My new wife and I are leaving Friday the 21st for Bonaire until the 30th then Aruba until the 5th. I've been scanning this website for helpful hints and I've been able to get some good advice.

Question, what items would you "not leave home without" when you go. (i.e. I guess bug repellant is a must..) Assume we are already packing our passport and dive gear!

Thanks,

Kelly

Camera, money and smiles!! Have a wonderful trip!

I bring coffee and cremora...some granola, and some chocolate..(just for the late night snack)Bagels and jelly...so we have some type of food for before early morning dives... I also bring Crystal Light powdered juices...easy to store and beats the thirst! Film...which is extremely expensive on Bonaire....Thank you cards for the dive guys....Bug spray of course...remember to pay your airport tax in advance so as to not hold you up on departure..Homemade signs are also nice for the street cam.....Atm cards just in case of the need for quick cash....Have a wonderful time...will look for you on the cams...

Meryl, you are a "pro"! I think you have been a big help to Kelly. I could not "remember" everything in typing format...it is "in the brain" but did not want to come out onto the keyboards! Lots of sun screen/block is always a must on Bonaire, too. Have a great time Kelly. Please give us a trip report when you do return. (include Aruba, too!) Carole

Is this a Honeymoon trip? If it is congrats. If you do forget anything you can find almost anything you need. The Cultimara supermarket in town is very good. Did anybody ever mail you a restaurant guide and street map? If you send us your address we would be more than happy to.

Have a great time Kelly! We just got back & thought I'd list the things we packed, but did NOT use: jeans, socks, sweaters, more than 1 belt,undies, shoes (other than sandals), travel iron, sequins (I'm sick), laptop, jewelry. There is a great laundry next to the stadium (two loads washed, dried & nicely folded for $10.00). Glad we picked up a bottle of rum at duty-free on the way in, it was 3x as much at the Cultimara. 2 good books, as you have long flights both ways. Travellers checks are not accepted by most merchants, but happily exchanged without charge at the banks. Directions to the street & reef cams (see the FAQ section). Bring a light, windbreaker-type jacket as they are getting a little rain. Have a wonderful time!

Deb.

Lucky you, Kelly! Don't forget plenty of ziploc bags to keep the ants out of the goodies in the cupboard. Have fun!

Interesting trip order. Several years ago My wife and I did your trip in reverse. In Aruba we were pampered by the Honolulu type resorts, walking the boardwalks, eating and drinking at any bar or restaurant, thinking the diving was good. My first impression of Bonaire was that of a very depressed and run down island. I was uncomfortable with the grounds and our room, and unsure of the dive operators.

After just five or six days in Bonaire it became a place I will return to annually forever. I tell anyone who cares to listen not to go to Aruba, Hawaii is better. But for first class diving, casual and relaxed atmosphere good food, and great company, go to Bonaire.

Don't forget the duct tape. My husband laughed at me when I packed it for our trip as someone here had advised. We we got back in Atlanta to go through customs, one of our suitcases had busted open. Dennis said he is taking duct tape every where now!

Do you have the series of books by Paul Humann? Reef Fish, Reef Coral and Reef Critters? Bring them and leave the rest of your fish books home. If not, get them (or Reef Fish at a minimum).

I have some books on order from Amazon, not sure which ones, but I appreciate all of the help!! We did receive a dining guide in the mail and we are so looking forward to getting out of town. San Diego is beautiful, but it is cold right now (it's not Minnisota cold, but I'm a whip).

What are people diving with right now? A spring suit or a full suit? Should we just rent suits there or bring ours?

Kelly, I just got back 2 weeks ago ..I use a shorty and have a skin underneath(long). some entry's and exits can be alittle rough on the arms and legs....have a wonderful time!

Kelly - I wear a full 2/3 suit in Feb/Mar and sometimes still get chilled. And, I'm from Minnesota (but, I'm also a whimp!). We never leave home without the duct tape, ziplocks, bug spray, and "island-time" attitude. Have a great time!

Looks like you have had plenty of advice, but one more thing. We always bring a cooler. Size is usually one that would hold 18 pops or so. We pack coffee, peanut butter, ziplocks, tuna fish, etc. in the cooler for the way down and then we pack wet stuff in it for the return trip. (We duct tape it shut, "Handymans Secret Weapon")

We do almost all shore diving, so we pack lunch and stuff on ice in the cooler for the day. We have yet to have a problem with theft and have done in the nighborhood of 100 shore dives in bonaire.

We always hide the cooler and other stuff in nearby bush. Never leave it in the car.

Have fun, and don't miss OL Blue, we saw a manta there last time.

Okay, why is Red Green posting under other peoples names?

Kelly- I just returned two weeks ago and I wore a full 3/2 (yes I'm a wimp, but i'm also a petite woman) and never once felt too warm. The guys all wore skins though. One thing to remember, if your wife has long hair, bring some cream bug repellent as well as spray. That way her hair won't be all greasy from the spray. Don't get lazy with the repellent. I'm still recovering from my attacks and I wore repellent every evening. Have a blast. The PBD has hit me pretty hard this week

Don't forget a corkscrew.

Well, all this news about heavy dive bags, I packed our dive bag early to check the weight.. and I think it will make it fine. My wife and I are so excited to go, we've been diving the La Jolla Shores and the islands off our coast for so long and this is our first trip to the Caribbean.

When I tell friends and client that we're off to Bonaire, most either havent a clue where it's at or where it's located. It makes our trip even more special. I can't wait until we hit the water.

If you're there between 12/21 thru 12/28 and you see a bald guy along a sexy new wife.. say hi.

Kelly

Have a great trip....prepare for your new addiction.....Bonaire!!

Kelly,

See ya there. I'll be there Dec 22-30th. This is my second trip to Bonaire. I love it because you don't need a long boat ride or even a boat to have instant access to great diving. My buddy and I want to dive everything within our limits. I have a similar profile so if you want to hook up for some dives let me know.

Todd

A small collapsable cooler is nice, for when you come out of the water, nothing like an ice cold beer......