1st time to Bonaire..questions!

[scubadiva729]

First timer looking to take a trip to Bonaire sometime next May/June for a 7 days

1. From reading through lots of posts it seems that there are quite a few options for accomodations. I think we are leaning towards Buddy Dive, but also open to other suggestions. We would like a place where we can relax after our dive, but not too far off the beaten path. I have also heard the mix remarks regarding the vehicles at Buddy, but also heard of nightmares of renting them at the airport.

2. We are totally intrigued in a dive vacation that is "laid back" and it sounds like Bonaire is the spot! We are both AOW, but have not done the self guided diving, so that is a little daunting. Do any shops provide guides that we can use (obviously for a fee). Are any of the shore dives marked underwater or is it all just compass and navigation?

3. I think we would do a few dives on the east side as I have read some great things about Bas. Any input on that?

4. What other things am I missing that I should consider.

 

[The Chairman]

Many of the resorts have house reefs, where they will check you out and give you pointers. There are a few dive boats on the island and they can get you to more treacherous places. However, the best way to see Bonaire is shore diving. Go to easy spots first and then work up to harder entrances/exits. Make sure you do the Salt Pier and you'll probably need a guide for that. Only take what you need for a dive and leave your vehicle unlocked and empty!

Most importantly: have fun. Make a trip up to Slaagbai on your off day.

 

[hroark2112]

No disrespect intended....but Salt Pier is the easiest dive around. Why would anyone need a guide for it?

 

[Diver-6873]

OK ... so, as for where to stay, while we are residents now, we have never been fans of dives resorts, we personally like smaller B&B/VRBO type accommodations for a little quieter experience. Many do like the dive center resorts and there are fine ones here. For more private accommodations, we recommend CocoLoco a small place close to the airport, Southern dive sites, and Kralendijk with three individual studio units and an onsite pool with hosts who will do anything they can to provide you with a wonderful stay.

VIP Diving is excellent for gear rentals and well as guided shore diving with very personal 1:1 service. While sites really do not have underwater markers, some such as Bari’s Reef and The Cliff have small diameter pipes along the bottom from the entries to the drop off. Others have very easy to spot coral formations, anchors, concrete sailboat moorings, etc making navigation easy. You’ll get the hang of it quickly and a quick pop-up following your safety stop always helps for a check on where you entered and left that truck.

Bos is excellent for an East Coast shore entry but also check out the team at East Coast Diving for a 2-tank AM boat dive. Nothing like it and you are almost guaranteed to see 30-50-75 even 100 Green Sea Turtles “sleeping”, one of few places this is possible in these numbers.

I hope that helps, don’t hesitate to ask here from many great sources of information.

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

Navigation is extremely easy on Bonaire. Deep water is one one side, reef is on the other. Swim one way along the reef, hit your turn pressure, turn around and swim back.

 

[AdivingBel]

We stay here... Beachcomber Villas
2 apartments w/full kitchens; on the water in Hamlet Oasis a couple hundred yards from Hamlet Dive Friends location; gear rinse and secure storage facilities onsite; owners are really nice, live onsite, and are divers. Nice niche between a dive resort and going it completely on your own (VRBO etc.). PM me if you have questions beyond the website info. Don't want to be too much of a cheerleader...

 

[drrich2]

As others indicated, navigation isn't hard. You enter off the west coast of the island. Head north or south, and the island is east of you, the open ocean west of you, and you're probably finning along perpendicular to the island over sloping reef reef that's at maybe, oh, 30 - 45 degree slope downward?

Suggest medium or thick-soled dive boots. Some area have jagged iron shore (looking at you, Oil Slick Leap!), and geared up with all that weight you can hurt a foot (been there, done that, had foot pain for several weeks).

Haven't dealt with VIP Divers, but only hear good things about them. For the type of trip you describe, be aware of Curacao, where the Dive Bus (and I think Bas Hart) do the sort of thing you're talking about. But I agree, you'll likely adapt to (and love) shore diving independently in short order. And going your own dives can be a growing experience.

I dove with Bas Tol once; good times! A Whole New Cai!

Buddy Dive Resort was good; stayed there 3 times. Fairly large. Up the road, Zhung Kong Supermarket (I assume they're still there?) was convenient though small (they handled by Coke Zero fix), as opposed to having to head into town so much.

Of course, if you want to hit southern sites, you'll be passing through town anyway. You might like driving or riding with someone else. Getting around Bonaire topside isn't hard, but when you're new, don't know what the roadsigns mean and if you've never encountered a round-about, it's a new thing.

