I have had nothing but good experiences with the entire staff at Captain Don's, and I'd like to list some of the highlights:

As I listed before:

Sherman, not even officially "working", came running over to help us when we arrived on our second trip, welcoming us with his huge smile and laugh, and helping to take away the stresses of the day of travelling with a warm hug of "welcome back!"

Karen Pearson (formerly at Habitat), a horseperson, taking the time to show me the Bonairean back country on horseback.

Also:

On our 5th Anniversary, Jack made arrangements for a Special dinner for us at Rum Runners. We had a feast prepared for us by Floris and Isidore (from Rum Runners and on the Bonaire Culinary Team), served on the lower patio overlooking the water. It was amazing!

Our last trip coincided with my 50th birthday. We came in from a dive to find that someone had entered our room.... and left a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, candy and cookies.

When Geoffrey was in pain from his hips (pre-replacement) Chris, Netto, Sherman... hell, ALL of the divemasters took special care to help him in and out of the water from the boats.

Knowing that we both had hip issues, each and every one of the divemasters, seeing us struggling with tanks going up or down the stairs have jumped up to help us.

No, we didn't pay extra or promise large tips - they're just decent and kind people.

I'm at work and can't remember the rest of the really sweet experiences I've had at the Habitat, I'll add to this when I can concentrate on it more.

All I know is that the entire dive crew has always treated us well and professionally when we were diving with them, and as friends when they were off work. We never ever witnessed, in all the years of going there, any kind of mistreatment of divers, even when the diver (in my humble opinion) needed to have his ears pinned back.

As for the rest of the operation: We've also never really obsessed about losing anything so we don't go out of our way about hiding cameras, laptops, whatever. Yes, we get the wall safe door for our passports and wallets, but as for the rest... we feel they're safe, because we're at the Habitat and Jack makes it so.

The people who work there seem to be there for the long-haul for the most part. I always see familiar faces when we return, and I think that says a lot about the way Habitat is run.

We will be going back, hopefully this September. I can't wait to see them all - especially Jack, Karen and Chris.

Can we remove this thread. It borderlines on SPAM.

You've had your say in the Captain Don's POOR operation thread.

My last trip, I was diving with Wannadive, and couldn't get my orientation the day after I arrived, so my friend (who was diving with Capt. Dons) talked to them and got them to do a "special" orientation for just me in the afternoon, so that I could get my marine park tag and get in the water.

They didn't have to do that, it would have been just as easy to say no since they weren't getting my money, but they did it because that's the kind of people they are !

Alan,
Do you have something to contribute?

I encourage anyone who's had a good experience with Captain Don's to post. Mick's lies have caused a lot of damage.

The below comments are not necessarily the opinion of this website or all the moderators..



I will add some great experiences at capt Dons as well I hope that is Ok with you Alan??

Once when we got there we were assigned a cottage in an area that was not to our liking.. Jack made sure that we got a cottage that was available over in the oasis section.
.
We have left stuff outside overnight and found it there in the morning wth a note from the night watchman about putting our gear away for saftey sake..

The divemasters that we have had Chris and Karen included have been nothing but fantastic to us and our group, when we traveled with a group..

Jack and his wife Karen have been very hospitable to us everytime we have been to Don's and they go out of their way to find us and say hello..

The housekeeping staff is the same year after year it seems we always recognize the staff when we get there and they recognize us as well. They go out of their way to make sure we have everything that we need and that we are comfortable.. If something is not working in the cottage, all one needs do is call the office and they will have someone over ASAP to fix it..

I realize that not everyone has the same luck as some of us. but to bash a person publicly does more damage than good for the bashers cause.. Mick should have used different avenues for his comments and he should have been prepared to back them up which he was not..So he sent Louise in to stir the pot some more.. Some people just don't earn.. OH well

Jack Chalk and his staff are AOK in my book.. anyone else???
and please yes I know I am a Moderator but I am also allowed to post my opinion.

