Dive Review of
Bonaire Dive and Adventures/Den Laman Condominiums in
Bonaire/N/A

Bahamas, Caymans, Belize, Honduras, Turks and Caicos

Dive Conditions

Shore diving only, set own profile  

We were shore diving so we took care of our own gear.  

Overall Rating

We took the same "red eye" from Houston to Bonaire (5:15am
arrival) and stayed in the same Condos as we did in June.  We were
pleasantly suprised that someone was there to meet us when we arrived at
Den Laman Condos. This was a change from June when we had to wait until
8:30 for them to open.  Although our room wasn't ready, we were given
another room to stay in until we could get into our accommodations.  The
office staff went out of their way to provide us with anything we needed.
One morning we noticed a leak in the air conditioner in the bedroom. We
reported the problem on our way out to dive.  The leak was fixed when we
got back!

Bari Reef is the "house" dive site.  In our opinion it is one of
the best places to dive on the island.  Bonaire diving is filled with
beautiful reefs and medium to small critters.  We did all shore diving so I
can't comment on the boat operation.  If you dive Nitrox with a 63 tank,
you have to plan ahead a bit as they run out of those pretty fast.  This
dive operation locks up the nitrox tanks fairly early and the air tanks
later on in the evening.  You'll want to put your night diving tanks in a
tank locker.  The steps up to the dock from the water are rather high; we
found it easier to exit onto the shore.

The island dive operators are really upset over the government's decision
to greatly increase the number of cruise ships coming to the island.  An
article in The Bonaire Reporter said the ships will be nearly 300 meters
long.  We talked to Bruce Bowker at Carib Inn and he said that as many as 3
cruise ships could be there at one time.  The pier extension to the town
pier isn't ready yet, so at least some ships are going to have to anchor. 
It seems that the "powers to be" are less and less interested in
divers.  We divers need to let the Bonaire officials know that this
activity isn't good for the Marine Park, the dive community or Bonaire in
general.  The divers eat, sleep and dive in Bonaire.  Cruise ship
passengers are there for a couple of hours and gone!            

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