Hello,
I am not sure where to post my question, I need suggestions for things to do for a non-diver.
I am traveling to Bonaire in July 08 for the first time. My daughter is a diver and this is her second trip I am not a diver, I am thinking about taking the resort course. We are staying at Captain Don's, since I am not a diver and not sure it is something I will be able to do, I need suggestions for other things to do while there.
I plan on snorkeling, what are some other must not miss things to see or do?
I would like to kayak through the mangroves any other suggestions?
I am so excited about my trip!
Thanks for your help,
Robin

hi robin, welcome to BT. good luck with the resort course. hope it works out well for you. our son took one about four years ago and loved it.

let's see...other things to do.
1. relax
2. sightsee. when we have visitors we split the island tour into two or three days. one day we take them around the south end of the island, so they can see the salt works, white slave huts, red slave huts, willemstoren lighthouse, lac bay and windsurfing (grab a bite to eat while you're there), and back thru town to the house. another day we take them through town to the north, along the tourist road past all those dive sites, past bopec, stop at goto mer and watch birds, go into rincon and walk around, go to the national park (if you don't tour the park at least stop at the entrance and see the whale skeleton and the restrooms...the signs on the restrooms alone are worth the stop), head back down the east coast stopping at boca onima and sera largu (you can't beat the view) back into town, grab a bite to eat and back to the house. then relax again.

3. relax

4. try the blowcarts on the east side of the island

5. relax

6. try windsurfing.

7. relax

8. go into town and walk around the old fort and the government buildings. check out the museum at the fort.

9. relax

10. check out the bonaire museum near the catholic church.

11. relax

12. take a ride out to lagoen and spelunk lighthouse.

13. relax.

14. take a cruise on the woodwind.

15. relax again.

16.butterfly sanctuary and mangroves.

17. relax

18. sunday afternoons at lac cai.

19. relax.

ok...that's what we do with our visitors. i'm sure i've missed things. you said you were going to snorkel and i'm sure you'll enjoy that. if you tour the park you'll need a truck and you should plan on most of a day. check out the "bonaire update" leaflet that's available at the airport, hotels, and other places and see what programs are going on at night at different hotels.


that should take care of your vacation. have fun

Robin..Welcome...
And if that's not enough why don't you check this out..Enjoy your trip
http://www.infobonaire.com/otheractivities.html

Thanks for both your posts. The relaxing thing won't be too much of a problem but I am not so much a sit on the beach kinda person. I really like to be doing something, the web site is nice. Have you ever done the horseback riding?
I was wondering if the horses are well behaved and how much it runs.
Love to ride!
Thanks again for your suggestions.

Robin,

My favorite non-dive activity on Bonaire is hiking up to the top of Mt. Branderis (sp?). It's a relatively easy hike if that's your thing, just be sure to take along a large quantity of water and a good camera. It's well worth the view from the top. Plan on it taking several hours to get into the park, get to the top, and get back down.

If you decide to give it a try, one suggestion I would make is to leave a couple large bottles of drinking water partway up in the shade of a tree. That way you don't have to lug it up to the top.

There are a LOT of great things to do even when you're not diving. I'll caution you on snorkeling when it's particularly windy. It can really make for a difficult surface swim back to shore. Please do consider the resort course while at Captain Don's. We've stayed there in the past and they really are a top-shelf operation. You won't regret the diving!

Have fun!!!!

Michael

Robin,

I've done the horseback riding once, and there are others here who will probably chime in as well.

It was fun - we rode through the "outback" over to the ocean, went swimming with the horses, and then rode back. I was with 2 friends who were also horsepeople, and we had a blast. I have quarterhorses, so being on those Paso Fino-types was a bit odd (I felt like there was barely a horse under me! )

One thing: when we were there it was low season and the horses hadn't been out much for about a month. They were all a bit feisty. If you're an experienced rider it shouldn't be too big a deal if that is the case for you though.

I don't really remember how much it cost - I think $30 but don't depend on it.

The horses were all in hackamores (no bits) which I honestly think could have fit their faces better (those are small heads; the hackamores hung down lower than I'd put them on their noses) and the saddles (if I remember correctly, they were all english style) and were a bit tired looking but serviceable.

This was about a year and a half ago, so it's possible things have changed in regards to the state of the tack, but the horses were all obviously well loved and well taken care of.

(Message edited by susanf on January 16, 2008)

Robin, Bonaire Diveshops do not offer a "Resort Course". They offer a Discover SCUBA Course, which is a check out of gear operation, in a pool or shallow sea, then a dive, with a instructor, to the top of the reef(30 to 35fsw). The dive lasts till you are low on air(500psi) with an option of doing a 2nd dive for extra money. Resort Course is when you go through training at the Diveshop and can dive for the lenght of your stay. Nobody does that any longer...

Robin, I think you'll find that "resort course" is just the generic name for an introductory dive experience that provides no certification. Under PADI, the largest of the training agencies, it is called Discover Scuba Diving: http://www.padi.com/padi/en/kd/discoverscubadiving.aspx.

After doing the Discover thing, you can continue to dive with a Divemaster or Instructor on subsequent dives during your vacation. You might even discover you want to get certified for your next trip!

(Message edited by tursiops on January 16, 2008)

Mel, Dicover SCUBA is 1 Dive for $79usd, the 2nd dive is another $20. If you want to do Discover SCUBA the next day, it is a repeat of the first day. If you decide to get certified, the D/S dive will count as your 2nd openwater dive...

Thanks for the information on the discover scuba dives. I am not sure if I can convince myself that I can "breath" underwater which is why I am not taking a course here before I travel. I figure if I can do this dive then I can worry about getting certified at a later time and closer to home.
My daughter has been certified since she was old enough to get certified. She usually goes with her dad but not this year so I am taking her and will give it a try.
Thanks for all the advice and list of things to do. I am sure I will have a fantastic time.
One more question, any suggestions for a LONG layover in San Juan?
We have a terrible layover in San Juan, but the price of the tickets were right.
I think right now we will take a tour of old San Juan, we have an 11 hour layover!
Thanks,
Robin

Robin do any of the shop around you have "Try Scuba"? This is where they explain the concept of scuba diving and then introduce you to the gear in the water and let you try it in a pool setting. My shop in Louisville has this. They charge a small fee for this, but this way you will feel a lot safer or better knowing what you are getting yourself into.

Hi Patrick,
None of the shops around me offer it, if they did I would take it in a heartbeat. All the shops around here offer the full course and a no money back deal.
So if I "freak" out and can't do it then I am out the cost. I figured the cost of the dive at Captain Don's is worth the 60.00 it will cost. I will get into the pool and see how I do, I also think 30 feet is deep enough for me to get a good feel on if I like it or not.
Trust me I wish the shops around me offered the intro to Scuba.

Robin they are missing out on a sure fire way to make a little extra for there shops. My dive shop charges 30 dollars and if you take the full blow course, they put that money on your course. It's a win win for the shop. New students and gear sales if they like it and if they don't only out 30 dollars better then 300 to 400 dollars for sure.

Robin,
Chances are, you will be in the ocean, not the pool at Captain Don's - they have an area between the two docks where they do dive instruction. It's fairly shallow there. This is MUCH better than in a pool - you'll be in the water with all the fish!

I am looking for information from a diver who has experienced Cocos.

What experience is needed and please describe the diving conditions.

Thanks,

Buz

Hi Robin,
I noticed that no one answered your question about what to do with your 11 hour layover.
I did a search and came up with this.
We once had a long layover and had a massage then a long lunch. I was relaxed and all chilled out before I even got to Bonaire.

Check out Cynde's San Juan Travel Tips for more details.

Mare