Dive Review of Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn in
Bonaire

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Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn: "Authentic Hospitality", May, 2019, by Blake Hottle, CA, US ( Sr. Reviewer 9 reports with 7 Helpful votes). Report 11318.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food	N/A
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I'd been meaning to check out this place for several years while visiting Bonaire. Mr. Bowker had saved my butt with a regulator repair years ago, and was impressed by his humble nature and generosity. Forgive me, but in a way, this place is kind of like the Southwest Airlines of dive resorts. It's not fancy, but in the things that matter it gets everything VERY right. First, the staff: All wonderful. It's clear that Bruce treats his people well. Guests are expected to be responsible and behave like adults. For this, you get amazing freedom in how you want to dive. You don't have to stick with the group on the boat dives, there really is no time limit (but don't be a jerk about it, and keep everyone else waiting too long ), the scheduling is flexible, and there is an unhurried, yet attentive vibe. It's a cliche to say that lasting friendships were made, but I really feel that way... both in terms of the guests and staff. Everyone just clicked. Bruce has kept this resort small, with just a few units that he can manage in a quality way. The rooms? Nothing particularly fancy, but again, everything you need. Many of the rooms have real kitchens or at least basic dishes and microwave and fridge. The beds are a bit odd- two twins pushed together to make a Queen, but the place is super clean, plenty of outlets to plug things into. Good lighting, Tile floors. The air-conditioning is super quiet and if there is ever any mechanical issue Bruce is ON IT fast. The dive shop is small but, really well equipped. They can fix almost anything. and the prices are really reasonable. May is windy season, and it WAS windy. So this cut the viz sometimes, and made certain dive sites a bad option. There are always places to go, though, and the staff knew where to find the lee and have a good dive. On another negative note, While we were there several dives were marred by what I call green snotty slime on the sandy bottom. It was all over the sand at Salt Pier, and it's clear that something was really out of balance in the ecology. I had never seen it like this in years past. The locals are talking about it. Quietly. These are not pristine reefs by any means. But Bonaire is still a very good value. And of course, all the shore diving. Looking forward to going back
Websites	Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn [same]
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Bay Islands Honduras, Bonaire, Hawaii, Virgin Islands, Belize, Oregon, Washington, Southern California, Raja Ampat, Bali, Alor, Sulawesi
Closest Airport	Bonaire	Getting There	easy. Through Atlanta via Delta
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy	Seas	calm, no currents
Water Temp	82-°F / 28-°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Bouyancy Control.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	no
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	This is not really a photo-oriented operation. That said, it did not matter to me as there was room on the boat for my rinse bag, and the rooms are spacious with plenty of space for rinsing and storing camera gear. I'd recommend bringing your own "ice chest" type bag if you have a good camera that needs to be kept out of the sun. It's an open boat. Only two of the guests (including myself) had high-quality camera systems, and I found that to be a good thing. There was an emphasis on having a nice dive. There were no crazed photographers clutching coral and kicking sand to get the perfect shot.

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Dive Review of Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn in Bonaire

Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn: "Authentic Hospitality", May, 2019,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn in
Bonaire