Heading to Bonaire for my first trip there. I have the usual stuff like clothes, dive gear, passports, etc. What things might I have forgotten that may (or may not) be unique to a trip to Bonaire. Quite honestly, I have been distracted lately and have not done as much research as I normally do so please help me out.

Be sure and pack insect spray. Have seen posts stating mosquitos have been worse this year.
You might try a word search for packing list, I know there has been a good one posted in the past.

Here is a link to the list.

www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/27/Share_Pack_List-272219.xls

Many thanks!

It's customary for people traveling to Bonaire for their first time find room for a can of Folgers regular brew coffee in their luggage and take it to Bonaire. Upon arrival on island and getting settled in the coffee should be delivered to Chat 'N Browse and given to the proprieter, Michael Gaynor. Doing this will bring you good luck, great dives, and fair weather during your stay on island. It's also a great place to rent cell phones or use their internet access.

Chat 'N Browse is located in the little shopping plaze beside the Sand Dollar resort, just past the roundabout north of town.

(Message edited by imdiverdan on April 18, 2008)

Don't forget your camera!

Well, the u/w camera is a long story....it isn't going. I will be bringing my topside camera. I plan to rent an u/w camera for a couple of days.

Daniel,

Thanks for the tip.

Also don't forget cash, humor and patience. Spend the cash, share the humor and practice the patience.

Hi Jim, we like to bring a small soft ice chest. We freeze a few bottles of water and take them with us diving.

We like to bring a good size bag of mixed hard candies, great for after a dive. When we used to do a lot of boat dives we brought the bag each trip out and it was a great ice breaker when we would pass the bag around after a dive. Worthens are most people's favorite. We made some nice friends this way. Even the grouchies will smile as they search the bag for what their favorite ones.

We like to bring a good size bag of mixed hard candies, great for after a dive. When we used to do a lot of boat dives we brought the bag each trip out and it was a great ice breaker when we would pass the bag around after a dive. Worthens are most people's favorite. We made some nice friends this way. Even the grouchies will smile as they search the bag for what their favorites.

sorry I tried to edit and got a double post, sort of

I always bring mesh grocery bags to use at the supermarkets. Not only do they charge you for bags, but it is much more environmentally friendly. I also bring a bunch of empty, cleaned out soda bottles to put in the fridge and freezer so I always have cold water to take with us. I have a bunch of holes drilled in the cap of one soda bottle. Leave a bottle on the dash of the truck during a shore dive, pop on the modified cap and you have a great hot water shower ready when you get done with your shore dive. If you are a Sudafed user, bring those with you also as I do not believe they are sold on the island.

If staying in a condo...bring
Ziplock bags and bars of Ivory soap.
We go to the grocery store for bread, cheese and lunch stuff...the ziplocks keep from attracting ants. The tiny "hotel soap" becomes worthless pretty quickly. I always take some environmentally friendly soap from home. Remember, most of what you put down the drain ends up in the ocean.

So far, here is what we have. Thanks for the tips everyone.

Insect spray
Can of Folgers regular brew coffee
Camera
Cash, humor and patience
Small soft ice chest
Mixed hard candies - Worthens
Mesh grocery bags
Ziplock bags
Bars of Ivory soap

Here is a list that we build & take away from. It came from my old hometown dive store, Diving Enterprises, LTD, in SW Virginia:

Trip Packing List (you might have additional items you wish to add):
Dive and Snorkel Gear:
BCD
Booties
Compass
Light strobes for night diving
Dive Computer
Dive lights
Dive suit, dive skin
Dive Tables / wheel
Dry bag
Fins
Gloves (NOT IN BONAIRE!)
Hood (for warmth)
Knife and/or Sea Snips
Log book
Mask
Mask defog
Mesh back pack bag
Plastic bag, zip lock bags
Regulator, gauges
Save-a-dive kit.
Snorkel
Under water slate
Watch or bottom timer
Weight belt (no weights if flying)
Tickets, ID, Documents, Money:
Certification Cards, DAN card
Credit card(s) and money, Tip money
Driver's Lisense and ID Cards
Passport
Plane Tickets

Toiletries and Related:
Comb, Brush
Decongestants, pain relievers
Deodorant
First aid Kit
Insect repellant
Pepto Bismol, antacids
Prescription medications
Sea Sickness medication
Shampoo, conditioner, hair spray/detangler
Shaving supplies
Suntan lotion, sun block
Swim Ear!
Toothbrush, toothpaste

Clothes:
2-3 swim suits
3-4 pair of shorts
Hat or visor
Hiking shoes if needed
T-shirts, shirts, blouses
Sandals, flip flops
Sunglasses
Tennis shoes
Under clothes
Windbreaker, rain jacket

Misc things:
City maps
Palm Pilot / Organizer
Reading Material
Sewing kit
Small Flashlight

Extras:
Batteries (cameras and lights)
Camera and accessories
Film

non perishable food items in original sealed containers (coffee, tea, sugar). Some islands will confiscate anything not in the original container.
Wet suit odor control

Additional notes:

Many divers will pack their regulator, mask and other dive 'essentials' in carry on in case their luggage does not arrive with them.
After a week of diving in the ocean, your wet suit will be smelly. Purchase some wet suit odor control (it's cheap). Trust us - you'll be happy you did.
Get your gear serviced and make sure it is in good working order.
Check with the airlines for baggage weight limits.
Arrive at the airport early. New security precautions take time.
Consider saving a little room in carry on baggage when coming back to the US. Many airports in the Caribbean and elsewhere offer significant savings and duty free shopping to travelers.
If you have a computer that requires the batteries to be changed at the factory allow plenty of time for this. Don't get caught half way through your trip w/ a dead computer.
Consider packing your bottles of liquids (sun screen, bug repellant, etc) in zip lock bags. If the airline squishes your luggage enough to cause of these containers to leak at least it is contained in the bag.
Talk to your doctor if you have specific questions regarding your health and fitness for a trip and about immunizations and medications.
Bring prescription drugs in their prescription bottles. An odd assortment of drugs, even over the counter drugs could draw attention.

Again, we have built on this in the 20 years of diving we have done.
You have gotten some good info; go and have a wonderful time!!!!

The only other things that I can think of are hard sole booties and a solar shower although a two liter coke bottle works also.

Great list! I would add checking your computer before diving. We sent our computers in for service and new batteries and one came back not completely closed. Nothing worse that spending the money on the service and then having your computer flood on the very first dive. We also had a reg once that was not adjusted quite right. Instead of air, you got a bunch of water with each breath. Our LDS suggests heading to a local pool between servicing and leaving for your trip so you can catch these little problems.

Clear nail polish for the no see-ums .

Garbage bag to take back wet clothes.
Music..if place your staying at has a cd player.
Pen for filling out customs forms on plane.
Names of BT's that are "on island" when you are

Wondering if Michael actually likes Folgers regular brew coffee or is it just tradition? Since Michael is always so helpful, I would be happy to bring him any type of coffee he likes.

Michael likes Folgers regular brew. Otherwise I'd be taking him something else each trip.

We take an extra duffle bag to bring home any recyclables that we use while there. We haven't had any problems so far with customs through SJ or DFW. Take Deep Woods Off (as strong repellant as you can stand). We were on island in March - our 20th visit since 1986 - and I contracted Dengue. A really unpleasant way to spend a few weeks after your vacation!

Donna

Good, sturdy shoes (like Tevas) too for any shore/park exploration; the shore can be very rough for flip-flops!