Never personally stayed at Capt Don's but have eaten there many many times in the past.. Food was always excellent..In my opinion, best pizza on the island (I like a thin crust).

I will be there next week and I am literally salivating thinking about the spinach/mushroom/artichoke dip thing they have !!! Yummmmy. And Vince you're right the pizza is great.

You know, Susan Feldman, this thread was so totally unnecessary.

You already made your point in the last thread that you think Chris walks on water.

You knew nothing about the poster being less than honest, but began your initial response with with the attack "How many times did you lay on the reef? That's the only thing I can imagine that would get Chris to be rude to anyone." So the initial poster proved to be a jerk, but why beat a dead horse? All of the Captain Don cheerleaders already did their thing, so why reiterate it?

My only experience with Captain Don's Habitat is a negative experience, and not on their physical site, and I chose not to add to the agony of the prior thread by interjecting my eye witness opinion of one of their staff's incompetence....

Oh dear God, and yes, I am prepared to be bashed!

Thanks for the diversion Gail...I thought we were going to have another pizza discussion here.

The only time I ever felt unsafe on Bonaire and in feer for my physical well being happened at Captain Don's



thought my toes were gonners

sorry, just couldn't resist......lighten up people

Mean while, back at Pasa Pizza there was serious debate raging ..... who has the better pizza, Pasa Bon or CPT Dons? Pasa Bon I say! To which my estwhile brother-in-law Bill and fellow deep diver exclaims CPT Dons!! I respond, you sir, are a cad and I challenge you to a dual! Very well he states, what shall be the weapon? I ponder his question, and then, out the blue it comes to me - a Spare O-Ring Installation Dual!! His eyes cloud with doubt - the defeat in his soul clearly evident - but noone can change a spare O-Ring as fast as you can (except for maybe Jerry) he says with a look of utter despair. You have won Brother-in-law and I have lost says Bill; truly, Pasa Bon pizza is superior. What say you Vince?

Doug, and all: Because of the lies from ONE JERK, a man who wasn't even ON ISLAND at the time, a man who has done a lot for Bonaire, could lose his job.

If you have positive things to post, please do.

I think we need to put a fork in it!

Gail,
I knew Chris. Because of my knowledge of him, I posted that question, because I know that the ONLY thing that really gets him going is vacationers who don't respect the reef.

I did not attack, but that was my FIRST thought when I saw that post because it was SO FOREIGN from everything I knew of Chris as a human being.

Are you so jaded that you would not defend someone who in all your interactions with him had nothing but the preservation of the Bonaire reef as utmost in his mind, and who you've seen many times to be an honorable human being?

Because of a hateful posting by a demonstrably lying piece of crap, people I've grown to care about are in danger or losing their livelihood.

Maybe it means nothing to you. Fine. So don't post.

Meredith,
I disagree. When your job is put in jeapardy by lies, please come back and let us know how you feel about it.

Susan,

You didn't know it was a "hateful posting by a demonstrably lying piece of crap" when you went on attack. You just attacked.

I hope I'm not so jaded that I can't defend someone that I admire and care about.... but I'm also not so biased that I can't realize that ALL people, ones that I know and love, and ones that I don't know or have a feeling for, can be wrong, make mistakes, and amend them. The fellow in the prior thread did not fess up to being pond scum in your opinion, but I don't think he'll burn in hell for having different opinions than you or me.

Gail,
So if he causes good people to lose their jobs, that's A-OK by you?

I asked how many times Chris pulled him off the reef. Is that an attack in your book? Sheesh, you must not get attacked very often.

Opinions is one thing: when lies cause people to lose their jobs its entirely different.

Doug - that is so funny - this trip the iguanas did attack my co-travelers toes - yes - bit them! Two people no less!

Nobody asked about my negative experience with Captain Don's.... ie. my eye witness account of one of their staff's incompetence.... Hum.... only state the good about the revered.... we can only sing the praises!

gotta go get ready to resume the work thing tomorrow.... bummer after 2 weeks off!

