Greetings worldwide Bonaire afficionados...

Some of us here on the island have been chatting and speculating recently about WHAT ONE THING MOST DRAWS YOU BACK TO BONAIRE? Bonaire Talk is obviously a great audience of people who have a special affinity with Bonaire, so please tell me...What do you miss most when you are away? Those who care to offer an opinion, please post it here.

If you just can't limit yourself to one thing... up to three is fine, but please give them to me in rank order of importance to you.

Many thanks for your thoughts and ideas...

The ONE things that brings us back: the easy relaxed diving into clear warm fish & coral filled seas with relatively shallow reefs from many shore and close boat dive sites with friendly people and comfortable accomodations with a really great selection of dining opportunities and topside attractions/activities in a warm comfortable climate. There are lots of other reasons just too numerous to mention.
Sorry, but there is not really just ONE thing that brings us back every year, its the entire experience.
Chet

Whatsamatter... you don't like our flamingos, Chet? You are setting a bad example with your idea of "one thing"... but a good example by offering an opinion. So we'll let it slide this time. By the way is "easy relaxed diving" actually two things ... both "easy diving" and "relaxed diving"... or is it one thing where the dive has to be both easy AND relaxed? This is gonna be a lot harder than I thought. J

I would have to say it's the goats. I've never been anywhere else where I've seen a heard of goats running down the middle of the street.



Just kidding, of course.

For us the number one thing is the beautiful diving. I've never been anywhere where the diving is so easy AND beautiful. I suffer from sea sickness so the ability to dive from shore and not feel like I'm going to feed the fish constantly (even during my dives)is a huge plus!

Number two is that it's an island full of divers. It's really cool to share a common interest with almost everyone you run into. People there "get it".

Number three is it's just a cool island.

I can't wait to get back there.

78 days and counting!

I would have to say it's the goats. I've never been anywhere else where I've seen a heard of goats running down the middle of the street.



Just kidding!

For us the number one thing is the beautiful diving. I've never been anywhere where the diving is so easy AND beautiful. I suffer from sea sickness so the ability to dive from shore and not feel like I'm going to feed the fish constantly (even during my dives)is a huge plus!Another plus is the "Diving Freedom"! We can dive where we want, when we want, for as long as we have air in our tanks. What could be better than all of that???

Number two is that it's an island full of divers. It's really cool to share a common interest with almost everyone you run into. People there "get it".


I can't wait to get back there.

78 days and counting!

For Hugh, it's the diving freedom Bonaire offers, and I think that all divers can relate to that..

For me, I've always favored small, intimate islands, and this one is easy to get to!! (Well, for us anyway)

Tom, et al,

I moved this topic over here to Everything Else Bonaire since it was not a WebCams-related topic.

Jake

The overall superb diving and snorkeling conditions, along with the wonderful people we've encountered. We've wanted an " island retreat " for a long time, and Bonaire provides the relaxed atmosphere and sensibility we prefer. I appreciate being able to chat with BTers, and meeting some of them when in residence. Most visitors are water sports enthusiasts, rather than the usual tourist mix - that appeals to us as well. I also hope to have a benevolent encounter with that alien(s) that live near the reefcam - maybe they'll give me a short ride on their spacecraft.
Clownfish.

1. Windsurfing. It is what brought us to Bonaire.
2. Meeting all our old and new friends. We plan vacations in order to be on-island at the same time with people from all over the country (USA) that we met while on Bonaire, and also enjoy all the new friends we have made that live on Bonaire.
3. Snorkeling. It is so great to go windsurfing and then jump in for an afternoon with the underwater creatures. After 8 years coming to Bonaire we still see something new each year.

The snorkeling, everywhere and anywhere just walk in and see fish. The beach diving. It's less expensive than most places and you don't have to pay a lot to do boat dives. Most of all the beauty of the water from the high outlook at 1000 steps. The memory of that sight brings tears to my eyes. The water must have a 1000 shades of blue.
Deana
P.S. Also those wonderful little buns at the market the ones with raisins that we have for breakfast. Then we take a bunch home to share with family and friends.

The waters of Bonaire and all it's inhabitants are what drew me there and the people of Bonaire are what keeps me coming back!!!I have only been to Bonaire four times in three years and I have a wonderful group of friends who live there and each time I go that cirlce of friends grows larger. And thanks to BT The circle of friends even grows larger and lasts all year long! I have never been as comfortable on any other island. Also the food is incredible and the number of restaurant choices for such a small island is antoher great plus. By the way all the fish know me by name, too!!

