We are taking a family dive trip in November and we have never been to Bonaire. I was hoping for some input on a great place to stay with a great dive operation. I was also hoping for a place with a decent beach, but I haven't seen any beaches mentioned in the places I have looked. So any info I can get from you guys would be great. Thanks in advance for the help!!

--Jen

Welcome to BT, Jen!! As far as beaches... Bonaire isn't like some other destinations with miles of white sandy beach.
That being said (and more experienced people than I will chime in) Eden Beach Resort has a nice beach (it's where the webcams are located, except for donkey and windsurf cams) and an awesome dive operation (Wannadive). I know there are others, but Eden/Wannadive I have first hand knowledge of.
Good luck, and have a blast!

Jennifer welcome, the other beach is at the Plaza. I have stayed at both and prefer Eden Beach. Much smaller, more convenient and less expensive. Go to http://www.infobonaire.com/ for info, maps and rates.

Jennifer, welcome to Bonaire Talk. Folks are correct, not a lot of beaches....but if they don't have a beach, they have a long dock with palapa umbrellas and lounge chairs extending out over the water! Harbor Village has a bit of a beach I believe, and there is the well kept secret of the Black Durgon

Divi Flamingo also has a small beach...and then there's Carib Inn and Dive Inn...lots of choices!

Jennifer - one advantage Plaza has over Eden's is the house reef. The Plaza reef is beautiful and you can see lots of stuff snorkeling from shore. The reef at Eden's is beat up and there is alot of current when you dive.

That said, we made the switch from Plaza's villas to BelMar this year and won't return to Plaza. NOthing like sitting on your private balcony and watching the sunset.

Sue got to disagree on Eden's Beach reef, it is rubble and there can be a current. On the other hand you will see more fish in a shorter time at Eden Beach than any other dive site on Bonaire. All the same fish are there but they have no where to hide. The cleaning station at 30' off Wanna Dive is a great place to hang out. Also if you swim in either direction you will get to a regular reef, if that is what you desire.

The current is real hit or miss but it is easy to spot before getting in. Just look at the moored boats if they are straight out from the shore, no current, parallel to shore equals current. It can be in either direction. Now in my 14 days at Eden beach there was current 3 days.

The reef at the Plaza is excellent and there are two places to get in, by the pool or at the Tipsy Seagull. The Plaza is beautiful but my problem with the place is it's size. Everything there is a long ways off, that 1/4 mile walk to the parking lot got real old real fast.

you can also enter the beach at Plaza also by the back gate/activity hut. Jennifer didn't mention the ages of her family, but IMHO of staying at Plaza 3 years and diving at Edens several times, I would select the beach at Plaza if that's your primary criteria.

I agree there are many reason to NOT go to Plaza: size of resort, time to walk to everything, no views from villas, lots of people, beach bar scene can be wild, etc. For these reason and some visit-specific issues we had in Feb05 and the attitude of the front desk we experienced getting them resolved, we chose to try BelMar this year and are now hooked.

now, if that non-stop Newark Continental flight would just get announced, we might go to Bonaire more than 1x/year...

Have you considered Divi, Jennifer ?
We just returned from a 3 week trip, it was our 21st time to Divi and I still say it the best place to stay.My siter's 1st and she totally agrees with me.
Divi's property was recently renovated and it is quite pretty, but still a casual feeling.The staff efficient and friendly.They now have happy hour at the beach bar from 5-7 almost everyday with music and 2 for 1 drinks.The resort is an easy and safe walk to town and to many of the great restuants along the seaside prominade.
Divi has 2 resturants, one for the breakfeast buffet and the Chibichibi for delicious seaside lunch or dinner.
The dive shop has a friendly and knowledgeable staff and has 5 dive boats. No cattlecar diving.
Our favorite dive is right out front. Divi is easy to be.
The new manager has done a great job in bringing the fun back to Divi.(sorry I forget her name) They have a activity desk that has lots of information about other activies too.
It does have a nice small sandy beach and a tanning pier to sun on and feel the breezes and watch the sunset. Lots of fish to see just snorkeling around the peirs and it has 2 pools. A pod a dolfins happened by along the beach a few times during our visit.
I am a timeshare owner there and love going back every year, feels like home. I think Divi is the best!
Have fun , I am sure you will.

Thanks so much for all of the experienced input. I have really liked the looks of eden, so if you all would give me more feedback, good and bad, I would really appreciate it. On this trip it will be me, my husband, and my parents. It is Mom and Dad's 30th anniversary and Mom's 50th birthday. So we figured what better way to celebrate than with a dive vacation?!!??!!

I am going the to Edens the first 2 weeks of September.(only 1 more month, 1 week and 4 days:P)
It is our first time at Edens so I can not tell you anything (yet).
Definitly will place a trip report when I come back!!
But you will get a "Dutchie" opinion.
Heard lots and lots of good things!!