Hello all! We have finally firmed up our accommodations for Christmas time - Dec 19th to Jan 7th; we'll be staying at Kas Di Ambiente, which apparently is in Belnem. We're all highly excited about our first visit to Bonaire!

So my question is this: Should we pre-book our diving\air packages, and if so, with whom?

I have heard good reports of just about all the operators, so I guess convenience, personal preference and price are what's left. We intend to shore dive and do some boat diving, so is it worth doing the drive-through air thing? (sounds really convenient!) We are a family of four, our boys are 14 and 12 and we have each done about 30 dives so still consider ourselves new ( but addicted) to this sport.

We also thought it would be a good idea to try and take an experienced diver from one of the dive operators with us as a "trainer" on our first shore dive (at least) as this is a new experience for us and I'm sure there are things we should learn or need to be aware of.

Any recommendations? I'm sure you all have favourites! All advice welcome. Thanks!
Jill

Jill,

You guys really know how to do the Holidays right !!!
My wife and I going to Bonaire for the first time in 2 and a half weeks.
We booked a package of room/car/diving through the Plaza's agent, Travel Marketing Services, in Canton, MA.
We Booked our airfare directly from JAL.
There are dozens of reviews of places, and just about all sound good.
Shop around to see who has rates you like with the accomodations you want.
You might have a little trouble finding any deals in high season, but you never know.
A dive guide is a great idea, and will probably make your diving experience even better.

Have a Great Trip

John

Jill,

The two closest dive shop operators to where you'll be in Belnem are Toucan Divers (at BelMar - http://www.toucandiving.com and http://www.belmar-bonaire.com) and Photo Tours Divers at the Caribbean Court (http://www.bonphototours.com). I'm not sure if Toucan will rent you a dive master for a shore dive. Photo Tours will do that though.

Jake

Jill,

I just got back from my 3rd trip to Bonaire, and have been diving with Photo Tours the whole time. I would suggest using them, for a number of reasons. A) They are very friendly and the boats don't carry more than 10 divers. This is key in my book as I like to see the critters not see them swimming away from other fins! B) Ronald runs the one at Carribean Court and he is very helpful, and you have very easy access to tanks 24hours. C)BAS...he is by far the most knowlegable diver I have had the pleasure of diving with. He knows the Island like nobody's business. Ask him to take the 4 of you on the "
Turtle safari". We did and saw 6 turtles along with one of my best guided shore diving experiences on the island. Lastly D) Chris and Jessie. Chris runs the boat and Jessie is his wife and resident Marine Biologist (both American). If you look at any of the shore diving threads, you will find out she wrote (literaly) the book on shore diving Bonaire. Doing boat dives with them will add to your experience in finding critters that many people never see when they come to Bonaire for the first or return time. I can't say enough about them as Photo Tours is the reason we return every year to Bonaire.

My two, slightly biased, cents

Hi Jill,

How fortunate you are to share diving with your entire family. Treasure the moments.

One other thing in favor of Photo Tours is their neat shore diving operation called the Pink Dive Bus. Info is available at their website.

Many of the shore sites are super easy for beginners. I'd also humbly suggest a few boat dives if your budget permits, to check out some of the reefs around Klein Bonaire accessable only by boat. Don't ignore the terrific "house" reefs at the major resorts like the Divi, Sand Dollar, Buddy Dive (where I'm staying starting tomorrow) Capt Dons (small fee charged) and others. Good gear security while diving great reefs, fantastic facilities for access and last minute gear needs PLUS a bar/restaurant right there for your surface interval snacking pleasure. Just because you are not staying there doesn't mean you can't dive there. And any small fees charged are really worth the value added conveniences and services.

You are going to LOVE Bonaire. Dive Safely. Oh and if you can bring or rent an underwater camera.

Jill , glad you found a place, sounds terrific!
As for diving with a guild, we went along with a the divemaster that is an opion on the Divi dive boats when we were new diver's. They always know where the critter's are hidding too ! And gave us confidence to go it alone later. I'm sure the other dive operator's on the island have the same thing. I think you can go on private tours too. I think it's on the board somewhere. Also some of the DM's might take you privately too. Ask, someone will know. Have a great time wherever, I know you will!!

Many thanks, all of you, once again! We have really appreciated the amazing information available on this site, and appreciate the time it takes everyone to share their knowledge. It's truly appreciated. Hopefully we will be able to join in with the "giving" side of things after our return, and share our new found knowledge with others.
Can hardly wait till Dec 19th!
Jill
PS To you lucky people who live in paradise ... anything we can bring from Toronto for you?

I think Linda's running low on Brador, if you have the luggage space ;-)

Jake