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Dive Review of Captain Don's Habitat in
Bonaire

Captain Don's Habitat: "Fantastic Shore diving", May, 2016,

by John kirkenir, NJ, US (Contributor Contributor 17 reports with 11 Helpful votes). Report 9385 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling 4 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Second time to Bonaire and Captain Don's. Diving Freedom is their motto and it's what you have in Bonaire. Bonaire is not a place that lends itself to family non divers. This resort isn't really set up for non divers either. When you get a package at Captain Don's you get unlimited shore diving and a certain number of boat dives. Rent a pickup but make sure you know how to drive a manual. Almost all the rentals are manuals. It's a short drive to the resort (once you figure out the route. Pretty simple really make a right out of the airport and follow the coast. Just a little left and right in town and you're almost there. Once you get there check in is easy. It's not a big resort so the rooms, restaurant, dive shop and bar are all close.
The resort requires divers that haven't been there within the last 6 months to attend a briefing the first morning before diving. This is where you learn where everything is and how to sign up for the dive boats and how to get and return tanks. They also want you to do a shore dive at the resort reef before going on a boat dive to get your gear and weights all in sync. Once you're briefed you're pretty much on your own. No baby sitting here. Want to go on a boat? sign your name on the board for the dive site and time you want. Want to dive the house reef gear up and go. They do want you to dive with a buddy but you can dive whatever profile you want. Shore diving is as simple as throw tanks in the back of the truck. Put you gear on top and drive to one of the shore dive sites, marked with a yellow rock on the side of the road, gear up and wade in. There are so many great dive sites on this island it's hard to imagine getting tired of them. Nitrox was a flat price for the week. Tanks and analyzer are in a wire cage. Check the numbers, write them in the log and take the tanks. Put them outside the same area when you get back. We did 19 dives in 6 days of diving which wasn't hard to do at all. Bonaire isn't big animal type diving. In two years I haven't see one shark. I've seen a few eagle rays and there are lots of big tarpon and some big groupers but it's more of a macro type place. Lots of eels, reef fish, turtles, sea horses, frog fish and the like. That being said you need to take your time and spend less time swimming and more looking around. The reef in front of the resort is one of the best on the island. Great place to just take a small area and try to see everything you can. Amazing what you'll see. There are big tarpon hanging around all the time. They stay a good distance off during the day but like to hunt in your light on night dives. They can be a nuisance but also fun to watch up close.
The resort includes breakfast every morning and you can buy lunch and dinner there as well. Lots of good places to eat within 10 minutes of the resort. Prices are pretty reasonable for a vacation spot.
Go enjoy. Very relaxing place to visit. No mega resorts here. Divers paradise
Websites Captain Don's Habitat   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Bonaire, Cozumel, Costa Rica, Bahamas, Florida, curaçao, Bermuda, North Carolina
Closest Airport Bonaire Getting There Ten minute truck ride

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas calm, choppy, no currents
Water Temp 84-84°F / 29-29°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 79-100 Ft/ 24-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Minimal restrictions. 500 psi back on boat - not enforced or checked. No restrictions on shore dives
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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