Trip report, Bonaire 3/3/2005 through 3/13/2005

We arrived in Bonaire after a shaky start (see report on Air Jamaica). Weather mid 80’s, sky clear, and our rental truck was awaiting us. We checked into SD, our room was a 1 bedroom on the second floor. It was clean and well set up, air conditioned, screen doors, ocean view, soap, paper towels etc. In short, every thing you could want except food. We confirmed that the restaurant and pool were closed. The facility looks like they are trying to bring it back from where it was allowed to slip. The grounds were being cleaned up, and they were working hard on the pool and Mangos. Having a temporary restaurant set up on the pad by the water was nice, even though we only used it for breakfast.. It would have been a lot nicer to be able to get a frozen something while sitting in the sun watching the tide come in. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

All in all it was a very nice place and I would stay there again.

The diving

The coral is in great shape, eels everywhere and someone tossed in an octopus for good measure. Vis 40 to 80 feet every where we went, probably greater out on Klein

Dive sites visited
Bari reef
Buddy reef
Oil Slick
Witches Hut
Rappel
The lake
Windsock
Joanne’s Sunchi
Monte’s Divi
Something Special

Special critters seen:
Octopus
Jew fish
Frog fish
Sleeping turtle
Scorpion fish
And a lobster that looked big enough to feed a family for a couple days

Bonaire Dive and adventure:

First let me say the DM’s and support staff were wonderful, always trying to help, very concerned for safety and for your having a great experience. Want to see a specific critter? Just ask they will tell you where it was seen last, and approximately how to find it. That being said, I will never use them again. There were way too many rules and way to much emphasis put on their needs.
Dive shop and air availability 8:30 till 4:30 PM At 4:30 PM they lock up their air and nitrox. Only one tank of air at a time. I actually saw them tell a couple to take one tank of air each and go up to Washington park, then come back and get a second tank. The reason given for this is intermittent power outages. The power outages didn’t seem to be bothering Buddy Dive or the other operators around. I did see a couple of people that live on Bonaire come in and load up a dozen tanks, so I felt there may be a double standard. The dive orientation would have insulted a third grade new diver. I made no distinction between first timers and repeat visitors. Ask a question in the office and the first question is “have you been through orientation”. In my opinion the only thing I learned in orientation was what the limitations imposed by BDA are.

Summary:
I will be back to Bonaire next year, I may stay at Sand$, or try somewhere else for experience, I will not dive BDA.

Check out Buddy Dive next time. Great food, good dive shop, and we didn't experience any shortage or limitation of air.

Hi Rod,

Sorry to hear of the bummer experience, but glad to hear of the great diving. I am curious, just where did you see the jewfish? I have not yet seen one on Bonaire and would love to see one. My son has been looking for them every visit.

Debbie

I too was wondering about the jewfish now officially called goliath grouper. Where did you see it? The only one I ever saw on Bonaire was in the tank at the old Den Laman restaurant.

Aquaman

I don't see how BDA can compete on Bonaire without 24 Hour access to air tanks. I hope all of the shops aren't going to this policy - we would be inclined to not dive with anyone who won't provide shore diving tanks around the clock - seems like this policy would be contradictory to the concept of diving freedom.

Hi Barry!

I see you know your fish! Cool! I just learned that fact this last Feb. of the jewfish getting a new name.

Nothing will compare to my first trip to Bonaire when I was but a lowly Padi advanced open water diver and I was taking the "dive with the naturalist " class with Jerry Ligon at SandDollar. We were using the tables at the old Den Leman restaurant and they had a large tank with a large green moray and a "jewfish". A woman from New York City asked Jerry what the very large fish in the tank was. He told her that it was a jewfish. The look on her face was priceless. I understand that it is not PC but then again neither am I. I agree with the name change, it actually better describes the fish.

Aquaman

I was with Rod on this trip, and have a much stronger opinion on Bonaire Dive - DON'T USE THEM! They were rude, arrogant, and totally uninterested in who the customer was and the fact that we were on vacation - and the worst offender was the owner. Sets a good tone, eh?

We also saw a spotted eagle ray, just over my head at Witch's Hut, and the Bari reef Tarpon were with us, sometimes too close, on our night dive. They sure are bigger than last time I saw them, and just about gave Ian heart failure! We have been so disappointed with Caribbean diving the past 5 years, with algae and lack of critters/fish. The Caymans are really bad - so Bonaire was a refreshing change, still great there.

We saw the je..... errrr Goliath Grouper at Monte;s Divi

Been a reader for awhile; felt so strongly about this article had to register & comment. My first dive trip was in July 2004 at Sanddollar diving with Bonaire Dive & Adventure. The dive shop was definitely hit or miss. We asked the OWNER various times, including at the start of our week to enroll in Jerry's fish id class, only to be given the brush off time & time again. Had a divemaster on one trip that actually ran out of air, before I the newbie did. Yeah, that makes you feel really comfortable. On the final day the owner crammed at least two more divers than the boat was suppose to hold (I think I've tried to block this dive out). Had a diver diving nitrox on that boat; apparently he thought nitrox meant he could breathe forever; ran out of air, sucked most of his buddy's air down on the safety stop before the divemaster got there. Then they let the guy go out on the next dive. He thought the whole thing was funny. Anyway through all the problems, I feel in love with Bonaire & Bari reef. One final thought, we did have one amzing divemaster by the name of Michael. He went above & beyond, especially helping this newbie out. Unfortunately, he was suppose to leave for his next destination in October 2004. But he was our saving GEM of the trip. Will have to think long and hard before my next trip to Bonaire; Sanddollar was great, Bari was Awesome, BDA gets a fair report; leaning towards lousy if in fact Michael did leave.

Rita I plan to go back, stay at Sand$ and dive with Buddy dive. Heck I ate there and drank there, I might as will dive there. A Dive off Buddy Dive dock going left or south has you on Bari reef.

The owner, Andre, is arrogant and very unfreindly....this was not just me....on one dive the entire dive group had the same feeling that, for whatever reason, Andre didn't like them....not a great marketing strategy....I heard that he is a real nice guy (usually), but he really is his diveshop's worst enemy...I ended up buying my usual tourist gifts (t-shirts/books/trinkets) at Buddy Dive...having said that, the DM's there are great...too bad they have to work for such a (insert here)....I will never spend my money at BDA again, unless new management comes in.

Rod

You are bang on about Buddy Dive...nice layout, great food.....my advice, have their chicken quesadillas...mmmmmmmmmmmm

Cam Boy,
Is the hockey season over yet? You are right, it is hard to beat the group effort at Buddy's. We always had air throughout the power shortage and everyone was helpful and friendly. Then there is the BBQ Thong Master, he is something else!!!!!
Spring is starting now, mid to upper 60's. how is the fishing?
John

Big John
Hockey??? What's that??? At least we can watch the World Cup this spring...we can't seem to get out of winter here....no fishing yet...Sheryl's getting set for a long and busy field season

Can't forget about the friendly iguanas at Buddy's....make sure to save some lettuce or cucumber with ranch dressing for them