend on gear ;-) If you buy BC's, reg's, computers, I'd buy from your local dive shop (LDS). This way you can take it to them for annual service and repairs.

Places to stay...we always go with a place that has a kitchen so we can cook some of the meals.

Right on the water, where you could relax on the pier while the kids are snorkeling:

Black Durgon Inn (they have a community kitchen) - located on Small Wall...fabulous diving and snorkeling. they have a nice big pier with lounge chairs for keeping an eye on the kids.

Captain Don's - more of a resort. On site restaurant, etc. - great reef as well. Don't know if they have a buffet breakfast.

Buddys - same as above (they do have a buffet breakfast daily). They don't have a "lounging" pier, but I supposed you could watch from the cliff area.

Sand$ - great reef. Buffet breakfast - great pier. There is a sandy area you can lounge to watch the kids.

Eden Beach - where the cams are. Big sandy area to get a lounge chair while you watch the kids.

Harbor Village - pricy but it is very nice.

Dive Inn - smaller, not "on" the water but right across from playa cha cha. Nice sandy area to hang and watch the kids. good house reef.

Carib Inn - smaller, great place with a pier, can watch the kids. I don't know if they have kitchens in the rooms or not.

Divi - larger resort but they have a nice little beach area and a pier for sunning to watch the kids. Buffet breakfast.

Plaza - same as above with a larger beach area.

Bellefonte - very nice place. Nice pier to watch the kids.

Belmar - same as Bellefonte.

You can go to www.infobonaire.com and check for the exact ameneties for each of the above. Some are smaller, some are larger, some more expensive than others. Some have pools, some don't have on sight restaurants, etc. I'd try to narrow it down and then when you have that done, post your choices for specific feedback on the places. I'm sure I've missed some as well

You will love Bonaire as a family dive destination. We took our teens last year and it was their first dive vacation. They had a ball. Dylon, my 17 year old is going with us next time too and can't wait

Debra,
My 16 yr. old would advise (and we concur) for you to stay at Capt. Don's Habitat. We just spent 23 days there in Mar/April and continue to enjoy having a two bedroom, two bath cottage with full kitchen and wrap-around porch. Read through my Trip Report from our first year.
http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/1022/31140.html?1021997999
Highly recommend this resort for all your requests. While you may purchase a package that includes a breakfast buffet, we prefer to do breakfast, lunch and snacks ourselves. Then we enjoy all the great restaurants for dinner. Our daughter and friend that she has brought along two different years, love to grab a pizza from the on-site pizza oven.

I agree with Linda (though I don't have kids).
One thing that might be of importance to you: Habitat is having a special from Jun 3 to Aug 26:

Kids 16 and under stay and dive for free when sharing room with paying adult - Maximum 2 children per room (minimum 7 night stay)

The do offer a breakfast buffet that may also be included in that package.

Susan

Oh - the dive shop at the Habitat (and I believe at almost all if not all shops on Bonaire) keep their rental equipment in great shape. I believe they buy replacements fairly frequently. If I remember correctly, they rent ScubaPro - quality stuff.

Hi Debra,

I presume you all have your own mask/fins/snorkels? I know at MY LDS those items were required for cerification classes. They rented everything else.

You all WILL each want your own slightly heavier sole booties. The shore entries (except for the resort piers) are NOT to be made barefoot. Bonaire has mostly small coral stone "beaches", not the long stretches of sand kind you see elsewhere.

If I took up bowling, I'd own my own shoes - lol.

Fit and comfort in footwear is hard to ensure in rentals and for sure not over the internet. I'd suggest buying your own boots at your LDS to be sure you'll all be comfy. Just tell the shop staff where you are going and they'll have good recommendations for appropriate protection.

Youi folks are going to have a BLAST!

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to say THANK YOU! You have all been so helpful and provided so much great information. I'm sure we will have a wonderful time in Bonaire. It looks like we'd better get out and do some shopping for equipment, too!

If the people in Bonaire are half as nice as all of you have been, it must be a very friendly place.

Thanks again.

Debra

Debra, indeed it is! You will love Bonaire and her people. Have a wonderful time. Carole

It sounds like Sand Dollar Condo Resort is just the place for your family. We've been there three times and love the place. We have not had a bad experience. Condo units are nice, have a full kitchen, are convenient to the dive shop and a very easy-to-reach reef. Bonaire Dive & Adventure has rental gear and a great setup. Night diving on Bari Reef is like diving in your back yard.

You'll have a great time!

@ susan
hi im from switzerland and planning a trip with my 2 boys starting mid july. on captain donīs web site i can not find any information about kids staying for free. could you pls let my know where to look for this special. many thanks
rudolf

Hi Everyone, and in particular, Susan who just posted a question about Captain Don's. We just got back and had a fabulous time! Linda, I did see your Aspen Divers t-shirt!

Our two boys were never bored, and loved chasing lizards and iguanas or doing various trick dives off the dock when we weren't doing the underwater thing together as a family. We also loved exploring the island.

You can go to Captain Don's website and get in touch with reservations there, or send an e-mail directly to Captain Don's there to get info about the kids' stay and dive free. Not sure if they are offering it in July.

We did not do the breakfast plan since my boys like to sleep in and would have missed breakfast half the time anyway. We just stocked up on groceries after we got checked in. Ate cereal or eggs and toast most mornings; even made french toast one day.

We ate pizza at the hotel restaurant and had ice cream almost every night, although we did pick up some kabobs and cooked them in our kitchen one night. Don't buy much wine or alcohol since you won't want to drink it with your dinner so you can go on night dives.

We were in the habitat cottages which are nothing fancy, but quite functional. I unfortunately fell on a hole in a sidewalk and banged up my knee pretty badly which re-injured an area on which I had surgery 6 weeks before. Still painful and limping, but at least it happened the night before our last day when we were planning on driving around the island since we were flying out early the next day. Other than that, I had a great time! They said they would patch the hole the next day (near the cat feeding station - look out!).

Everyone, thanks again for all the advice. We had a fantastic time and would love to do it again, although it is quite a pricey trip getting there. Once we got there, it was an excellent value.

Susan, good luck with your trip. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Debra

Debra,
So glad you had a great trip and that the boys were never bored ...boredom - definitely a family vacation killer! I'm sure you made a lot of great memories. Nice to hear the T-shirt is still there.

Try this address for the info re. the kids staying free at Capt. Don's Habitat in July.
http://www.habitatdiveresorts.com/bonaire/specials.html

Debra, glad you had a great time, and the kids enjoyed it Also glad that your accident happened the day before your no diving day! whew!

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Late post to clarify the great initial post from grasshopper:

All rooms at Carib Inn (where I almost always stay) have at least a fridge and microwave and, if I recall, a toaster. Most (all but #4 and #5) have a cooktop.