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Diving Bonaire: Cozumel vs. Bonaire
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2001-09-01 to 2002-05-23: Cozumel vs. Bonaire
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glenn Fager on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 10:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hello all. I am travelling to Bonaire from the USA for the first time Feb. 22-Mar. 1 (staying at Capt. Don's). For those that have dove both Bonaire and Cozumel, I'm wondering what your impressions are (likes and dislikes) about both islands. I do have the book "Bonaire Diving Made Easy".

The diving freedom Bonaire allows definitely appeals to me and am also looking forward to completing my advanced certification while there.

Thank you for your comments.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 11:14 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glenn,

We own a timeshare on Cozumel (Plaza Las Glorias), but moved to Bonaire about four and half years ago. Haven't been back to Cozumel since about 1996. We did about 10 trips to Cozumel in the 1992-1996 time frame, and discovered it on a Carnival cruise during the late 1980s.

Biggest differences:

- You don't need to ever dive in a group on Bonaire (every dive operator I dove with on Cozumel required us to dive with him and everyone else on the six-pack boat). You can even dive solo on Bonaire if you are experienced enough (self-evaluation).

- Can dive anywhere on Bonaire, at any time, just hop in the water. Not possible on Cozumel (with a few exceptions) because of topology and currents.

- With a dive computer, your dive profile can be lengthy (I average 1 hour per dive), on Bonaire. On Cozumel, heaviest breather in dive group determined dive time.

- Boat dives on Bonaire, if you really want to take one, result in 5-15 minute trip on average, vs. 30+ minutes, maybe more, on Cozumel.

- Bonaire has more fish and fish species than Cozumel, _but_ Cozumel had larger fish on the whole, and also generally better visibility and diversity of underwater topology (swim throughs, some walls, flat areas, jagged areas, etc.)

- Cozumel has a greater variety of dining options, but also therefore a greater chance of a poor meal compared to Bonaire. Also more rowdy cruise ship visitors (younger ones). Our far less numerous cruise ship types tend to be of the hat, white hair, and black socks variety :-) - also more night life in Cozumel by far.

- No pushy street vendors or time share sales people on Bonaire.

I think that covers my impressions :-)

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By De Etta on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 12:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'll second that Jake. We have been to Coz 8 or 9 times over the past few years. Our very first trip was prior to the onslaught of cruise ships. It was a very nice, peaceful place then. We only go now because it is cheap, cheap and cheap with decent diving. 3 or 4 days is about all we can handle. I get tired of fighting off the vendors and those, oh so friendly, timeshare folks. We are now planning our 3rd trip to Bonaire. The diving in Bonaire is very good, but it's actually the diving freedom, 24x7, that brings us back. No schedules, no crowds - above or below, no vendors - no not even 1, great food and great people. For us, it just doesn't get any better than that.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Meryl Virga on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 11:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have never been to Cozumel but would like to add my 2cents...Cozumel is mostly drift dives? am I right...I do not especially like drift dives, you fly by all the good stuff to fast! Also Bonaires water is desalinized and as fresh, safe and tasty as it comes! I don't know of anywhere in Mexico that can boast that...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By sherry baker on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 11:24 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

i have many friends who love the drift diving, but i personally prefer little or no current so i can stop and watch all the little creatures and fish for as long as i wish, or at least until my air supply gets low. so i liked diving on Cozumel and i love diving on Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glenn Fager on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 3:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks folks', I really appreciate your insight. If I may ask a follow-up: Do have have to worry about "Montezuma's Revenge" on Bonaire like you do in Mexico? I believe Meryl mentioned it wasn't a problem in Bonaire but would like some clarification. Thanks again!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glenn Fager on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 3:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Me again. Forgot to ask whether tips on dive boats and tips for hotel staff are standard practice and if so, how much is typical? Also, I'm wondering if there are any restrictions on suntan lotion use during diving (does it have to be biodegradeable?).

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wimberly on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 4:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'v gone to Bonaire, I don't know how many times and have never had a M's revenge problem and I have a 'sensitive' system.
Most resorts add a service charge for the rooms and the diving. But if you want you can add something on for exceptional service.
I have never heard anything about suntan lotion or bug juice restrictions.
I've dove Cozumel and much prefer Bonaire. There is rarely any current to speak of, expecially compared to Cozumel and you can dive shallow if you want. On the boats, they give you a max time for the dive, so if you get good air consumption you can jump off the boat and do your own thing. Diving with the guide is not mandatory, but if there is something special they will show it to you and then you can go off for the rest of the dive. I usually try to get back to the boat about 10 minutes before time's up and then just play around near the boat in the shallows until I don't see anyone else getting out of the water.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mary pequinot on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 9:05 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I've been to both, but have only done a couple of dives after a resort dive in Coz, having been certified in Bonaire early this year. Jake's assessment is accurate. I do like Cozumel, but it's much more touristy and the vendors ARE irritating. Get back off the tourist strips, and it's much less so. Bonaire is wonderful and sleepy, still-yet there are such good choices of restaurants. Cozumel is cheaper.

Montezuma's revenge-in Cozumel, most of the hotels/restaurants use purified water, so that's not a major concern. But you have to brush your teeth with bottled water, and keep your mouth closed in the shower, and never eat from a street vendor. Never really a problem for me-but I bring Imodium whenever I go out of the States, just as a precaution.

Enjoy your trip; there's no way you won't!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 6:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wonder if Bubba and Clem will ever make it to Bonaire.

See: http://www.fdu.com/bubbaandclem/bubbaczmstill.htm

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Sweeney on Saturday, December 15, 2001 - 12:00 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I didn't get the whole bubbaandclem redneck story because that "La Bamba" track drove me off. Jake's description of "the hat, white hair, and black socks variety" cracked me up. It's a cultural thing, I think. Mexicans are loud and brassy with their horn sections, as well as being melancholic, too, at times. I don't know that Bonaire has an identifiable music. Bonaire is better for pure technicolor multifaceted U/W fauna. But Co - ZOOM - el ...How can you not like the dramatic walls and then lobster tacos for dinner? A close third place in my opinion is Belize.

 


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