Gail,
Feel free to post your eye-witness account... if it happened to you. Particularly, let us know if it's anything that could not conceivably have happened anywhere else. Also, did you (or the person to whom it happened) complain or report it? Because I know that Jack's staff always works to rectify genuine issues - which ALL resorts have.

Susan - I don't think the step-son of the next-to-God is going to lose his job because of one complaint.....

And yes, I do think your initial comment of pulling off the reef was an attack before you had any facts. And retrospectfully, since the initial poster was in fact, accordingly to Tom, a bogus persona, your attack was unwarranted.

And I probably get attacked a lot....

Obviously, some people have a problem... with ME.

If you can't get past that... at least try to be fair to the people who've been falsely accused and maligned in the other thread.

It's the mature thing to do, you know...

Gail,
I sent you a PM. There is a reason for my posting beyond any perceived "Captain Don's can do no wrong" bias. If you don't accept that, fine - but again, please: post your negative experience and let us know if you asked the management to rectify the problem.

Actually - I posted my eye witness account of one of Captain Don's boat captain's incompetence 3 years ago when it happened - yes to me - as I was on shore as one of their dive boats was coming directly toward shore, where I was sitting. The person piloting the boat was flirting, and inattentive to where they were directing the boat - ie - to shore! I, my husband, our fellow travellers, and another couple who were also staying at the Inn filed the reports. I also reported the incident here on BT, and when I have more time will research and locate the posting. But I realize that the boat captain is/was a human being, and did not need to be crucified for her mistake.

By the way -- bogus persona? What the heck? This guy posted in multiple places, not just here, went out of his way to try to damage the reputation of Captain Don's; his IP-sharer who didn't know him, yeah, right, claimed that they were smoking around the nitrox fill station; this "bogus persona" has worked hard to damage the reputation of good people. My "attack" was completely warranted.

I pegged him when I questioned him. The fact that it took a little while longer to prove his duplicity and ulterior motives is only testament to my having good instincts about him.

And I'm sure that if your incident was brought up to Jack, he spoke to this boat captain (whoever it may have been), 3 years ago.

Are they the only people on Bonaire you've ever had some problem with? Lucky! But as you say, everyone's human and makes mistakes.

Not everyone gets the same experience at any facility, or even on repeat trips to the same operation. For instance, BDA has rather inconsistent reviews for some reason. I haven't seen that so much in the Don's trip reports.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=129634

I'm so irritated I have to respond.. there's been alot of that lately from me which is somewhat out of character but I think I'm on a roll... and I will probably blame pre-pre-menopause.

Gail, I think no asked asked you what happened to you because you said, "and I chose not to add to the agony of the prior thread by interjecting my eye witness opinion of one of their staff's incompetence.... " That - to me - says you aren't going to talk about it. Then you state, "Nobody asked about my negative experience with Captain Don's.... ie. my eye witness account of one of their staff's incompetence.... Hum.... only state the good about the revered.... we can only sing the praises!" Which is it? Do you want to talk about it or not?

Of course, I agree that if you have any first hand knowledge of something, you should post it. But don't go all passive-aggressive and SAY you aren't going to talk about it and then wonder why no asks you to talk about it! Jeesh!

I, for one, would like to keep get this thread back to it's original intention. Positive things about Captain Don's. It is what Susan intended when she started the thread and I think we should respect that. No, I am not a Capt. Don's cheerleader. I wouldn't know any of those people if I fell over them. Except for the one who dressed up like a girl for Brian's 50th birthday bash, and I'd only recognize him in a dress.

Let's save the arguing for another thread, perhaps? Susan is only trying to help her dear friends. Even if we all have differing opinions about Captain Don's, can we respect her enough to keep this positive? At least on THIS thread? I would like to think I would have the guts to stand up for people that I believe in. I know of several folks in Bonaire that I would go to the mattress for. Or "for which I would go to the mattresses"... whichever is correct. (Mare?) lol.

