All inclusive dive resorts bonaire?

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reller

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Messages
16
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0
Location
palestine,illinois
# of dives
25 - 49
My wife doesn't dive and I love to she is fine with me doin 5 dives a day if she has a pool,spa, and it's all inclusive. We generally stay at riu resorts but their dive programs are 2 dive max a day. I would love some where with a little shorer diving and min 3 boat dives a day. Multiple places to eat and night life a plus.
 
Bonaire is not exactly known for all-inclusives; the main one I hear mentioned is The Plaza Beach Resort. Haven't stayed there. A Scuba Board 'invasion' event of Bonaire was held there in 2013; a thread on that. They do list massages as an extra charge option; not sure what all you're after with a 'spa.'

The upscale resort in Bonaire, from what I've read (since I haven't stayed at it, and don't recall any trip reports here off-hand from those who have; perhaps a Search world turn up something?) is Harbor Village Beach Resort. Of course, I suspect on some level you get what you pay for, and you do pay...

Of course, any resort with an on-site restaurant you like becomes a de facto 'A.I.' for food if you just eat there every night (or however often) and pay as you go.

Finding a way to get at least 3 boat dives/day could be a challenge on Bonaire; it's heavily conducive to shore diving. When I stayed at Buddy Dive Resort a week last year, I only saw one 2-tank trip (as opposed to 1-tank trips) that week! Other resorts may do things differently, but I'll be very interested to see if you find somebody who's reliably going to get you at least 3 boat dives/day there.

I love Bonaire, but I wonder if it's what you're looking for. Where else have you dove so far, and how'd you decide on Bonaire?
 
It's not Bonaire if you're used to Riu level amenities. Harbor Village approaches it - one of the Leading Small Hotels of the World. And has a decent beach. Average shore dive there though, mostly coral rubble and a small pleasure craft wreck. I can name all the nightlife options on Bonaire on one hand with fingers left over. Havana Cafe, Spice Beach Club, Karel's overwater Bar downtown and the resort bars. There are some better than expected restaurants, At Sea, It Rains Fishes, a few others. Most don't require long pants though.

Try Grand Cayman or Providenciales, Turks & Caicos. Not as AI's but a whole lot of upscale beach resorts on either, excellent dining options and 3 boat dives/day are possible - on Cayman 4 boat dives are also. No shore diving off Provo, Cayman has close to a dozen shore dive sites but all are short drive away. Seven Mile Beach has a Ritz Carlton, a Westin and a Marriott Grand. Red Sail is their on-site dive operation but they'll take you elsewhere to their boats. There's also about 2 dozen other dive operators who will pick you up in that area - they differentiate by service since all charge around 2 dives/$100 so they dive 6-8 divers max. on boats designed for many more.

Both are pretty expensive and have two great beaches, Seven Mile Beach on Cayman and Grace Bay Beach on Provo. Both have some nightlife also - upscale clubs at the upscale resorts and Provo has a small casino. There's some excellent upscale restaurants on Cayman by renowned chefs and I'm sure in a moneyed area like Grace Bay there are also - a couple are 5 star properties - including Amanyara. Just less of it since Provo is less populated.

Cayman Islands Tourism, Official | Cayman Islands
Beautiful by Nature - Turks and Caicos Islands - Turks and Caicos Tourist Board
 
As others have said, there isn't much in the way of AI hotels with 3 boat dives a day on Bonaire seeing as shore diving is the thing to do. For a grand majority of the sites you dont need or want a a boat. Boat diving in Bonaire usually is for Klein Bonaire or for East Coast Diving. As far as night life, Little Havana is a nice place to sit down and enjoy a cold Heineken with a cigar.


You will get much more responses in the Bonaire subforum rather than here.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bonaire/

Given the description of what you want though, I would say Curacao or Aruba would likely suit you and your wife better. Upscale hotels with good shopping nearby, more nightlife and more boat diving rather than shore
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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