Has to be the ease of diving for me!!! Or is it the sunsets? Flamingos?, people?, water clarity? Donkeys? Lizards? Goats? Tom! I don't think it can be one thing....

Tom,
Tom,
#1) It's the PEOPLE!! and the way they make you feel. I've been to other Carribean Islands. All have nice climates, clear water and everywhere that I've been the beaches were nicer than Bonaire's. However when it comes to people NOTHING comes close. I'm talking about the locals, emigres, and the type of tourist that is attracted there. Year after year I come back with more new friends. To the best of my knowledge have only made one probable enemy. Never found anyone who could help that was unwilling to do so. Just look at this board, mostly real names, no flames, and consideration for the other users.

#2 Diving.

#3 Food.

Bonaire, in my opinion, has an extremely faithful 'cult' type following - something similar to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", Monty Python, and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. People who know the island love the island while those who have never heard of it only stare blankly at you until you say something like "It's near Aruba". That's number one on my list of reasons for going back.

And because there are so many reasons to go, here are my next two: Dinner at Richard's and the freedom to drive around until I find a deserted little strip of shore with a small yellow rock that simply states "Angel City".

71 days and counting...

Michael

michael, it is so true, most people have never heard of bonaire and when you say "near aruba" they still really dont know but since they have heard of aruba before, they nod yes.

i don't miss the extra shaving i have to do to insure my dive mask remains sealed...



in all other aspects...bonaire is pretty laided back!!! non-opinionated...non-judgemental...kinda like a good friend?

I miss the serenity and beauty of the island and its waters. We'll be back for our second visit beginning August 24th. This is also our second honeymoon and there isn't another place we wanted to visit again more than Bonaire.

Deana, If I can post these it may help!

Tom,
NO SNOW! I know that is YOUR #1 reason Tom!

Easy great diving.
A distinctly pleasing non-US culture.
Enough stuff to do without too much to do.

Soon to be NO SNOW...475 days...check out our days 'till we move to Bonaire counter www.ocean-adventures.org/move.htm

Scott

I think I hate you, Scott.

You better hate Tom then too...I told this guy to forget Cayman and move to Bonaire!

Scott

OOOOooooo! Hate is such an ugly word, and I try to never use it, however, in this case, I'm with you Cecil!!!!

My list:

1) Sorobon Beach Resort

2) Tropical paradise, but not tropical rain forest humidity.

3) Wonderful feeling and friendly laid back people.

4) Donkeys and Flamingos

5) Determined long-range plan to live in Bonaire.


Bill

Diving Freedom -
You can get warm water in several places but you can't get the variety of dive sites and the opportunity to dive them, when and how you want.

2 - the people! Both those we met 20+ years ago and those new people we meet on each visit. Bonaire people have helped us many times in all of our trips.

Tom,

I've only been to Bonaire once, a year and a half ago, and I knew then that THIS was where I wanted to live!!! We(my fiancee & I)are going back in just 12 days for a two-week stay!!! Going to be looking for business opportunity so we can make Bonaire HOME for good!!! Reasons: #1 Sunsets, crystal clear water, flamingos, sunsets #2 Relaxed, friendly people with MANNERS!!! #3 Tropical paradise without the "rat race" atmosphere of other tourist areas we've been to!!! #4 Scott, my fiancee' said I should add this for him (he'd make it #1, but since I don't dive yet it's #4)...DIVING!!!! DIVING!!!! DIVING!!!!

Renee, it is funny to see the goats in the street. In Antigua it was a common occurrence. Also in Ireland traffic stops dead for sheep and cattle.

Ok, I hate to be the pessimist but I must lend another view point. Life in an island is very different when you live there day in and day out. While as a tourist in Antigua, I enjoyed the sunsets, the music and culture, the friendly people..etc..Living there was entirely different. I saw the dark side. It was a shock to my reality. Granted Antigua is more of a Third World emerging nation vs Bonaire with it's Dutch govenment and modern infrastructure. I MUCH prefer Bonaire. Too many reasons to list. I am going to give it a go for 6 weeks..then again in Dec. I am will get a feel for the entire package..and see if I still feel as calm and at peace as a resident vs tourist. Bonaire is magical and serene. I am really connected and centered there.

Annie