Bonaire's Best Bets

Official Site of the Tourism Corporation of Bonaire

Here are some comments (and some questions) we received recently from visitors to Bonaire:

Diving & Snorkeling in Bonaire

Comments:

The Just and Hour Divers have been going to Bonaire for the past 15 years. The diving (which is among the greatest in the world) is only exceeded by the friendship of the people on the island. This is one of the great treasures of the World. Be careful who you tell!!!!. Brody Saxon (brodymon@worldnet.att.net) - 18 Apr 1996.
Enjoy diving in Bonaire and seeing all the people we've met there. We've been there three times already and look forward to our next visit. Ted Komsta (73203.3273@compuserve.com) - 28 Apr 1996.
My husband and I have been to Bonaire twice. We are not divers, but we love to snorkel. Bonaire is truly a wonderful place for a quiet, safe and relaxing vacation. We love it there and plan to return. Judy M. Polando (104245.134@compuserve.com) - 03 May 1996.

Response: Nice to hear that you had such a great time. Do you know that Bonaire also has guided snorkeling? There are 10 sites selected from the many on Bonaire. When you participate in a guided snorkeling tour, you will get a slide show about snorkeling on Bonaire and about the rules of snorkeling. Then there is a slide show about the site you're about to visit and what you can expect. Hope to see you again. Tourism Corporation Bonaire (102372.3337@compuserve.com) - 05 Jun 96.
Bon Bini! Eight years in a row and 200+ dives. Friendly people...you can't find a better place, but don't tell anyone else! Joe Wargo (wargojg@acq.osd.mil) - 16 May 1996.
I have visited the wonderful island of Bonaire and I thought that it was one of the most wonderful dive experiences of my entire life. Amanda Friedman (ccws@iris.wmwoods.edu) - 11 Jun 1996.

Questions:

I'm thinking of visiting Bonaire this summer. While I am there I would like to take a dive-master course. What can you tell me about an PADI 5-Star Training Centres that I could contact to set up a program. Appreciatively. Bil Roberts (birobert@minet.gov.mb.ca) 03 May 1996.

Reponse: PADI is very popular on the island and all the major dive operators give these courses. The price for the course is the same everywhere. Tourism Corporation Bonaire (102372.3337@compuserve) - 05 Jun 96.
My wife and I will be visiting Bonaire in August for scuba diving. Any information on good dive sites and Sunset Beach Hotel would be appreciated. It is our first visit there. Bill Snyder (73562.3340@Compuserve.com) - 19 May 1996.
I am going to be staying at the Sand Dollar in August on a dive trip with friends. I have been renting BCD, regulator, octopus, and computer for my annual trips. Are there any other places to rent equipment close to the Sand Dollar? Looking forward to the trip. Denny Mathias (dcmathias@aol.com) - 27 May 1996.

Response: Yes, there a few shops nearby and some (maybe all) rent computers. Close by are Sunset Divers at Sunset Beach Resort (next door); Buddy Dive Resort, also next door; Bon Bini Divers at Coral Regency; and Captain Don's Habitat. At Carib Inn (4 miles from SD) I know for sure that they rent computers. I hope that you will enjoy your trip. See you on Bonaire! Tourism Corporation Bonaire (102372.3337@compuserve.com) - 05 Jun 96.