 

[maadJurguer]

Just got back from my 5th trip to Bonaire a few weeks ago (my second trip this year)...so far have spent 6 weeks there in total. Shore diving is super easy once you get the routine down. As others have said:

1) Get some good rock boots....your normal dive booties won't work there
2) The all inclusive resorts at Bonaire are not really needed there because the town, the accommodations, the food options at restaurants, bars and grocery stores is as easy as you can imagine for any OCONUS location. Don't be afraid of VRBOs, or hell...even the Marriott Courtyard is nice with Dive Friends Bonaire having a location to store and rinse your gear on site.
3) Shore diving is super easy there on the west side - swim out on an established bearing, note the reciprocal for when you come back in after your safety stop. Head out to the reef, note the current, dive against it on your first leg, turn back at your half tank point and head back on your return leg, note the time in minutes it took you to go up-current, dive your return leg (with the current/flow) in roughly half the time that it took you to go up-current on your first/outbound leg, surface after your safety, sight your re-entry location...enjoy the shallows on the way back -->rinse and repeat
4) I've not had any issues with rental cars from the airport, but I've stuck with Hertz the entire time since I've used them for years. They run a bit more expensive, but never have a line after your plane lands (Budget and the others usually do and you have to wait which sucks when you want to get your drink on).
5) Never leave valuables in your car, and always leave the windows down and doors unlocked.....if you don't do that, you may wind up with a broken window and some gear gone after a dive...
6) Boat dives on the west side are over-rated IMHO to include trips to Kline.....I did it once, but frankly don't see a need to do it again unless I had a chance to go dive something truly rare and unique....although I'm not sure what that would look like!

Current at the mid-town, and most west-side locations is generally non-existent or slight....so get the book and start with the easy sites, as you get your routine down and confidence up....work up to the intermediate and advanced sites. As you get to the narrows between Kline on the west side, south side locations around points and the lighthouse....the current can start to pick up at times....but we're not talking drift diving like in Cozumel here....so don't over think it, use good judgement and call it early and spend your time in the shallows if it's not to your liking.

Also check out the East Coast divers....well worth the money for the turtles and rays.

You're going to love it...here's some video we shot 2 trips ago back in 2018, May:

 

[Paul - Bonscuba]

Great choice you made to come to the shore dive capital of the Caribean! It shouldn.t be too complicated if you take some common sense and for sure sturdy boots to protect against sharp coral rocks and sea urchins while getting in and out of the water.

Please contact me for more info, I could also take you on your first personal guided shore dives to get some more tips and insides to start with.

Www.bonscuba.com

From there with the new 2019 Reefsmart guide Bonaire (www.reefsmartguides.com and also for sale localy) you can plan your own dives. After some of the nicest spots I can also take you to more challenging and beautiful off road spots on the west coast.

For the east coast shore dives for sure Bas Tol is the #1 specialist on the island!

 

[diversteve]

I have to agree - a guide for Salt Pier???

Park where everyone else is and walk off the beach there. You will stumble a little over iron shore in the surf line but 20' out and you're floating.

Check in with the Cargill office on site to be sure there's no ship inbound - or if there's one loading there come back the next day.

It's all pretty shallow - IIRC the farthest pilings were about 60' Pretty hard to miss the pier - it's the thing over your head.

SALT PIER, Bonaire, Dive Site Information
The dirty brown coral on the pilings is Fire Coral so don't touch it.

If you do stay at Buddy's 2 resorts south is Bari Reef one of the better dives for fish life. Also if you drive out then drive back into Den Laman - there's stairs off their dive dock - and Dive Friends on-site.
IMO the dive sites south of town are mostly easier entries than north of Buddy's where you've got the Leaps, Karpata and 1000Steps - all more challenging entries. Every divesite is marked by a yellow rock just off the road - most with the name painted on them.

A quieter option with Buddy is BelMar condos in Belnem - 5mins south of the airport. They're nicer, newer and all the patios face the ocean.The other Buddy shop is there and there's steps into the water off the dive dock. Not the best house reef (Buddy's is better) but a lot more quiet and laid back. They store tanks 20' from the main road on the south end of their lot and your condo key gets you in 24/7.

If there's a downside, there's no food within walking distance except Hotel Roomer -we had breakfast there once. The nearest restaurants are at the Courtyard by Marriott or the Plaza Resort - both on the lagoon by the airport. 3-5 mins from there to downtown Kralendijk.