Not meant to make anyone angry here but I had to throw in my opinions, like always.

Wow, that says it all.

This has been the most disgusting performance in the history of Bonaire Talk. Those who have tolerated Mr. Dunham and all his aliases are quite simply colluding in slander. Those who are quibbling over absurd details are colluding too. There is no other explanation and thats the only real attack that we should be discussing. All available information points to the Chalk family's professionalisim and Mick Dunhams complete lack of veracity.

Let's review. Capt Don's habitat, and the Chalk family are known on Bonaire for many many years. If you visit Bonaire and don't know them, you surely know someone you trust who knows them. Many of the people who post here know the Chalk family personally. Jack Chalks history of honor and professionalisim in the diving community goes even further back than his work on Bonaire and it has been flawless in my estimation. So perhaps Now I can accept that not everyone feels as warmly to them as I do, but there is abundant evidence that these people are caring, committed, professionals and not the careless monsters that Mr. Dunham lies about.

This fellow Mick Dunham who posts a most vitriolic scandalous series of posts under a variety of aliases, omitting facts that do not serve him well, telling tales that can not possibly be true and quite transparently for the purpose of slanderously destroying a good mans reputation. We have had people who were there tell us of Mick Dunhams misconduct on the property, of the chalks appropriate conduct and we are quibbling about someone "Attacking" Dunham?

There is only one attack, and it really is an attack. It's purpose is not to possibly embarass as some other so called attacks have been. It's transparent purpose is to destroy a man we all know to be honorable and to have served Bonaire very well. Jack does not deserve this and he does not deserve all this chatter and quibbling.

Susan said:

"Doug, and all: Because of the lies from ONE JERK, a man who wasn't even ON ISLAND at the time, a man who has done a lot for Bonaire, could lose his job.

If you have positive things to post, please do."

Now I'm really confused. Are you saying Chris wasn't even on island at the time ? If that is true, I'd think it would be hard for him to lose his job over something he couldn't have done.

Now I don't profess to know Chris as well as you do. I've only dived with him about 25 times in the last 5 years. But I would have to think that anyone that knows him, even someone like me who has only dived with him a few times, knows him well enough to know that the nut jobs post was just a load of bovine scattology. I figure if simple little me can figure that out his mother and step father probably know the same thing. So I guess I just don't see the need to sing the praises of Captain Don's to try to save his job.

But since it seems important to you that we all drink the Kool Aid (tm) Here Goes.

I've been to Captain Don's 5 times in the last 5 years for a total of 9 weeks and had a great time each time. The only other places I would even think of giving my buisness would be the plaza to dive with Sherman (he taught me how to blow air rings and showed me the secret to walking on the keel of the boat) or to the Carib inn to dive with Karen (she lent me her mask when I sent my one and only mask on a 200 ft dive without me attached one morning on one of those stupid 8:30 boats. Other than them my favorite people on the island, no offense to those on island I don't know, are all people at Captain Don's:

Chris - turnde me on the the green sauce at Casablanca and showed me every lettus leaf sea slug and pistol shrimp on the island. and taken me on some of my best dives after everyone else was back on the boat.

Rob - quite simply the funniest DM on the island

Jenny - Great DM and what a cute little guy she has

Max - the best bar tender ever on the island and now a darn fine DM

Wilco - Fixed my friends regs after she let them fall ove attached to a tank and bent the begeezes out of the hose attachments, and didn't charge her a cent.

Meechi - has been our house keeper all five years, the one simling face I couldn't do a trip to Captain Don's without seeing. She always puts fresh cut flowers in our bathroom. I'm not sure if thats a hint or something but I love it just the same.

OK kool Aid (tm) swollowed now someone find me my cool Nike tennis shoes and let me get back to my PBD

There's just no recapturing a Caribbean soul once it's taken its first breath of salt air.

