We've just begun exploring the possibility of visiting Bonaire this summer. We are both certified divers and have heard nothing but good things about the diving in Bonaire. The problem is that we're looking for a vacation with diving as opposed to a diving vacation. I haven't read about anything except the diving. Is there anything else to do?
It sounds like a wonderful place in and under the water, but I've heard nothing about beach life nor have I heard anything about night life.
Am I looking at the wrong place if I don't want to spend ALL of my waking hours underwater?
I'd appreciate some honest advise here.
Thanks much.
JL

Holy smoke..SOOO much to do..Hike, kayak, dance, eat, snorkel, dive off a cliff (I did), windsurf, fishing, bird watch, hike..oh boy..u r in for a treat..I cannot say ENOUGH..email me for the scoop or read any of the trip reports..

Annie
Cape Cod

For me, Bonaire is a dive destination. And there is nothing wrong with that. You can find other things to do if you really try, but diving is the primary activity. If I were looking to go somewhere to "vacation with diving" as you say, I don't think Bonaire would be my choice. Night life is pretty non-existent. Shopping is pretty limited. It is a nice, small, laid back place. There just isn't a whole lot to do other than dive. Again, there is nothing wrong with that, you just have to be wanting a dive vacation.

Oh, and to be perfectly honest, the beaches a few and far between and are not very nice.

Greg,. it is a matter of how you perceive Bonaire. Less than 50% of arrivals are divers! Annie is right...so much to do and if you are a diver,then you will certainly will not be bored during your surface intervals with the activities she has outlined.

JL specifically asked about beaches and nightlife. I don't think anyone can make a valid argument that Bonaire has much to offer in these areas.

Hi JL,
I'll add to Annie's list! My experience is that there is a lot more to Bonaire than just diving.

Take the water taxi to Klien Bonaire and spend 1/2 day on the secluded beach, visit Seru Largo at night for a great view of the lights on Bonaire on the West coast and tons of stars on the East coast, kayak in the mangroves at Lac Bay and "discover" a secret hidden "lake." Attend the local Sunday music jam at Lac Cai. Go the the Jazz concert at Kon Tiki (once per month), snorkel the mangroves at Lac Bay and see tons of baby fish! Attend some of the excellent dive slide shows, stop by some of the hotel "happy hours" and get to know some locals, drive other tourists away by singing karaoke at Karl's 'till the early morning hours, take a evening cruise on Oscarina or Samur, take a "last day" cruise on Woodwind...snorkel/beach/sail cruise. Go deep sea fishing, or wade around and Bone fish. Rent a motorcycle or ATV and tour Bonaire...the dirt roads in Karpata have wonderful views. Visit Rincon during the Market Day for great local food and art/craft items. Rent a boat and spend a day moving from mooring to mooring (just be polite to the dive operators). Rent a Sailfish or Hobie, go parasailing!

Okay...I could go on..but I probably should try to make some $$ today...back to work.

Bonaire is not for everyone...but as Mike said over 50% of the people who visit Bonaire...and return year after year...don't dive!

Hope you enjoy your trip.

Scott

JL -

I know that I am going to taken to task for my previous comments, but I am trying to give you an honest opinion. Many of the people who visit this board think Bonaire is the greatest place on earth, and do not want to hear anyone say any different. I do like the place. I am going for the second time this year in a couple of months. But I am going for the diving. If I didn't want to go on a dive trip, I would go somewhere else. I would be bored silly otherwise. From what you asked about in your message, I do not think Bonaire is the place for you to go.

greg - thank you for speaking up, and having the courage of your convictions.

Greg,

Many of us who visit this board do think Bonaire is a great place, as you do. I have not seen anyone 'taken to task' recently for simply expressing an opinion about Bonaire that is not wild praise. What I object to is constant repetition of sour complaints, and the 'I know that I am going to taken to task for my previous comments' comments.

The former are unnecessary--some of us have been going to Bonaire for 20 or more years and/or have family living there and know the problems better than recent visitors. Objecting to repetition isn't trying to cover up the problems, just to seeing the same thing so often.

The latter is a form of hyperbole used many places to suppress contrary opinion. Here it sometimes seems to be used for that purpose. It would be much more friendly to wait until you are shot at before shooting back. Defense of Bonaire is not a crime, either.

It is easier to say what Bonaire is and let the potential visitor decide whether or not those activities sound good to them. Since we don't know what that person may mean by nightlife, we can only respond with what we know about Bonaire. You're right Bonaire is not hustling and bustling with discos, crowded bars, and music until all hours of the morning. (Although it does happen on certain occasions but not every night. :-)) There is no Hardrock Café. There are nice intimate restaurants where you can view the water and leisurely eat your meal all evening long – no rush. There are friendly bars with nice music and sometimes live bands. There are a couple places with live jazz nights. You can find a game of pool. You can watch the stars.

Some people like groomed beaches with shade palms and frozen drinks on demand. Some want great sand but could care less about swimming - some the reverse. Some want lots of activities - beach volleyball, organized games, sailboats ready to go. Some want quiet, seclusion and to be the only ones there. Some want to beach comb. My opinion: Bonaire beaches tend to be rustic, small, windy, and without much shade if you are not at a resort. You can be alone and easily feel that you are the only person on the island for a time. Several resorts offer on-beach activities, convenient access to a bar, food, beach chairs. Bonaire does not have lots and lots of sandy beaches. It does not have huge expanses of sand. Due to the calmness of the ocean, swimming can be done along most of the west coast (resort side). Lac Bay - Sorobon and Lac Cai being the exception on the east coast with nice sandy beaches, and shallow warm water.

