Hi I'm looking for a reasonably priced rental with a great reef out front... I understand Black Durgon has a nice reef, what about the other spots or private condo's/homes etc. It is just my wife and I so we do not need a large place. But we do need air conditioning, kitchen...Thanks, JS

Ocean reef house is great and Pelican reef house The first is available through Sun Rental and the second will come up if you google it. We have stayed at both so e mail me if you want more info.
Lighthouse Beach also looks lovely, I have visited but not stayed.

Thanks both look great but a little beyond our budget. Any other suggestions? What about the reef in front of any of the other small hotels?

I think the reef at Bellafonte is one of the best dives on the island. If you cruise along at 40 feet, you're sure to spot several eels. And Bellafonte is a lovely hotel. We've stayed there twice and love it.

Carlea

It's also a great night dive!

carib inn has a nice reef and is reasonably priced

Hamlet Oasis/Bonaire has a great reef (Cliff)out front and is also reasonably priced.

We have stayed at Beachfront Hamlet (on the water by Hamlet Oasis) 6x. It is a villa, sometimes available by room, with a shared kitchen and living area. Bedrooms small but functional, a/c, remodelling to start in Feb. Cliff dive out front, lockers for dive gear, patio with BBQ, reasonable. Photo Tour divers on site. View to die for.www.vrbo.com/150942

Jim, if your looking for something reasonable, but nice! Check out Bonaire Oceanfront Apartments! Three floors, 13 apartments, all sea side, with a pool, diveshop in house, gear storage, A/C in bedrooms, full kitchen, nice livingroom, nice house reef then look no further! This place is really great! The price is right as well!

The toll free number is: BOA 866.464.1786 http://www.sunoceanfront.com/

You can't go wrong ith the service and the location! We stay in a one bedroom on the second floor(#9). Beautiful view and sunsets!!!

Thanks, I think we decided on the Bellafonte. Where do you recommend renting equipment/air? We usually have gone to Buddy's but staying at Bellafonte it's not quite as close.

Jim,

Dive shop at Belmar is not far and they now have free Nitrox upgrade. It is run by Buddy. They run boats from their dock several days a week too. Did you consider stayng at Belmar? - also nice apts oceanfront with kitchen, 1,2,or 3 bedrooms, on-site dive shop. nice, very competent staff, my daughter just completed her DM training there last week. House reef is good and it is convenient to Southern sites. I think the far-south sites have the best, healthiest reefs on the island.

When we stayed at Bellafonte last summer, we used Dive Friends. You can pick up tanks at their shop in town or right down the road from Bellafonte at Port Bonaire.

We're thinking about Bellafonte too, but concerned that there is no on site dive shop and no restaurant. Are they valid concerns? We'll only be there a couple of days and don't want to waste too much time "in transit" or gearing up.
Thanks, Kim.

Hi Kim,

We never considered that an inconvenience. We were always going by one of the Dive Friends pick-ups anyway on our way to a dive site (their Port Bonaire location is very close to Bellafonte).

We like the quietness of Bellefonte, but I could see how some folks like the one-stop shopping. It's totally a personal preference.

Good luck choosing. There are a lot of nice places to stay.

Kim..The restaurants in town are only 10 mins away by car. There are 2 dive shops within 1/2 mi of Bellafonte at Belmar & Port Bonaire. You'll enjoy the quiet. Really, don't let a lack of on site restaurant or dive shop sway you. But, I'm really partial to the southern part of the island.

Jim, have you considered Buddy, Sand Dollar or Den Lamen each right next to each other with onsite dive shops. You can walk to several onsite or nearby restaurants, internet cafe, ice cream parlor and Bari Reef is right in front of Sand Dollar and Den Lamen. All Sand Dollar units have full a/c and full kitchens, but I can not say for the others as I have never stayed at either, but have eaten at both with no complaints.

Best of luck with your plans,
Patrick