How are the shore dives in Curacao compared to Bonaire?
Very similar as far as what you see, similar fish etc. Both islands are on the same reef system. It seemed like there were more big Eels in Curacao - maybe just where we dove. Both islands are macro/small stuff than the bigger pelagics - we saw a few Stingrays but no Sharks either place. I've seen schools of Squid both places and Seahorses on Curacao. They're also on Bonaire.
Is it true that you have to swim out farther in Curacao?
Yes, about 1/2 of the dives we did (15 or so sites - almost all in the west) required a swim out from a protected cove/beach to the reef. Not a big swim but far enough that you do it on the surface to save air.
Are there as many dive sites there?
I don't think so. Curacao.com lists 40, Infobonaire.com lists 63. One big difference is that almost every shoredive on Curacao (at least on the west end) is a short drive out to the main road then back in to the next site. A lot of the divesites on Bonaire, especially south of town run right next to each other. We tried to do 4 per day at both places, on Curacao we only managed that once with a repeat at one site. On Bonaire it was a matter of deciding which four sites we wanted to dive. We're divers not tourists also.
Most of the west dive sites on Curacao have adjacent facilities so you pay a small usage fee to dive there. Most also rent tanks/weights. The one exception we dove was Playa Jeremi, bring everything you'll need there, it's just a beach.
On Bonaire bring everything everywhere except if you're diving the resort reefs.
Can you do many non-diving things on Bonaire compared to Curacao?
Not as many, It's an island of 16,000 vs. and island of 150,000+. Downtown Kralendijk would fit into the shopping district in Willemsted. Curacao has an oil refinery and deepwater container port also. So there's more infrastructure - a dozen casino's instead of one, many more restaurants etc. Curacao can have 3-4 cruise ships in daily so downtown was a traffic jam one afternoon - I think that's typical. One morning a cruise tour dropped 200 snorkelers on top of my friends at Tugboat.
Is one island cheaper than the other?
Maybe Curacao. Condos were slightly less. Food was more reasonable and they have some of the U.S. chains. (McD's, Pizza Hut etc.) Prices in Curacao markets were more reasonable if you plan to cook. On Bonaire there's two warehouse type food stores and Cultimara market (plus one small market north near the rotary) On Curacao there must be at least half a dozen larger supermarkets. None in the west end though.
fwiw, I'll go back to Bonaire someday but probably never to Curacao.
Check some of my other posts in the ABC forum. We were on Curacao last spring and on Bonaire in late 2004 so this is mostly current info.
