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Everything Else Bonaire: Children's activities
Bonaire Talk: Everything Else Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999 - 2004: Archives - 2004-02-26 to 2004-08-31: Children's activities
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Rosen (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 9:18 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi,
I am traveling to Bonaire on August 1st for one week and staying at buddy dive. I have two children. THey will be 5 years old and 15 months. I am also bringing a nanny to watch the kids when my wife and I are diving. Just looking for activities they can do while we are under water! I am trying to get a list of fun stuff for them. The 15 month old is very mobile and smart (of course!) the Donkey sanctuary sounded good for one day.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks
Jack

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Jo Lott (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1110) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 9:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Caren Eckrich's Sea and Discover program is highly recommended, for the older child. Also, a snorkel tour with Renee on the Woodwind is nice.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Belinda Z (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #142) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 10:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kelly,

Renee doesn't own the Woodwind any more. All of Renee's snorkels are now done from shore but are still HIGHLY recommended!

Belinda

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Jo Lott (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1112) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 11:28 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh that's right, I had forgotten.... thanks Belinda!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Belinda Z (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #143) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 12:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

No problem Kelly!!

Belinda

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Rosen (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 2:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Do you have anymore info about Caren Eckrich's Sea and Discover program. It sounds just like what my daughter ( 5 years old) would love.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Jo Lott (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1114) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 2:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I think her website is www.seandiscover.com.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Rosen (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 2:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Boy sea and discover looked perfect for her until I read this.

"Children must be seven years old and must enjoy snorkeling"

Too bad, she is very mature and a very good swimmer and snorkeler. Maybe I will email them.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian (bcj.) (BonaireTalker - Post #62) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 2:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

You could use the Jedi mind trick on them...

"My daughter is 7 years old" *wave hand*

It worked for Luke Skywalker.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1796) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 4:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

They also have an Iguana Forest at the Donkey Santuary. Small walled in area with big iguanas.

5 years old?
They have mini-windsurf boards out at Sorobon. It is very shallow. If your child loves water, it is a lot of fun. I took my son when he was 6. They can even have a real lesson.

Checking out the conch shell piles over at Lac Cai.

Buddy Dive has hammocks - my kids love them.
They also a nice sandy beach area above the water. Sand always seems to be a hit.

One of the glass bottom boats - Aquaspace is a trimaran with the center section all glass below water. Or the Bonaire Dream which is more like a cabin cruiser.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Jo Lott (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1117) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 4:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda, this is why we love you. You are always such a wealth of information, I'm going to nickname you "Julie, Our Cruise Director". Now, I know I'm dating myself by saying that... but I always wanted to be her when I grew up. LOL

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1797) on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 4:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

You're in good company. I know exactly who Julie is :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gregg Babcock (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 7:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jack, Caren is great. I would definitely email her at Sea & Discover - she may very well be able to accommodate your 5 year old.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Rosen (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 8:11 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I emailed her yesterday afternoon but she has not gotten back to me yet. I am sure that she is not on her computer all day long like I am!

For sure if I lived in Bonaire I could think of better things to do than check my email all day long. I would be on the computer as little as possible.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1744) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 1:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Several of the hotels, etc., including Sand Dollar and Habitat, have special programs for kids. Worth checking them out online. May be the right age range; at least, may provide variations on the theme during your stay.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack R (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 5:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I emailed Caren on the 17th but have not heard back. I saw the phone on the website. Does anyone know her or when the best time to call may be?

ALso how do you dial the phone from the US. the number on the site was
phone / fax (599) 717-5322

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #222) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 6:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

You put 011 in front.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack R (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 6:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

thanks, she is off the island until June 2.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1748) on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 4:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Caren is the best however if she is not available I hear lots of positive stuff about Aqua Kid at Plaze Resort.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dean Botsford (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #311) on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 9:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I wrote to Caren a bit ago to inquire if she would be on island the first two weeks of August. She said she will. Her program is great.

We also will be at Buddy Dive. Hope to see you there.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack R (BonaireTalker - Post #11) on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 10:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I heard back from Caren today. She will take my daughter and see how it goes. I thought that was fair.

Dean, do you have kids? Have you stayed there before?

I haven't been there is about 12 years. I have stayed at captain don's a couple of times.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dean Botsford (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #312) on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 10:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We have stayed at Buddy's the last three or four times in Bonaire. Very nice. Prior to that we stayed at Sand Dollar 3 times. Also very nice. Our daughter just turned 11 on the 19th and has been snorkleing in Bonaire since she was 4. She has had nothing but great experiences, first with Valeria (when we were at SD) and now with Caren.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kay Powers (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #796) on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 11:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jack,
Your daughter will just love Caren. She is wonderful. She has an excellent program.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Elizabeth Bennett (BonaireTalker - Post #34) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 4:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Can the nanny drive? Last summer, our kids loved driving around exploring the island. We scouted out flamingoes and trupials. Washington Park would be a great family excursion---don't think we would send our babysitter in there without us. We brought coolers full of water and picnic food. We stopped at the blow hole and "beached" ourselves at Wayaka II. The twins who were three enjoyed seeing the fish swim around their legs while our six- and eight-year-olds snorkeled around and saw plenty. Our kids really loved donkey beach. Build a little, swim a little, look at the fishies a little, wave at passing aircraft. It was such a great success with them, we are going back at the end of the summer.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack R (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 7:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yes, my nanny can drive. My 'nanny' is actually my sister who is 40 and has a great rapport with my 5 year old daughter. She will have to establish rapport with my 15 month old son. She lives in Colorado and we are in South Florida. She has only seen my son a couple of times.

Anyway, she is a non diver but has done some resort courses and we'll give her a break so that she can do another resort course at buddy's.

My kids love animals and nature so an island cruise is definitely a good idea.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Smits (BonaireTalker - Post #57) on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 12:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We just returned from Bonaire.
Our youngest is 4 years old. She never snorkeled before and she loved it. Could not get her out of the water. We went to the beach 2 times per day with her.
Since the water is "warm" your kids won't be cold. And even if they get cold, after 5 minutes in the sun that's long forgotten.
But dont forget that she has to wear a T-shirt when snorkeling. For both of them, be VERY carefully. Always apply a sun-block.
I took her on a snorkeltrip with renee too.
Washington park is nice to go with yr kids. One or two nice sandy beaches (especially Wayaka 2)
They can see iguana's and lots of birds.
But bring a LOT of water. AND go early. The park opens at 08:00.
There's also a nice little museum in the park which yr 5 yr old will like.

BTW going early is what I always did with my kids. An early rise and early to the beach. Back to the house between 11:00 and 12:00 and after 15:00 back to the beach.

In the morning they might see dolphins at Bongo's and in the afternoon at Pink beach.

You can go Kayakking with them in Lac.
Lac is also very easy to swim, but not at the "Kayak" side but at Sorobon.

They will probably like the salt pans and the flamingo's. So take them on a tour there and show them the slave-huts al well.

My kids would like to return tomorrow (and their father too :-))

 


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