I dove Bonaire in 1980 as a very new diver. Last week - 30 years and 1,000+ dives later - I returned and it's still terrific.

Getting there: kind of circuitous but the price was right. (Delta MIA-ATL-CUR. Took Divi Air CUR to BON.) No lost or left bags - yah!

Lodging: We stayed at Eden Beach in a 2 BR/3 BA apartment that included a rental truck from Total Rental Car. We were very impressed by the service at Eden - the staff promptly responded to our requests for additional keys, a microwave, and repair of a non-functioning ac unit. There was also daily maid service, which was an unexpected plus.

Diving: Wanna Dive on-site at Eden Beach. We were enthralled by the "freedom to dive" concept - anytime, anywhere. We also loved the free upgrade to unlimited Nitrox! There were always plenty of full tanks available. DO check the mix (often it was 1-2% different than marked.) We could also swap out tanks and use the facilities - rinse tanks, showers, etc. - at the other two Wanna Dive locations (The Hut and Windsock) which was very convenient. We did mostly shore diving on the west side, from White Slave up to Nukove, as well as two boat dives (Hands Off/Klein and Ol'Blue.) Water temps were 84. I get cold easily but was happy in a 1mm. My dive buddy wore a bathing suit and rash guard. ALL of the dives were great - mature healthy coral and abundant fish and invertebrates. We saw green turtles at three sites as well as spotted eagle rays. Happily, we saw only three lionfish the entire week. Our favorite dives? Angel City, The Invisibles, The Hilma Hooker and Karpata. Next time, we'll get over to Klein to explore those sites a bit more. Hurricane damage? We noted broken coral at some of the near shore reef (less than 10 m depth) but also evidence of new growth, especially the faster growing staghorn species. Below 10 m, the reef was in great shape.

Eats: we hit the grocery store for breakfast/lunch food and bottled water (we refilled the bottles and used them all week). Ate dinner out, most nights. Based on BT comments, we tried Bistro de Paris and Pasa de Bon - both very good! Also had a great meal at the restaurant at Captain Don's after a night dive.

Overall impression: Friendly people - locals and visitors alike - and fantastic diving. I WON'T be waiting another 30 years for my next visit.

Welcome to BT and thanks for the great report .

That is great that it still looks as good as it did in 1980.

You cannot beat the diving freedom offered on Bonaire , it is unique .

Wow 30 yrs........that was when Eden beach was the Sunset Beach Resort property (maybe even still Hotel Bonaire then?),,,,,,dive buildings, dock, top optional beach, restaurant/beach bar, some of the resort rooms, tennis courts, laundry building.... the main buildings were on the "new" Divi site........ still miss that old place!

Oops, welcome and thanks for the report, glad you had fun.

Brenda you old timer you

I remember the beach bar.

You must have been amazed at how many things have changed since 1980. Great report, and thanks.

When I visited 30 years ago, I stayed at the Divi Flamingo - looks like it is still there. And now there's a new "Divi" going up next door to Eden.
Jim - yes, there's quite few more houses than before, with many more being built (good for the local construction trade, I guess...) I must confess some concern about increasing density too much. An article in the local paper last week stated that 9% of the island is currently built out, with a projection of 18% in the next five years. Living in the Florida Keys, I've seen nearshore water quality decline with increased housing density. I hope Bonaire doesn't fall into the same trap.

DD..Wow...30 years went by and not another trip to Bonaire?

I guess Peter Hughes was running the dive op at Divi back then. We were there in '85 and thoroughly enjoyed his ten year anniversary celebration.

From my own perspective there have been many many changes on the island during that time frame. But one of the best changes is that the increased competition resulted in a much higher quality & better prices at the local restaurants.

My advice though, try to get back a little more often..

Jerry, Brenda...you're one lot off re: Sunset. The skeleton of Eden Beach was there in the 80's, next to Sunset Beach Hotel (we nick-named it the bunkers, because it was only a concrete shell). There was a side driveway entrance into Sunset that is now the entrance to Eden (more or less)--the side driveway led you around to Sunset's tennis courts, manager's house & parking lot next to the Beach Bar. Where the Sunset (aka Bonaire Beach Hotel) was is now an empty lot where Divi is advertising a new resort (since this billboard has been up a few years already...it looks like the new Divi is on hold indefinitely).

Jerry, shhhhhhhh.......forgot to say I was a traveling diver at age 5! haha
Ruth, when we were going there, that whole property, right to the dock, dive hut, behind were the lockers (HV side), was Sunset. One of our last trips to Sunset, the far fence had a makeshift dirt road on the other side, that the trucks were using while building Harbour Village Yacht Club Resort.

I've looked at many pics and vids from Eden, and I think at some point the properties were 1 (Sunset).I also seem to recall being told that P Hughes was involved with Sunset Beach Resort in its initial stages, or perhaps Hotel Bonaire, after he fell out with D? dunno 'bout that, it was heresay after-all.

Ruth you talking about the dirt road between the HV and Sunset? All the help would hang out there. Wanted great service, drop off a case of beer.

(Message edited by bonaire9 on July 12, 2010)

Yup, dirt road into Eden--it was used by HV during construction, but Eden & Sunset were never the same land--next door, and oddly shaped lots, but not the same. Also strange about the land is I think that it is also divided north to south, so that the land that was in front of what was Sunset (on the road), has/had a different owner than the seaside portion. If you can get to the second floor of the 2 story restaurant at Eden now (was Brisas del Mar/web cams were there/not sure if it's open), you can look to the north & see where the Sunset's "manager's house" was, and Sunset's southernmost dock, vague outlines of the old parking lot/tennis courts, bldgs etc. A very sad outline--I miss that atmosphere!

Me too Ruth.

You guys aren't having a Who's the Oldest Fart?" contest, are you...

snort....

Hi there! 30 years is quite a long time. When I returned in '04, it was 30 years as well (being born on Bonaire in 1970). Stepping out of the plane made me cry and kiss the tarmac. Why? I had forgotten the smell of the salty, warm air on Bonaire. It was like coming home! Since '04, I got married in '07 on Bonaire and my wife and I will be back this september. So yes, Bonaire is addictive :-)

Remco, cool story. Thanks. Coming home is always a good thing.

Ohhhh CB! I would prefer to think of it as a memory game! Wait a minute, memories come with age..........oh no! cuss!

Ruth, now I get it. thanks

Just joking, Brenda. I've only been going to Bonaire since, uh, 94? Can't compete with you guys, so I'll make smart remarks instead...

IMO, Bonaire's never been the same since the loss of the BBH/Sunset Beach Bar, and the Green Parrot at Sand Dollar.

Old-yup. But these are long-term memories, so ok. :-p