Quote:
Originally Posted by penguinz
Where do you recommend staying on Bonaire? We were supposed to go in 2020 but that got canceled.  |
If you can, do a VRBO... Hands down a VBRO and a truck is my way to go. Especially if you dive a lot, and I will probably do at least three dives a day, so it's the cat's ass.
If you're not into that, I love the
Plaza Resort Bonaire. The same three great boats they've always had, and a new Cat that sits just on the other side of the resort's foot bridge (draw too much draft to dock with the other three boats inside their mini-harbor.
Next is
Buddy Dive. It's more central in Kralendijk that the Plaza, but it's pretty awesome too.
No matter what, seriously consider a truck. From getting up to Rincón to visit the Cadushy distillery, to getting over to the east side to dive the
east coast dive experience , it's a must. And if you're an experienced diver, call that shop and leave them your number for a "good" day to dive the east coast any you won't regret it. There are no bad dives in BON, but the east coast, when conditions are favorable, KICKS ASS! But the Hilma Hooker and the Salt Pier are two must dives, but the truck opens all 90+ dive sites to you. Just be ready for shore entries that can, at times, be slightly challenging. I know the couple I'm meeting there want me to work with them on side mount as they progress toward their full cave certification, and I've told them getting in with two 80s will determine if you really like side mount, or not.
Next.... Start taking 250 - 500mb of B1 for at least a week before you go, prolly 2 weeks; the bugs hate it once it starts leeching from your skin (evidently), and take some serious DEET with you too. The
noseeums are brutal this year... And, if you can, buy some of
this Epoch Body Butter stuff, tales from the island is that it's showing promise in fending off the little ****ers. Words from the students I'm meeting there is that they're far worse than anything any of us have experienced, even in Roatan. That's saying something. We're loading-up on Vitamin B1, mega-% DEET sprays, and that body butter for us and them (they're there for another few months), and bug spray is hard to find right now...
PM me if you want more info.