Doug,

I suspect Susan was referring to Jack Chalk. His bosses are not likely to get after him for this.

Is this the scubadiving website??? It looks like BT, but it doesn't feel like BT anymore.

Marcus..I humbly accept the "O" Ring challenge to prove & support my prior testimony with respect to the best pizza. In a prior post I've already outlined the fastest way to remove the leaking "O" ring. To install. A little spit, place on valve, attach regulator & turn on the air. The "O" ring will then seat....Do you now admit defeat & are you buying (I eat lots of pizza)??

Vince: You've got me. The fact that you are the creator of actual "O-Ring Installation Instruction Manual post on Bonaire Talk" is more than I've got. I admit defeat, and yes, I'm buying. To do anything else would be, well, uncivilized. Later.

Kelly - you are absolutely right. I should have gone back and reread MY initial post and stuck with my thoughts at the time. I apologise for switching thoughts in midstream and adding to the controversy.

Now I must start work.....

Glen,
I'm afraid you're wrong about that. YGM.

Susan

Doug,
I sent you email. Chris was on island; Jack was not.

Thank you for contributing those anecdotes.

(Message edited by susanf on July 18, 2006)

Doug jogged my memory:

On the second to the last trip, my regulator went kerflooie - this after having the LDS service it just before the trip.

Rob looked at it (it's a ScubaPro) and found the problem - a part was broken inside, something that usually can't get broken, so they didn't have the replacement.


He sent me to Caribe Inn and Bruce Bowker, but we hadn't rented a truck yet, so between the time it happened and the time we finally went there, he gave me one of the rentals - for nothing.

Bruce Bowker unfortunately didn't have the part, either - it really was not a part that usually broke (I wasn't thrilled with the LDS)

I bought a new one at Caribe Inn (I'd have bought it at Habitat but they didn't have the model I like), and we sent the other one back to Scuba Pro for repairs when we got home.

The Dive Shop at Habitat got nothing out of this... except good will.

About the incident happened 3 years ago, my husband and I were the couple just finished the dive Gail mentioned in her post yesterday.
We were staying at Black Durgon and just finished our dive. I was on the dock waiting for my husband who was still a few feet under water going towards the dock ladder.
Suddenly this dive boat came in very fast, heading towards the dock, my husband must have heard the loud noise it made so he hurried and got on the ladder.
Gail and her friends were sitting in the kitchen area next to the dock. All of us looked at the boat in horror because the way it went, it would hit the dock within a few seconds. At the last moment the boat veered away missing the dock by about 20 -25 feet and turned south but not before we could read its name.
We told the Inn owner about the incident, stressing the fact that if we were a few minutes later coming back from our dive, the boat might run over us since it came way inside of the two buoys where most divers of Small Wall do their ascend.
He asked all of us who witnessed the incident signed a letter reporting the fact and said he will give it to the manager of the boat captain.
We'd never stayed in Captain Don's and not used any diving operations on Bonaire except Black Durgon's. Besides the incident, other contacts with Captain Don's operation be it eating at the restaurant or asking if we can snorkel from their dock were satisfactory.
I think, as tourists, we can vote with our feet. If we don't like a place we don't have to come back and vice versa. We love Black Durgon so we stayed there 4 times in 3 years, a month at a time for the last two trips, but we would understand if other folks may not share the same feeling.
Gail, time flies when you have fun, you already gone from the island! See you next year then.

This is from Brian & Sue.

Sue and I have enjoyed several excellent and memorable holidays at Captain Dons over the years, and the resort and its staff have been a major contributor to that enjoyment. I think my 50th birthday celebrations last September (mentioned by Kelly above) epitomise this, and illustrate how Jack and the entire Habitat crew made what could have been quite a traumatic milestone into a series of very enjoyable and often hilarious events that mean I will never forget turning 50

First off Jack turned the standard managers rum punch party into a birthday bash for me complete with a delicious birthday cake from Annettes Last Bite Bakery, presentation by Moogie and reintroduction to Captain Don.