Hotels & Dive Resorts in Bonaire

Bonaire is a fabulous vacation site for divers of all skill levels. My stay at Harbour Village was one of the best Caribbean experiences of my life! Rick, Sharon, and the rest of the dive crew at Harbour Village, are all talented and fun dive professionals!!!!!!!!!!!! I highly recommend Harbour Village. Ron Miller (rmiller@in.net) - 24 Feb 1996.
My 1994 visit was great. Captain Don's Habitat is the place to stay. Planning on visit this September, again at Don's Habitat. Excellent dive operation. Diving is one of the best in Caribbean, if not the best. Robert E. Williams (robertw@vnet.ibm.com) - 14 May 1996.
Just finished 8 days at Captain Don's Habitat ...our first trip to Bonaire ...really great! We're very new divers (our 15 dives at Capt. Don's equal all our diving previously) and this was a wonderful way to get experience without suffering on 3-5 hour boat trips or fighting currents...just a mellow week of beautiful diving...we'll be back! Michael Mesmer (75612.1770@compuserve.com) - 17 May 1996.
Stayed the first 2 weeks of May '96 in Capt. Don's Habitat and had a great time. Met a lot of very nice mostly American divers. Habitat's diving operation is very well organized and Bonaire's marine life is absolutely beautiful. I specifically recommend the night dive at Town Pier (nature's artistic graffiti!). Alice Dijkstra, The Netherlands (dijkstra@nwo.nl) - 29 May 1996.
We have been to both Bonaire and Curaçao many times and each trip has brought many new experiences. Our favorite place to stay is the Carib Inn. Bruce runs a first rate service that feels more like a country cottage than a typical dive resort. His boats and expertise are second to none; translation: great diving, no hassles. There is so much to say about diving in Bonaire, in one word, pristine. The island and the dive operators have done a fantastic job a preserving the underwater eco-system considering the traffic that these reefs see in a year. Each dive is memorable, I can't remember a dive-site that was not exhilarating; the ship-wreck Hilma is a must see. You must experience both the boat and the shore diving, however you could do either and not be disappointed. We were engaged on Bonaire ( Carl's Hill), We honeymooned on Bonaire, and we are planning to return for our tenth anniversary; no matter where we dive, Carib Inn and Bonaire is our standard of comparison! Richard & Sylvia Snow (rsnow@idirect.com) - 29 May 1996.
My wife and I stayed 10 days at Sand Dollar Condominium Resort in May 96. Wonderful accommodations! Great diving, made very easy and recreational by Sand Dollar's dive shop. We also visited Washington Slagbaai National Park and went for a shore dive at Funchi Beach. James Tugman (tugman@ncst.nrl.navy.mil) - 09 Jun 1996.

Questions:

I am planning a trip to Bonaire in Nov. '96 and would appreciate any information about the diving and accommodations at Sunset Beach Resort and Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn. Thank you. Rich Stewart (richstewart@wow.com) - 09 May 1996.
My wife and I are planning a Christmas visit and are first time scuba divers. Certified in a midwestern lake. Do I stay at Sand Dollar, Captain Don's or The Plaza Resort. Which has the best beach, the best food, and is closest to other entertainment if we desire? Thanks. David Floyd (dcfloyd@murlin.com) - 31 May 1996.

Response: The Plaza Resort is the only one with a real beach, the other ones are 'just' on the shore. All three of them have a good dive shop with daily boat dives. The Plaza and Captain Don's have the most entertainment in house, but all three of them are about the same distance from town (2 miles) to the nightlife. Sand Dollar is big, with nice rooms and a lot of divers. The Green Parrot Restaurant (Sand Dollar) is aimed at the American market with giant hamburgers, sandwiches, and some steak and fish. The Plaza, just like Captain Don's, has a restaurant with a high variety of international dishes. Of the three, Captain Don's has the most expensive rates at $175-485, then Plaza Resort ($180-400), and Sand Dollar ($160-350). Tourism Corporation Bonaire (102372.3337@compuserve.com) - 05 Jun 96.

Restaurants in Bonaire

We have visited Je Mar Terrace, t'Ankertje and Great China many times and find them to be good value for money. Tom Moreau - 24 Jan 1996
Barry and Donna's Sandwich Shop is a great place to pick up a sandwich for a dive picnic. Chuck DuSold (cdusold@ssf4.jsc.nasa.gov) - 20 Feb 1996.

Activities in Bonaire

I have made three trips to Bonaire in as many years. No visit to the island would be complete without a trip on the Woodwind with Farni & Rene. The snorkeling cruise and the Wednesday Barbecue Cruise are especially good. Another must do is to spend an evening listening and dancing with the Kunuku Band. Sparky & Moogie have a unique blend of music that no one can resist. I am glad that I bought the CD, because I certainly would have worn out a tape by now. If you do the Woodwind or the Band, tell them Gary & Ginger sent you. Gary Carlson (gcarlson@groton.k12.ct.us) - 12 Feb 1996.

People & Culture of Bonaire

The people of Bonaire are without a doubt the warmest, kindest, friendliest, and most enjoyable people to be with than anywhere else that I have gone! I have been very fortunate to travel extensively and still return to Bonaire each year. Masha Donki to all of the people of Bonaire!Tom & Marlene Clarke (tjclar@aol.com) - 13 Apr 1996.
We just returned from a business trip to Bonaire. We cannot say enough about the character and charm of your island and its inhabitants. Although we must return on business, we will most certainly return for pleasure. Lynn Scott Paden & Gemma de la Fuente, Architects (75051.2621@compuserve.com) - 21 Apr 1996.

