First off, thank you to everyone who replied to my previous post. I have spent a lot of time searching thru BonaireTalk archives, etc, and I am finding this to be a very useful, rich site w/thoughtful, enthusiastic members.

I have some more questions:

1) Don't know etiquette: Ok to start a new thread, or should I have appended this to my original thread?

2) I'm planning on being in Bonaire Sep 3 - 10. I've decided to come to Bonaire first, and then go to Aruba. My main flight from the States will first land in Aruba, though, and of the 3 airlines I found who fly AUA<->BON (DAE, Insel, Tiara), only DAE is feasible for the AUA->BON leg, and it will be a late evening arrival (>21h00). Is that usually not a problem checking into a hotel this late (aside from the Lizard Inn story told by someone in another thread)?

3)Also, I'm reading mixed reviews about DAE, so I'm thinking about flying insel or tiara on my return flight back to Aruba. Any thoughts on this?

4) I don't own Scuba equipment yet, but may buy equipment @ home from a decent dive shop before trip. Anyone think renting equip in Bon may be a better idea (note: I'm probably buying a full 3mm @ home no matter what, so wetsuit will be taken care of)?

5)Any recommended budget lodgings for singles (I am mid 30s)? I kinda get screwed w/the "based on double occupancy" thing. Some places on my short-but seemingly-growing list: Black Durgon Inn (Any specific Room #s past visitors recommend or not recommend @ BDI? How's their breakfast?), Yachtclub, Happy Holiday Homes.

6)As poster Bas Noij suggested, I'm thinking about getting my PADI AOW cert here. A couple of related questions:
- Do SSI-only places (like BDI) give AOW compatible certification, or is that against some rule or protocol? Would they refer me elsewhere?
- Has anyone ever mixed an AOW (or other training) with a Dive Package?

7)Is the 'xx% Service charge' that hotels charge in lieu of basic tip?

8)Any electricity probs w/using a plugged-in laptop?

Thanks again.

Few answers:

Laptop plugin should not be a problem. All laptop chargers I know accept 100-250 Volt input at 50-60 cycles. Any power outlet on Bonaire falls within these ranges.

Doing AOW on Bonaire is a great idea. I do not see the benefit of mixing it with a dive package (or maybe I do not fully get what you mean by mixing). Basically you have 2 days for the course (5 dives) and the remaining dive days you buy a dive package at the dive operation of your choice.

I'd buy equipment if you like diving but that's just me. Should you want to save the trouble of dragging it all here you could email Bruce Bowker at Carib Inn to see if he can sell you the set you want and at what price. Buy a dive bag at home (I have not seen good dive gear travel bags for sale here) and bring it in empty (or filled with coffee for Michael Gaynor or something) and take the gear back home with you.

I think SSI only places like BDI can so SSI advanced (if that's what it is called) on top of PADI open water. It will however mean you get an SSI advanced card....not a PADI one. If you want PADI you need to find a PADI dive school (of which there are many)

Good luck!

Bas.

Hi Paul,
Welcome to BT.
Just a thought on equipment; Renting after you get there will be an opportunity to see if you like the brand(s)the shop there has. If your local dive shop will let you try out their brands is another way to compare.
I own all my gear and most of it is obsolete or at least it is not made anymore.
I would recommend at least buying your own mask and snorkel.
For bonaire diving (shore), boots and open heel fins are IMHO a good choice.
That being said, my first three trips were with full foot fins and sandals. Wear the sandals in the water, strap them to your BCD and put on fins.
Going with your own wet suit is a good idea also.
Sorry I don't have answers for your other questions.
Skip

Hi Paul - let's see if I can add any value - probably not but we'll see

Don't know etiquette: Ok to start a new thread, or should I have appended this to my original thread? - Either way BUT if your thread is pretty far down on the list I would certainly start a new thread PLUS since you asking a lot of additional questions then it is probably better to start the new thread.

2) I'm planning on being in Bonaire Sep 3 - 10. I've decided to come to Bonaire first, and then go to Aruba. My main flight from the States will first land in Aruba, though, and of the 3 airlines I found who fly AUA<->BON (DAE, Insel, Tiara), only DAE is feasible for the AUA->BON leg, and it will be a late evening arrival (>21h00). Is that usually not a problem checking into a hotel this late (aside from the Lizard Inn story told by someone in another thread)?

3)Also, I'm reading mixed reviews about DAE, so I'm thinking about flying insel or tiara on my return flight back to Aruba. Any thoughts on this? - I flew to Aruba two years ago, spent a few days there then on to Bon via DAE and then back via Aruba - again with a few days layover. It wasn't TOO much of a problem but it could have been easier. I have had no experience with Tiara or Insel so I can't really comment. It may all be a matter of layover time.


