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Dive Review of Captain Don's Habitat in
Bonaire

Captain Don's Habitat: "Bonaire, yet again", Nov, 2022,

by Bobby Munno, NY, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 23 reports with 15 Helpful votes). Report 12199.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 2 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity 2 stars
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling 2 stars
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 2 stars
Comments Bonaire ain't what it used to be! But I guess that applies to most Caribbean dive destinations. I was absolutely amazed at the decline in sea fauna. I have been diving Bonaire since the mid-70s and as recently as November 2019 and was heartbroken over the fish population. On this trip I dove from Red Slave to Karpata to Klein and found the constant to be a total lack of fish, crustaceans & mollusks. During a full week of diving 3 times a day, I never encountered a Grey Angel or Queen Trigger, saw 4 total squid, 2 total lobsters on 4 night dives, 1 octopus, 2 stingrays and zero eagle rays. It was depressing. Bonaire charges a tourist tax of $75 per diver which is a total scam. The roads are poorly maintained crap with ubiquitous potholes and huge puddles of mud in and around Kralendijk during an unusually wet spell. Captain Don's had a constant puddle of mud/sewage at the entrance roundabout that waxed and waned with the rains. The island is overdeveloped and suffers through daily cruise ship visits. There are great restaurants, however, with spectacular standouts being It Rains Fishes (Miss Persia is a most gracious and lovely gem of a host), Sebastian's & At Sea. Go to Eddy's for live music on Tuesday for TAFKAH. Make reservations before you get to the island to avoid disappointment. The staff and dive staff at Captain Don's Habitat were all wonderful and accommodating but wear and tear on the resort is evident. The bathroom ceiling in my room leaked from the unit above which added a substantial icky factor and there was standing water in many places throughout the resort.
Websites Captain Don's Habitat   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Bahamas, Belize, Bonaire, Cabo, Cancun, Carriacou, 3 Caymans, Cozumel, St Croix, Curacao, Dominica, St Eustatius, FL, Grenada, HI, St Helena, Iceland, Jamaica, LI, St Lucia, Mntsrrat, NYC, Palau, PA, Philippines, Poland, Roatan, Saba, Tobago, Turks&Caicos, Utila, St Vincent, Yucatan cenotes
Closest Airport BON Getting There direct flight on United Airlines from EWR to BON

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy Seas choppy
Water Temp 81-83°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 81-100 Ft/ 25-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Captain Don's promotes freedom diving
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 2 stars Tropical Fish 1 stars
Small Critters 1 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 1 stars Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 1 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments I only brought a GoPro on this trip and exited the water usually thinking it was a waste of effort.
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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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