Dive Review of
Divi dive/Div Flamingo in
Bonaire

 Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Curacao, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Cozumel, New
Jersey 

Dive Conditions

We did all shore diving - no restrictions  

[None]  

Overall Rating

We stayed at the Divi Flamingo October 30 to November 6. Check-in was fast
and smooth, although initially we were assigned a room without the extras
we ordered (2nd floor, king bed). We rejected this room and were quickly
assigned the room we requested. Seemed odd that we were not given the
correct room immediately. 

The Divi continues to improve. Our room was freshly painted, well
appointed, clean and kept that way. Housekeeping was outstanding, even
remembering to supply us with extra towels once we asked for more. The dive
operation used the newly renovated south pier. Fine for boats but lacking
benches for shore divers. The North pier is being rebuilt (several new
pilings were poured during our stay). Hotel landscaping also is much
improved over last year. The casino is being enlarged and the assistant
general manager told us the swimming pools will be rebuilt later this month
(November). 

We thought that the food was good at the Divi, but felt that the American
style buffet breakfast was more than we wanted to pay for @ $27.50 for two
folks. Instead we enjoyed a morning stroll along the harbor and ate at City
Cafe and The Lost Penguin, where they serve WONDERFUL tropical French toast
(with Belgium Chocolate sauce) for about $13 for both of us including our
hot beverages. We had great dinners at Casablanca, It Rains Fishes,
Zeezicht Seaside, The Old Inn, Ribs Factory. Pizza at the stand in the
marketplace downtown is disappointing as were luncheon hamburgers at
Casablanca. Dinner at Richards Seafood is over-rated (Frommers 2 star) and
over priced - avoid!

Ivan has washed away the sandy beaches exposing the underlying hardpan
sharp coral, mounded piles of dead coral along the shore and together these
conditions make shore diving entrances and exits along the southern half of
the lee coastline very challenging. Divers need to carefully select their
entry/exit points. (We hope Nature restores the beaches in a few months but
for now shore diving can be more than exciting.) Shore diving along the
downtown is fine and by the marina is very nice. And of course diving from
the various docks is just simplicity itself. We did not see large
creatures, other than tarpon which accompanied us at night darting in and
out of our dive light beams looking for prey. Very exciting! But we did see
several types of eels, including a golden moray, clouds of small fish and
the wonderful seahorses. 

Our low rating for new divers ONLY applies to the current shore diving
conditions. Other than the entry/exit problems we encountered, diving at
Bonaire is easy, relaxing and great fun for all levels of divers.
 

Questions?
Send an email to the author of this report

What others have to say about Undercurrent
And get immediate access to ALL 256 dive reviews of Bonaire
and all other dive destinations immediately!

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. It is presented here to provide Undercurrent readers with timely information on dive operations worldwide. The material may contain errors, typos, ... Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above. An edited version of this report will likely appear in the next Travelin' Divers' Chapbook, which will be sent to newsletter subscribers and published online for Online Members.