Hi,

Hoping someone can help guide me on the situation in Bonaire. From my understanding, it seems like everyone comes with their own equipment and dives from shore on their own. I am traveling alone and will have no equipment. Are there dive shops that cater to people like me? A place to find dive buddies? Also, any cheap accomodations/hostels? Spending 5 weeks in S. America and planning on coming to Bonaire for about 5 days ~Feb. 15

Christy, Bonaire is a desert Island, shaped like a halfmoon. The hollow of the Island faces the west, with the normal wind blowing from east to west. There are many dive sited in that hollow with little to no curent. The diving is very easy! All of the diveshops have rental gear. The people on this board come to the Island mainly to dive, and most own thier own gear. You won't have any problems at all finding dive buddies! Just ask ,and you will recieve...

I hope someone will chime in about hotel room rates... Ron

Hi Christy & welcome to BT!! You're in for a treat.
See this link for affordable accommodations on the island.
http://www.infobonaire.com/hotelbudget.html

Additionally any of the dive ops will be able to rent you a complete set of scuba equipment.
Some of the best places to meet folks outside of the local watering hole is on a dive boat.

Christy, the only gear that you need to own is your mask and a pair of hard-sole booties. Everything else is available for rent at the island. Have a great time on the island.

The diveshop at Bonaire Oceanfront Apartments(Buddy Dive) rents hard sole boots, masks, and open heal fins as well... Ron