See http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/28/290363.html?1153246731

Next day, my actual birthday, we went on an excellent 2-tank dive trip to Salt Pier with a group of friends which included 3 of the Habitat dive crew, and even saw a frogfish in a discarded shoe (of course all the photographers were shooting wide angle - Doh - so we did not manage any decent shots of it, but, the sun was just right for a few good ones of the pier itself, and we did see 9 tarpon and an eagle ray).

That evening, our friend Neil and the dive crew had organised a surprise party for me at the Deco Stop Bar the highlight of which was a lap dance from Tiffany, aka Wilco who had been dramatically transformed for the occasion. Wilcos transformation and lap dance were impressive as the pictures show (see link below), but what was equally important was the thought, planning and effort that had gone into the entire episode - Wilco, Jenny, Christina and Karen Chalk (and there are probably others that I am not aware of) excelled themselves even arranging for one of the several props that were involved a bridal veil (you had to be there)to be sent over from Curacao in order to complete Wilcos costume. The point is that they did not have to do any of this, just as Jack did not have to arrange the previous nights cake etc. but they did, and thats what made it so special.

See the thread I posted at the time for pictures if you're interested - they're not too risque - now

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/23830/240801.html

After recovering from Tiffany's attentions, Jack surprised me and Sue with a delicious complimentary dinner at Rum Runners, and even footed the wine bill for the whole table (we were accompanied by a few friends).

On our penultimate night Sue had arranged for a romantic meal for two at Rum Runners and Floris produced a five-course feast that was tailored to our taste exactly. It was delicious and the starlit ocean-side location unbeatable.

On a more general note we've done numerous dives with the Habitat crew over the years and have appreciated their spotting techniques (this is especially true of Chris who is an absolute god send for us photographers), care of the reef, assistance with equipment when required (including repairs on occasion), flexibility, friendship and support. Those that know us are aware that we are both very keen underwater photographers - Ernst Schilling, who was the Habitat photo pro for many years and Wilco (minus his Tiffany paraphernalia) have basically taught us all we know the photos we take now are a million times better than our pre-Habitat efforts.

See -http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/28/290369.html?1153246861

These are just a few examples of our happy experiences which we hope illustrate why we enjoy Bonaire and Habitat so much. Of course we realise that what we enjoy will not be everyones cup of tea, and issues can occur in any location/resort, but there are more effective ways of dealing with such situations than resorting to the bizarre and ultimately shaming approach adopted by Mick (aka) Louise, who, during her campaign on Sunday actually used her new persona (and presumably brand new e-mail address, something to do with hot pink fins), to send a PM to me attempting to further her cause/minimise a negative reaction. I did not waste time replying. I do seem to be developing a rather worrying tendency to attract attention from male persons with a female alter ego however, but can wholeheartedly say that there is no competition - I much preferred the lap dance from Tiffany

Anyway, to get back on track, we are due back at Habitat in 8 weeks time for the September coral spawning (fingers crossed for a good one!) and are looking forward to meeting our friends at Habitat, more diving, photos and memorable fun!

Dive safe and often.
Brian & Sue

The original post mentioned Sherman. I did several dives with Sherman during May 2006, but he was working at Toucan Diving at the Plaza, not at Don's. I will not provide any speculation as to why he decided to change employment, but will say that he is a great dive master and highly recommend diving with him.

Vic

My goodness, what an awful lot can happen on here whilst we are on Bon diving. But, even though my curiosity is piqued, I'm wondering just how long it will take me to read both these threads to find out just what the heck is going on! Who is Mick Dunham and why is he filled with such hatred?

O.K., I'm through and only have one comment.......wonder what would have happened if, like some posts on BT, Mr. Dunham's original post had been totally ignored..........................no reply sometimes does wonders for bogus posters. Kinda like reverse psychology on a two year old...ha ha!