Talk about exciting! Our last day on Bonaire after 10 great days was sighting a huge Manta Ray cruising back and forth in front of the Black Durgon Inn not more than ten feet off the dock. Trying some night snorkeling several days earlier in the same place, I spotted a pair of eyes shining back against my light, which turned out to be a Spiny Lobster. The large Moray was also a surprise and treat, seen feeding at night.
We checked out many other sites and always enjoyed what we saw. I also liked the Caribbean Reef Squid that I encountered at Andrea I. Talk about a precision drill team! The state park is a must tour as are the salt ponds, and the viewing of the very "pink" flamingos. Good light houses too.
We travel with the idea of trying to seek out not only the marine life but also the local "flavor". The Black Durgon Inn was great, with a clean, modest comfortable room and a community kitchen opening right onto the beach and dock. The always witty and smiling Doris cooks a great breakfast every day (except one, cooked by Al, the gracious host and owner). What a good base from which to explore! And if you don't feel like it, then the birds, reptiles, relaxation and marine life are right there!
The Colonial Dutch architecture and quaint locally owned restaurants made this visit unique as well. We like the differences when traveling and not the sameness as to what we know at home in the US. We had very good Wahoo at Roses in Rinçon, and two great meals at Maikys Snack on the road to Lagun. Some meals were cooked in the inns kitchen or eaten out at other local establishments. Forget the Kentucky Fried Chicken and luxury hotels if you want to discover the "real" Bonaire. You won't be disappointed. I can't wait to get dive certified and go back.

Great trip report, Gary. Succinct, full of
enthusiasm, and nice amount of detail.
masha danki.

Hello All, - Bon bini

Just came across this Web Site whilst looking up my Web Site on the various search engines.

http://www.bryett.freeserve.co.uk

My boyfriend and I have visited the island over the past 4 years and are very much looking forward to our trip this coming December. He is a diver, I am not. But I plan to get certified this year as I will be commencing study in Marine Biology this September. I have some great tips on travel, eating and accommodations etc, should anyone out there be intereted.

Bye for now

Sarah

I'm not playing detective here but the animation used by Diver67 is also used by Sarah in her web sight...any connection?

Hello Anonymous,

No connection that I know of. As far as I'm concerned, all are free to use my pictures/animations.

Hope you enjoyed my site??

Very cool....

Hi, Sarah. Dropped by for a peek now. It's definitely worth coming back for another longer look. Soon I hope I'll be able to steal an animation,too. With your permission, of course. We're a wild branch from the family tree, in Canada. But we still 'as our morals'.

Dear Kerry

Feel free to take whatever you want. I'm just glad you enjoyed the site..

Bye from Kew Gardens, England..

Sarah, what a great website! I especially like how the pictures fade in & out when going to the larger version or back. Nice music, too. Thanks for sharing with us.
Bye from Colorado!

Thanks Virginia, it's always nice to hear that someone appreciates your hard work!!!

Sarah (From rainy Kew Gardens)!!!

My son and I were glued to your site, Sarah!
(I had to remind him to look at his homework,
too - difficult to compete with your handiwork!)

Nancy (from sunny Colorado!)

Thanks Nancy, I have tried to put some educational stuff in there too.. hope you came across it.. Bye from a surprisingly sunny evening here in Kew Gardens, England!!!

I don't know if this is the appropriate forum, but I will be visiting Bonaire on May 18 and have a couple questions, hopefully someone above would take a minute to help. For safety reasons, do you recommend going on snorkeling tours or are most of the snorkeling/diving sites listed in the tourist info fairly safe? No one mentions sharks?Anyone had an experience at the Deep Blue View they would like to mention? I appreciate any feedback you can give

All the marked snorkeling/diving shore sites are fairly safe, depending upon your swimming ability and conditions at the moment, etc. Some sites are isolated and there would be no one around to help you. We frequently go to sites with no one in sight.

If you have a vehicle, remember to NEVER leave any valuables in the vehicle or roll up the windows or lock it. If you lock it, then a dishonest person will assume you are protecting something. Take your drivers license and a few bucks and your keys with you into the water. This is good advice anytime you park in an isolated area.

I have never seen a shark off Bonaire, but I've dove with plenty off North Carolina's coast.

We only snorkel, and have used some guided snorkel trips only for a change as we've found Bonaire snorkeling (at the marked sites) to be very safe. Don't forget, you MUST have booties for most access spots (otherwise you'll rip your footsies to pieces!). If you can get/have hard soles, all the better, although we manage with fairly flexible ones. When we have to replace, we'll go with hard soles.

Try a snorkel at Lac Bay -- the upside-down jellyfish are something else.

There was a mention of the Deep Blue View somewhere on this site recently. Try doing a search.

Have a wonderful trip. You'll find out why so many of us go back, and back, and back. We're newcomers, only looking forward to our fourth trip (probably not until January/Feb)

Thanks for your responses. We are very excited about our trip. We both have the rubber soled water socks, hopefully this will be fine. We will definitely check out Lac Bay. I will give you a full report. Thanks traci

Also, Traci, don't forget about night snorkeling. You'll see wonderful things/creatures you won't during the day. There are guided night snorkels, or you can just go in your favorite day spot and see how different it it. Access at any of the resorts is pretty good. We enjoyed going in from the small pier by the Tipsy Seagull at Plaza Resort, and also at the Divi Flamingo, because access at night is so easy there, but there are lots of other places, too.