Bonaire - where to stay with 10yo new diver

[ScottsdaleSteve]

If I go DIY (hit VDT, make some meals, dishes) then what are the benefits of Divi over Sand Dollar which also has a pier, Dive Friends, and good house reef?

I have not stayed at Sand Dollar so can't offer a comparison. If you care about downtown, one advantage to Divi is a 0.9 km walk to downtown Kralendijk, versus Sand Dollar which is a longer 2.2 km walk. By downtown I mean, for example, Karels Beach Bar, which happens to be one of my favorite places for food/drink - great atmosphere over the water.

 

[ScottsdaleSteve]

Another one you might want to add to your list is Divi Flamagio, they have 2 nice pools, good dive shop, several good restaurants and are located easy walk into town. One of their docks is being rebuilt at this time but otherwise it's a nice place. Just got back on Sat so the report is recent.

You didn't happen to get a photo of the dock-in-progress, did you? If not, have they finished the walkway connecting shore to dock? Have they started building the lockers, etc? Here's what it looked like on March 23, 2024:

 

[herman]

I didn't but work is slow, they had the decking down but nothing else.

 

[ScottsdaleSteve]

I didn't but work is slow, they had the decking down but nothing else.

It blows my mind that the dock was destroyed by waves from a distant hurricane in September 2022, and it's still not repaired. That's TWENTY months ago!!! I've heard of "island time" but this is ridiculous.