First Bonaire trip report 3/22 - 3/29

[billmosel]

Well folks you were all correct!!!!!!!!!! Bonaire has more to offer then any other place in the Caribbean atleast where we have been.


We took the red eye from Newark and got in at 4:30am and to hotel at 5:45. (got a little lost trying to find it!)

Stayed at Den Laman and was great. Only 2 things that could need improving is 1. when the lock up the nitrox 4:30 and no place to relax on the shore after a day of diving. Had a studio and was clean and comfortable.

Started out with a dive briefing that lasted about 1 hour but was very helpful for a person who is new to Bonaire.

Got groceries ate lunch and did our first dive on Bari Reef. Beautiful reef!!! Spotted morays, 1 free swimming, scorpion, groupers, puffers, porcipine, spade, angels, butterflies and this was just the begining. The coral, hard and soft were beautiful mostly at 30' and lower. Did mostly south dives as I was told Omar did not do as much damage in the southern areas which from what I saw is true. The coral up north was not as aboundant as the southern sites but has intresting entries ie:1000 steps - oil slick leap. Let me try and put down what I saw during the week. Eagle rays, Southern sting rays, turtles, sea snakes, spotted and golden morays, sgt. majors, flounder, jaw fish, tarpon, drum, garden eels and VERY LARGE LOBSTERS. I know I'm missing naming more but I suspect you get the jist of the amount of fish there is in Bonaire.

We went with as many of the choices that you all gave me of where to have dinner. "It rains fishes, fantastic. Patagonia was some of the best beef I ever had anywhere in the islands, Lobster night at Den Laman just to name a few of the places.

Truck rental from Total and was a very good experince. Was in and out in no time and the truck was just fine. It did not take long to learn how to navigate around the island.

The dive freedom is what really seperates Bonaire from any other. Dive when you want and where you want. It is nice being able to hone on your own navigation skills and not have to follow a DM all the time. This is what we were trained for.

I want to thank you all once again for all the great recomendations that I got from this forum.

Here are a couple of my pics. Enjoy.

[herman]

You do know how to torture a guy don't you.....how &*%$!!! long is it till July.
The trick to nitrox at DL is to get some tanks and put them in the lockers and keep your personal stash there. There is a small beach....or at least there was last year...on the SD side of the dock but I am happy with a beer on the patio of the room.

[1_T_Submariner]

Sounds like a great trip. I need to go back!!

[scubamickey]

We're going in June for the first time. I made the arrangements before I started reading about all the crime-specifically the thieves that rob stuff out of your truck. How were things when you were there? I know all about rolling down the windows and not keeping anything in the truck. I just think it's absurd.

Also, how many Nitrox tanks can you check out at once? Can I take enough in the morning for all day? Say 5 tanks per person? Or will I have to come back midday to restock?

I rented a one bedroom ocean view for 2 weeks. I'm really looking forward to just relaxing.

[reefdiva]

We're going in June for the first time. I made the arrangements before I started reading about all the crime-specifically the thieves that rob stuff out of your truck. How were things when you were there? I know all about rolling down the windows and not keeping anything in the truck. I just think it's absurd.

Scubamickey ... I have been going to Bonaire for 10 years and by following the "windows down, nothing of value in the truck" have never had a problem. Other than dive gear, water and a snack the only thing that gets left in the truck are old t-shirts, cheap flipflops and cheap sunglasses. Keys and a few guilders go in a BC pocket. Easy to do and not really absurd ... I would not leave valuables in an unlocked vehicle here at home and to lock the truck at a dive site in Bonaire sends a signal that there is something of value. Relax and enjoy Bonaire!

[herman]

Scubamickey ... I have been going to Bonaire for 10 years and by following the "windows down, nothing of value in the truck" have never had a problem. Other than dive gear, water and a snack the only thing that gets left in the truck are old t-shirts, cheap flipflops and cheap sunglasses. Keys and a few guilders go in a BC pocket. Easy to do and not really absurd ... I would not leave valuables in an unlocked vehicle here at home and to lock the truck at a dive site in Bonaire sends a signal that there is something of value. Relax and enjoy Bonaire!

Amen. I have been to Bonaire at least once a year since 99 and NEVER had any problems at all, zero, nada, none and neither have any of the folks I have been with. Problems do happen but overall, the problem gets blown way out of proportion and like it or not, a lot of the problems that do occur can be traced to dumb things the victim did.
Relax, take reasonable precautions and enjoy the island.

[ygthad]

Great report and Pictures.. Thanks

[DiveMaven]

As to how many tanks you can take, nobody is checking them out to you, so you can pretty much take what you want. However, the island is so small that you would have no need to take 5 tanks per person. It's not a hassle at all to do 2-3 dives, return to the dive op, switch tanks, and go back out to dive more. From Den Laman, it's no more than a 10-15 minute drive to most of the sites on the island.

We also followed the "rules" and left our truck windows open with nothing of value in the truck, and had ZERO problems during our 2 week stay last week. Personally, I'm pleased that we were told about this practice prior to our visit, rather than learning the hard way.

Billmosel, I see you rented with Total...where are they located now? Across from the airport, or still at the Plaza?

[billmosel]

We're going in June for the first time. I made the arrangements before I started reading about all the crime-specifically the thieves that rob stuff out of your truck. How were things when you were there? I know all about rolling down the windows and not keeping anything in the truck. I just think it's absurd.

Also, how many Nitrox tanks can you check out at once? Can I take enough in the morning for all day? Say 5 tanks per person? Or will I have to come back midday to restock?

I rented a one bedroom ocean view for 2 weeks. I'm really looking forward to just relaxing.

I did not nor did I hear of anyone else having anything taken from their truck. Like what has been said, t-shirt, sunglasses, water and maybe a towel is all that is left in the truck.

I takes 15 minutes from Den Laman to get to the most southern sites so you dont really have to take so many tanks. We would take 2 pp and after the second dive go back have lunch, grab 2 more and go. Its that easy!!

[billmosel]

As to how many tanks you can take, nobody is checking them out to you, so you can pretty much take what you want. However, the island is so small that you would have no need to take 5 tanks per person. It's not a hassle at all to do 2-3 dives, return to the dive op, switch tanks, and go back out to dive more. From Den Laman, it's no more than a 10-15 minute drive to most of the sites on the island.

We also followed the "rules" and left our truck windows open with nothing of value in the truck, and had ZERO problems during our 2 week stay last week. Personally, I'm pleased that we were told about this practice prior to our visit, rather than learning the hard way.

Billmosel, I see you rented with Total...where are they located now? Across from the airport, or still at the Plaza?

Total is located just to the left as you walk out of the terminal with a couple other rental ops. Very easy.