4) I don't own Scuba equipment yet, but may buy equipment @ home from a decent dive shop before trip. Anyone think renting equip in Bon may be a better idea (note: I'm probably buying a full 3mm @ home no matter what, so wetsuit will be taken care of)? - If you are talking about BC and reg you can rent on Bonaire. I would consider asking about equipment types and you can always see what Bruce has at Carib Inn. I have purchased a number of items from him over the years. Here's your pros and cons of renting Bonaire AND of buying Bonaire.

Rent Pro Bonaire - you aren't lugging heavy gear! Especially with weight limits the way they are now and extra costs etc. There also is a lot of gear available.

Con - if you have an unusual frame or size it might be hard to get stuff you like. It also may not be what you are familiar with depending upon what you rent at home.

Pro Buying in Bonaire - you can get a pretty good deal and depending upon what state you are from the sales tax may even be a factor (we pay almost 10% sales tax).

Con - you need to know that your LDS can service what you have purchased.

5)Any recommended budget lodgings for singles (I am mid 30s)? I kinda get screwed w/the "based on double occupancy" thing. Some places on my short-but seemingly-growing list: Black Durgon Inn (Any specific Room #s past visitors recommend or not recommend @ BDI? How's their breakfast?), Yachtclub, Happy Holiday Homes. - can't really answer but I would also look at WannaDive Hut and Coco Palm Garden



6)As poster Bas Noij suggested, I'm thinking about getting my PADI AOW cert here. A couple of related questions:
- Do SSI-only places (like BDI) give AOW compatible certification, or is that against some rule or protocol? Would they refer me elsewhere? It is NOT against the rules to have certifications from different agencies. I have ones from PADI, SSI and TDI (shh - don't tell anyone about those from the other agencies since I'm a PADI instructor - LOL)
- Has anyone ever mixed an AOW (or other training) with a Dive Package? - not necessary

7)Is the 'xx% Service charge' that hotels charge in lieu of basic tip? No - the xx% Service charge is more of a tax charge not a tip charge.

8)Any electricity probs w/using a plugged-in laptop? no probs though I think some folks would tell you not to keep them plugged in 24/7.

Hi Paul -
Regarding renting vs. buying equipment, we rented equipment on our first trip to Fiji and it was so scary (due to "deferred maintenance") that we said Never Again and bought equipment as soon as we got home.

You'll probably have better luck with rentals in Bonaire than Fiji (though I would expect quality of rentals may vary from shop to shop.) We consider having our own gear to be safer because we know it has been maintained and also because you can get very comfortable with using the same gear all the time. (Kind of like driving a car you are used to.)

When you do get ready to buy, read the reviews online, ask other divers, and remember to consider weight of items since it's become such an issue for air travel. For example, we have Apollo Bio-Fins. They're great fins, but each pair weighs 7 lbs. In hindsight we probably would have gotten (and will get) different fins. There is a great gear review forum on Scubaboard.com that you might find interesting.

You could also start a thread here asking people to tell you what gear they love or gear they wish they'd never bought to give you some ideas.

Good luck and have fun in Bonaire!

Cindy

Hi, I hear you on the whole double occupancy thing - sucks to travel solo

Check out Carib Inn - their price is per room if I remember correctly (and reasonable).

The suggestion to check out WannaDive Hut is also valid... I've never stayed there, but I've read good reviews (it's "basic" but clean). They also have a fantastic and fun dive shop.

I've rented gear on Bonaire (on my first trip) and found it to be fine, but as others said... if you like diving, you may just want to buy your own. You will travel lighter by renting

Good luck, and have fun!

I would recommend BDI. It is on the water and the house reef is extremely nice. Al seems to be a very patient and thorough instructor even though he is SSI (You know I must be PADI). I dove with one of his newly certified students who had good things to say about the entire training process. Room prices for this oceanfront location are quite reasonable and breakfast is included. Breakfast changes daily and is usually eggs or french toast or continental and includes fresh fruit, coffee, and juice daily. I stayed in Room 9, I would definitely try to get it or one of the other ocean facing rooms when making a reservation but the other rooms just require going around one corner to get to the steps that lead down to the dock.

Hey...

First allow me to say that the breakfast at The Black Durgon is first rate...Doris is a whiz and makes something different each day...If you stay at the Black Durgon or Diver's Paradise you will have access to the small wall...It is a fantastic dive that you could do multiple times...

Paul, our experience with the rental equipment from Bonaire Dive and Adventure was a mixed one. We rented BCs, regulators, and gauges from them.

The BCs were in bad shape though a couple of days later we saw some newer ones hanging in the rental shop. I guess we arrived on a day with low rental inventory.

The gauges on the regulators were quite basic and not well maintained.

Regulators did the trick but, much like most rental equipment, looked a bit neglected.

We are privileged to be friends with a great dive master and instructor here in Chicago and we get to use his equipment when we go diving locally. So we never thought about buying our own stuff.

Until we were introduced to Bonaire diving and had our first trip there a few weeks ago. Bonaire is a unique diving destination and have already scheduled our next trip. This time we'll fly there with our own equipment.