2 weeks in Bonaire
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:04 pm
I just got home from two weeks in Bonaire and had an amazing time.
My wife Jenya and I stayed at the Golden Reef Resort and did the Dive, Stay, Drive package. We also got the unlimited nitrox upgrade.
The setup was a very basic 1 bedroom apartment with a kitchen and a/c. It was fine but far from luxury. We also got a 4 door pickup truck with a tank rack.
It took us almost 20 hours from the time we left our house until we arrived at our apartment just north of the main town of Kralendyk. American Airlines was not great and I dont think I will fly with them again.
The diving was good. Water temp was a consistent 81 degrees. No change at depth. Vis was 70 feet at its worst and 100 plus at best. Days after it rained brought out particles in the water but 70 feet is 70 feet. No complaints.
The marine life was impressive. Highlights were turtles, eagle rays, southern sting rays, mantis shrimp, reef squid, and at least 5 species of eel. I loved the garden eels! Other divers saw dolphins, a manta, and a hump back off the east coast.
The coral and sponges were enormous. Some of the purple tube sponges were at least 8 feet tall.
Food was mixed. I had some of the best meals I have ever had and some mediocre at best. We loved Wil's tropical grill, Bobbyjans BBQ, and Pasa Bon Pizza. I did not care so much for Donna and Georgios, and Cactus Blue. For lunches there is a small shawarma place just north of the round about at the Sand Dollar mini market.
Bonaire topside was cool. It is a desert island about 110 square miles. We could drive from tip to tip in about 30 min or so. The 70 or so sites are broken up into northern, town, southern and Bonaire Klein. We pretty much stuck to the north and south. We found the town sites good for night dives and messing around on small wrecks that line the coast.
Mosquito's were pretty bad. Topside temp was 80 with a constant breeze. Felt like a fan was on the whole time. It was sunny mostly with a few rainy times. Weather was great.
There is a double reef system in the south that we loved to dive. While some of the northern sites were more like wall diving. Sites that stood out for us were Aquarius, The Lake, Karpata, Thousand Steps, Angel City, Alice in Wonderland. We also dove the Hilma Hooker. It is a 235 foot cargo ship that was sunk in about 90 fsw. Very cool dive.
Our last day was Carnival. Not a bad way to spend our last day as we could not dive.
The photos are my first try at underwater photography. So excuse the quality. I think I have the bug thought and am ready to buy a camera, housing, and strobe. Jackie was kind enough to loan me her camera for the trip. (Thanks Jackie!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24268376/
My wife Jenya and I stayed at the Golden Reef Resort and did the Dive, Stay, Drive package. We also got the unlimited nitrox upgrade.
The setup was a very basic 1 bedroom apartment with a kitchen and a/c. It was fine but far from luxury. We also got a 4 door pickup truck with a tank rack.
It took us almost 20 hours from the time we left our house until we arrived at our apartment just north of the main town of Kralendyk. American Airlines was not great and I dont think I will fly with them again.
The diving was good. Water temp was a consistent 81 degrees. No change at depth. Vis was 70 feet at its worst and 100 plus at best. Days after it rained brought out particles in the water but 70 feet is 70 feet. No complaints.
The marine life was impressive. Highlights were turtles, eagle rays, southern sting rays, mantis shrimp, reef squid, and at least 5 species of eel. I loved the garden eels! Other divers saw dolphins, a manta, and a hump back off the east coast.
The coral and sponges were enormous. Some of the purple tube sponges were at least 8 feet tall.
Food was mixed. I had some of the best meals I have ever had and some mediocre at best. We loved Wil's tropical grill, Bobbyjans BBQ, and Pasa Bon Pizza. I did not care so much for Donna and Georgios, and Cactus Blue. For lunches there is a small shawarma place just north of the round about at the Sand Dollar mini market.
Bonaire topside was cool. It is a desert island about 110 square miles. We could drive from tip to tip in about 30 min or so. The 70 or so sites are broken up into northern, town, southern and Bonaire Klein. We pretty much stuck to the north and south. We found the town sites good for night dives and messing around on small wrecks that line the coast.
Mosquito's were pretty bad. Topside temp was 80 with a constant breeze. Felt like a fan was on the whole time. It was sunny mostly with a few rainy times. Weather was great.
There is a double reef system in the south that we loved to dive. While some of the northern sites were more like wall diving. Sites that stood out for us were Aquarius, The Lake, Karpata, Thousand Steps, Angel City, Alice in Wonderland. We also dove the Hilma Hooker. It is a 235 foot cargo ship that was sunk in about 90 fsw. Very cool dive.
Our last day was Carnival. Not a bad way to spend our last day as we could not dive.
The photos are my first try at underwater photography. So excuse the quality. I think I have the bug thought and am ready to buy a camera, housing, and strobe. Jackie was kind enough to loan me her camera for the trip. (Thanks Jackie!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24268376/