Honeymoons In Bonaire

We're looking for a place to go for our honeymoon and Bonaire is near the top, partly thanks to the great information you've provided us here! Keep it up! Jon Milan & Malu Septien (jolu@goodnet.com) - 22 Apr 1996.

Response: First, congratulations on your wedding (plans), we from TCB hope you have a great day and wonderful life together. A lot of people are choosing Bonaire for their honeymoon nowadays. And I hope that we also can welcome you to Bonaire. Bonaire is still very quiet and can be very Romantic--the best place to spend all your time with each other. Tourism Corporation Bonaire (102372.3337@compuserve.com) - 25 Apr 96.
I am getting married in August and my fiancée and I are looking to Bonaire for a relaxing get-away-from-it-all honeymoon. Is August a good month to go, because we can wait until January if necessary. What resort/hotel would be the best for two honeymooning, graduate students on a tight budget ($150/night MAX)? Thank you in advance...we are looking forward to meeting Bonaire and her people. A.Myers (shinoba@aol.com) - 17 May 1996.

Response: First of all congratulations on your decision to get married! We hope to welcome you on Bonaire for your honeymoon. For $150 a night there a lot of possibilities. There is the Plaza Resort Bonaire for $125 a night--a nice resort with tennis, watersports etc. It is on the beach, but you may not have much privacy (Ph. +599 7 2500, Fax +599 7 7133) or in US (617)821-1012 or 1-800-766-6016. If you want something more quiet, you can stay at The Great Escape. It is a nice 10-room hotel with pool, room-service, restaurant and bar, starting at $75, with a honeymoon suite for $100 (ph+Fax +599-7-7488). The Great Escape is not on the beach, but is very nice.

If you want to rent a furnished house or luxury villa, you can contact Mrs. Ina Faber-Betsema from Divah House & Apartment Rentals for a whole 3-bedroom villa, with a nice view from about $80 a night or $140 for a three-bedroom house with your own swimming pool and a view over the island--no bar or restaurant within 5 miles-- (PH +599 7 8101 Fax +599 7 5510). There are some other hotels, but in my opinion these are the best deal. For a listing of hotels look at our Accommodations page.

If you stay at the Great Escape or in a house, you will need some kind of transportation, if you plan to go out a lot. Taxis are available, plus scooters at around $25/day (2-pers), and rental cars, starting at $40/day. Karels Bar is a great place to meet people. The whole island will be there, because it is the only bar open late. Tourism Corporation Bonaire (102372.3337@compuserve) - 05 Jun 96.

General

Comments:

My husband and I just returned from Bonaire about two weeks ago. We found the Green Parrot and Richard's to be the best restaurants that we went to. The diving was wonderful, but don't miss the Hilmer Hooker. The colors are the absolute best. Our accommodations at the Sand Dollar were great. The people at the Sand Dollar could not have been nicer. They got to the point that they were calling us Mom and Dad. We are going to return there in about six weeks for another round of diving and snorkeling. We took out two daughters and they had a ball (ages 14 and 24). Hope to see you in Bonaire!! Rebecca Simpson (simpson@aol.com) - 13 Jun 1996.

Questions:

I'll be in Bonaire in August. What is the temperature range in August? How much rain? Denny Mathias (DCMathias@aol.com) - 27 May 1996.

Response: The average temperature during the whole year is between 80 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rain fall for August is about 40 mm (1 3/4). It doesn't rain much and never more that two days in a row. Hope to see you on Bonaire. Tourism Corporation Bonaire (102372.3337@compuserve.com) - 05 Jun 96.
Howdy. We are planning to be there the first week of Sept. This is our first time so we would appreciate any travel advice to get the most out of Bonaire for the short time that we are there. Thanks. Khoi Tran (knt@lawtelecom.com) - 05 Jun 1996.

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Diving & Snorkeling in Bonaire

Hotels & Dive Resorts in Bonaire

Restaurants in Bonaire

Activities in Bonaire

People & Culture of Bonaire

Honeymoons In Bonaire

General

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