Hi!

My boyfriend and I are arriving to Bonaire next week for a very first time. We are going to take the Padi diving course, and I´m very exited about it. We have never done diving before, so tell me, should I be worried about sharks or accidents or anything? More questions considering Bonaire: What is the currency? Does the local people speak english? Should I take mosquito repellent with me?

Thanks a lot, BT has been very helpful!

Heidi from Finland

Hey Heidi...

Well:

Don't worry about sharks.
You are taking the course, so follow the leader and don't worry about accidents (Diving is quite safe, provided to do as you are trained to)

There should not be many mosquitos in this season, AND repellent is available locally (and you support their business a little :-)

English is as common as Finnish in Finland, Currency is NAF (local guilder) or US $, which is accepted everywhere.

Anything else? :-)

HAVE FUN (we need to wait until May....:-(

I would take some insect repellant with you, my worst bites have been at the airport! I give myself a quick spray before leaving the plane

Julia,

Good suggestion! I didn't think about that one!
Was I right in assuming that the mosquito count should be low round this time of year? (As said: We are flying in in May, so.....)

Bonaire has been unusually rainy and as a result mosquitos have been reported by many to be worse than usual.

Hi Heidi,
Lucky you to be going to Bonaire - my husband is in Finland (Oulu) on business this week, and sent back some photos. It sure looks cold!

I agree with what's been said. It won't hurt to bring mosquito spray with you, but if there are more mosquitos than you bargained for and you run out, you can find more at the local stores. They take US$ and NAF (Netherland Antilles Florins I think it stands for).

The diving in Bonaire is a breeze - it's like diving in a giant pool with gorgeous tropical fish all around you.

You don't mention where you'll be staying, but from everything I've heard and experienced first hand, you can't go wrong with any instructor on Bonaire - they're all first-rate. They'll be patient and helpful, and you'll come out of the course feeling good about diving and yourself.

Hei!

Kirjoitan tassa tyokaverin puolesta, han pyysi minua kirjoittamaan suomeksi

Alueella ei ole isoja kaloja ja henkilokunta alueella on erittain ammattitaitoista

Paikalliset ihmiset puhuvat hyvin englantia ja saksaa, joten tulet varmasti hyvin toimeen!

Paikka on varmasti yksi parhaista maailmassa, sukellusoppaat ammattitaitoisia!

Ja ota paljon hyttysmyrkkya, sita tarvii!

I hope he didn't say anything nasty!

Hi Geoffrey!

Moi Heidi ja Geoffrey, and Huge Greetings to all of BT.

Couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw someone writing in Finnish here at BT. o_O
Felt like sending my first post as well.

Here’s another Finn anxious to get to Bonaire. I have just a few more days than Heidi to wait to get there.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you folks here at BT for all the help and information you’ve provided me (unknowingly) for planning and arranging my vacation. As for probably countless others, this site with infobonaire has been an incredible resource for me. I’ve found tips - or comforting reassurance at the least - with almost every detail of my forthcoming holiday.

Ready for the Finnish invasion?
Snowy Regards,
Timo