Many people come to Bonaire and never do anything but dive. More surprisingly some people only do boat dives and never leave their resort. They will experience Bonaire in a different but not a bad way - just different.

So although Bonaire might not be a non-diving destination for you, it might be and is for other people with different likes and dislikes. Different strokes for different folks.

Greg, et al,
I do appreciate the discussion. Don't get me wrong, I DO intend to dive as much as possible, but it occurs to me that there are some times when that is not what I'll be doing.
My question had to do with what people do, for example, between an AM and PM dive or during that sometimes long and dark period after the last dive of the day or the day before heading back home. I don't know about you, but I can't dive 16 hours a day. I wondered if I would go stir crazy on the island during the "dry" times.
From what some of the others are saying, I shouldn't have a problem. There seems to be plenty to do (interestingly, nobody mentioned NOTHING as an activity.) I wondered if there were "huge expanses of sand" or if, after the last dive everyone was expected to go to a room and stare at the walls. From what I'm reading, there are enough options that I shouldn't be concerned with what to do in down (as opposed to bottom) time.
Thanks all.

My take on it is that if you expect Bonaire to be like Aruba, Cancun, or even Cozumel after the sun sets you'll be disappointed. Bonaire is not a real party place at night. Those places have their repeat visitors, while Bonaire has its regulars, attracted to Bonaire for other reasons, a number of which have been expressed above.

Jake

Greg....I do consider "Nothing" as an activity! It is good to do "nothing" just to undwind on occasion. Bonaire has a lot to offer and keep you occupied or you can enjoy just doing "nothing" if you choose to do so. It is a wonderful place. You should enjoy it immensely...it is a refreshing place to experience. Have a wonderful trip. CArole

I've already been there. I know what it's about. I'm just don't think it's a place that everyone would like. I've said it before, if I wasn't going to dive, I would go somewhere else.

Sorry, Greg...the response was supposed to be directly to JL....my mistake. Forgive me. Carole

Well, if you are not going to boat dive all the time there is plenty to do when you shore dive. First off there is no one giving you a schedule, it is entirely your own choosing. I don't know if this is a novelty for you or not,I know it certainly made me a better diver. The iguanas, flamingos, donkeys, and birdlife are all different & entertaining. I can happily cruise along looking for a nice site and just enjoying the island views. There is something to be said for picking a nice site and diving it repeatedly the same day. Last summer we did our first night shore dives from the beach instead of a dock, and that was quite the adventure, to surface alone in a shimmering sea in the early evening and let your eyes adjust to find your van on the shore.

I guess I am entirely ready to return now!

Bonaire is a very special place and maybe not for everyone. But if your looking for a place where the people are friendly and you don't have to be afraid to walk almost anyplace alone and there are no beggers trying to sell you anything.If your looking for an ecology minded environment, with the emphesis on natural, if you like feeling like your the only one on the beach, if you consider watching the shooting stars at night from the beach an "activity", if you want to get away from the hussel and bussel of things, and have great diving and snorkeling at your 'front door' then it's the place for you.For myself and other's on this board we truly have found our place in the sun where it is easy to be !

Lorraine and Linda, your descriptions of what Bonaire is makes me want to be there right now!!!! I hope I can make it to December without getting to depressed!!

We had to postpone our trip untill the fall too. I wish we were going in May-June, but at least it's only 5 months away.I am trying not to let that get me down. Getting back on the board brings me back somewhat and keeps me abreast of "What's Happening" I really miss you guys and Bonaire.
Glad to "hear" Glenn's comments again. Such a stablizing voice!

JL, you can hang out and do 'nothing' on the edge of the water at most of the 'resort's. While only a few have beaches, most have an area where you can sit back and relax and watch the water go by and the sun go down. The attached image was taken from one of Divi's 'sitting' piers.

AGRHHHHHHHHHH! Sorry , JT. I forgot that the image is too big. Oh well, you will just have to look at the other threads for the beach cam postings of sunsets.

JL:

Rent a car and tool around. Go through the park, check out the slave huts, hang out by the pool and have a drink, read a book, Bug the dive shop people, look for iguana, go to Karls Bar on the pier, etc. I never complete all the stuff I want to get done when in Bonaire.

IF you sit and stare at the walls, as I have seen people do, I can not help you.

Here are some pictures.

Dave,

Which beach is this?

Ida

Ida,
Not sure when Dave will check back in...so...the top picture looks like Pink Beach to me...no hotels or restrooms there!

The bottom is Lac Bay on the West side...Sorobon is right there (nudist resort) and I believe Lac Bay Resort is just up the road...not on Lac Bay I think.

If you are looking for a hotel with a large beach (many have small beaches), on the west coast where most of the diving is done I believe Plaza Resort and Eden Beach will have the largest beaches...maybe a couple of hundred yards long? They are very different properties with different ammenities.

Scott

Ida:

Scott taged it. My visits here are hit and miss, or hit and run. He was also correct in tht top photo is Pink Beach and Bottom is Lac Bay. Middle was wrong picture. I wish I had one of the actual beach at Lac Bay,. it is pretty nice, and you can even order a drink or a pop. Pink Beach has no facilities and the sand is in patches, but it is still my favorite.

Here is Old Blue (North of town) and a more typical coral rubble type beach at 1000 steps.

Hi
Iam going to Bonaire for the first time in August.
Do you believe it's necessary to rent a car to be able to get to know the island and visit different beaches?I am on a budget of sorts.

It really depends on where you are staying. Some sort of persoanl transsport is a good idea, but not 100% necessary.