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A couple things to add:
When you do the orientation, at the end of it you'll need to do a dive. Otherwise that will be your first dive the next day from shore. You won't get your BMP tag without it. They won't let you on the boat without it because they get fined if stopped. If Habitat can't do it, try Dive Friends at Sand Dollar condos just down the street. They'll pretty much do it whenever you need. Most resorts typically do it between 9-10AM daily if that works in your schedule also. A good one is at Bonaire Dive/Adventure, Jerry Ligon is a naturalist so you hear more about the Mangroves, the Salt Pans etc. It's also one of the longest...
There's a lot of divers at Habitat. There's a lot of divers at Buddy Dive's bar next door. And every other resort in that area - you can walk to about 3-4 of them. So finding a buddy/series of buddies shouldn't be difficult. When you have your dates firmed up, post here or on bonairetalk.com looking for one. We actually met two groups at the airport waiting for our Bonaire flight - later dove with one of them. Saw the others also, usually leaving as we arrived.
Near Habitat there's a small market, a deli, every other resort's restaurants (about 4-5 in walking distance - Habitat - Buddys - Sand Dollar - Den Laman - Eden Beach. - all have restaurants also afaik (maybe not SD?), Lover's Ice Cream, a bank/ATM etc.
Kind of a long walk from downtown (for me) but I don't like hiking either.
I was standing at the rinse tanks at Habitat one day waiting for my buddy - must've looked forlorn - because 2 different people asked if I wanted to join them. When someone buys a dive/drive package - most everyone does - the de facto dive vehicle on Bonaire is a 4dr. small pickup. So most people have room for another diver.
If you do shore dive take nothing with you you don't want to lose. Put all your gear loose in the truck, tanks in the back. About the only thing they (mostly kids) won't take is tanks. Also leave the doors unlocked and the windows down and open. Or they will and you'll have to pay to have it replaced. To bring stuff along, one of these is what I used. http://www.leisurepro.com/Catalog.aspx?op=BrandDisplay&BrandName=Witz With the BMP tag on your BC you won't need your c-card and there's a theory that if you were in an accident, the police would let you return to your resort for your d/l. I haven't tested that but our DM said she leaves hers at home. It's a pretty casual place...
If you have a little strobe flasher, bring it. When you night dive, hang it on the nearest ladder, mooring rope etc. We do that and since the water is so clear you see it a long way away. Even a red one. Any dives off the resorts are lit up. Habitat has big lights that light up their dock area - it brings the Tarpon in. Which btw hunt in your divelight at night. The first time is a little intense...
Cliff is a really good dive there, one of few vertical walls on Bonaire. It's north from the resort. They also have the LaMachaca wreck - it'd be good for your orientation dive - I wouldn't make a special effort.
Just down the street in front of Sand Dollar/Den Laman condos is Bari Reef. Most counted species of fish in the Caribbean. Past there the diving kind of tapers off. Buddy's Reef next door is supposed to be good also, we didn't dive it.
If you go out to Klein with Habitat - ask for Forest, it's a good one. A "forest" of Black Coral at 70'. The other really good boat dive nearby is Rappel - you can't really get there from shore - unless you rappel down...
If you wanted to do something a little more advanced, Buddy Dive next door has the 3-tank Slagbaai Park adventure dive trip. Sign up early, it fills fast.
Most DM's freelance on the side also if asked. Some will ask you also. The "Bas's" referred to above are Bas Noij at VIPDiving or Bas Tol at BASDiving. I dove with Bas Noij (OB1) some years ago. He's a good guide. Both dive the more pristine - and rougher - East side. It's likely the only place you'll see bigger pelagics on Bonaire - not counting Tarpon or Stingrays.
Any other places you're going I've already been to?
When you do the orientation, at the end of it you'll need to do a dive. Otherwise that will be your first dive the next day from shore. You won't get your BMP tag without it. They won't let you on the boat without it because they get fined if stopped. If Habitat can't do it, try Dive Friends at Sand Dollar condos just down the street. They'll pretty much do it whenever you need. Most resorts typically do it between 9-10AM daily if that works in your schedule also. A good one is at Bonaire Dive/Adventure, Jerry Ligon is a naturalist so you hear more about the Mangroves, the Salt Pans etc. It's also one of the longest...
There's a lot of divers at Habitat. There's a lot of divers at Buddy Dive's bar next door. And every other resort in that area - you can walk to about 3-4 of them. So finding a buddy/series of buddies shouldn't be difficult. When you have your dates firmed up, post here or on bonairetalk.com looking for one. We actually met two groups at the airport waiting for our Bonaire flight - later dove with one of them. Saw the others also, usually leaving as we arrived.
Near Habitat there's a small market, a deli, every other resort's restaurants (about 4-5 in walking distance - Habitat - Buddys - Sand Dollar - Den Laman - Eden Beach. - all have restaurants also afaik (maybe not SD?), Lover's Ice Cream, a bank/ATM etc.
Kind of a long walk from downtown (for me) but I don't like hiking either.
I was standing at the rinse tanks at Habitat one day waiting for my buddy - must've looked forlorn - because 2 different people asked if I wanted to join them. When someone buys a dive/drive package - most everyone does - the de facto dive vehicle on Bonaire is a 4dr. small pickup. So most people have room for another diver.
If you do shore dive take nothing with you you don't want to lose. Put all your gear loose in the truck, tanks in the back. About the only thing they (mostly kids) won't take is tanks. Also leave the doors unlocked and the windows down and open. Or they will and you'll have to pay to have it replaced. To bring stuff along, one of these is what I used. http://www.leisurepro.com/Catalog.aspx?op=BrandDisplay&BrandName=Witz With the BMP tag on your BC you won't need your c-card and there's a theory that if you were in an accident, the police would let you return to your resort for your d/l. I haven't tested that but our DM said she leaves hers at home. It's a pretty casual place...
If you have a little strobe flasher, bring it. When you night dive, hang it on the nearest ladder, mooring rope etc. We do that and since the water is so clear you see it a long way away. Even a red one. Any dives off the resorts are lit up. Habitat has big lights that light up their dock area - it brings the Tarpon in. Which btw hunt in your divelight at night. The first time is a little intense...
Cliff is a really good dive there, one of few vertical walls on Bonaire. It's north from the resort. They also have the LaMachaca wreck - it'd be good for your orientation dive - I wouldn't make a special effort. Just down the street in front of Sand Dollar/Den Laman condos is Bari Reef. Most counted species of fish in the Caribbean. Past there the diving kind of tapers off. Buddy's Reef next door is supposed to be good also, we didn't dive it.
If you go out to Klein with Habitat - ask for Forest, it's a good one. A "forest" of Black Coral at 70'. The other really good boat dive nearby is Rappel - you can't really get there from shore - unless you rappel down...
If you wanted to do something a little more advanced, Buddy Dive next door has the 3-tank Slagbaai Park adventure dive trip. Sign up early, it fills fast.
Most DM's freelance on the side also if asked. Some will ask you also. The "Bas's" referred to above are Bas Noij at VIPDiving or Bas Tol at BASDiving. I dove with Bas Noij (OB1) some years ago. He's a good guide. Both dive the more pristine - and rougher - East side. It's likely the only place you'll see bigger pelagics on Bonaire - not counting Tarpon or Stingrays.
Any other places you're going I've already been to?
