Instant Reader Report
on Bonaire Dive & Adventure / Sand Dollar Condominiums in
Bonaire / [N/A] on
2002/12
by
James and Kandace Heimer , TX, USA
Report Number 030108164143440

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 Bahamas, Great Barrier Reef/Coral Sea, Belize, Bay Islands, Hawaii,
California, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tahiti, Aruba, Grand
Cayman/Cayman Brac 

Dive Conditions

Marine Preserve restrictions, depth limits 100' from boats, 60 min time
limit, able to dive computer profile  

The resort had no particular accomodations for photographers.  There was a
separate rinse tank on shore, but nothing on the boats.  The excellent
visibility and variety of marine life account for the high overall rating.  

Overall Rating

Travel to the resort was extremely difficult -- Due to cancelation of our
Air Jamaica flight from Houston on early Saturday morning, we were
rerouted through Miami with much delay, spent the night in Montego Bay,
and had to go through Curacao, then to Bonaire.  We finally arrived Sunday
at 4:30pm and our luggage arrived five hours later.  The return trip got us
home in one day and was uneventful.  

The resort was clean and comfortable with a great view of the ocean.  Only
the bedrooms were air conditioned but the weather was pleasant and we left
the doors opened to the patio balcony for a nice breeze.  Housekeeping was
sufficient, however, needed to ask for more towels each day.  Since we were
in the townhouses, we were set apart from the dock and the dive operation. 
Wings A and B are closer to the activities.  Den Lamen Restaurant was okay
but food was expensive and not of good quality.  We did not eat at Mangos,
the on premises restaurant mainly because it was not on the beach.  In
between dives, there was no place to get snacks or drinks at the dock.  We
were told that we could not use Den Lamen's facilities if we had dive gear
and dive suits on.  We liked Rum Runners at Capt Don's and the Lion's Den
at the Lion's Dive Club, and we liked the facilities at Buddy's Dive
Resort because there was more activity and people there.

Bonaire Dive and Adventure was an excellent dive operation.  We received a
thorough Bonaire dive briefing and orientation of the island, which
includes shore diving.  The boats are small but well equipted for diving. 
I rented a BC, which was in excellent condition.  Also, it appeared that
the rest of their rental equipment was well maintained.  They have a large
storage room to accomodate dive equipment and a place to hang dive suits to
dry out.  There are several rinse tanks, camera rinse tank, and two showers
right on the dock.  For night shore diving, they have outside lockers, with
locks, to store your equipment, making it very convenient to do a night
dive off the dock. 

Divemasters were safety conscious, knowledgeable of marine life and
helpful on the dives.  We especially enjoyed diving with Jerry, on site
naturalist, and Dara.  Both of them pointed out numerous fish, seahorses
and coral, that we would never have found on our own.  After the dive,
they explained the characteristics and behaviour of the things we saw on
the dive.

Bonaire's shore diving was excellent.  We purchased a book at the dive
shop which described each shore dive in great detail, including enter and
exit tips.  There are big, yellow rock signs to show you the direction to
the shore dives.

Despite the trouble getting there, we plan to go back in May, 2003 with
Air Jamaica.  However, we will probably stay at Buddy's or Capt. Don's.





s  

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