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Dive Review of Divi Flamingo in
Bonaire

Divi Flamingo, May, 2008,

by Pat Sinclair, La, USA (Top Contributor Top Contributor 31 reports with 10 Helpful votes). Report 4194.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 3 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments We arrived in Bonaire at 8:45 PM on May 23rd. Clearing Customs in Bonaire was relatively easy compared to other Caribbean places we have gone, lines moved quickly and efficiently. The driver sent by the resort (Divi Flamingo) was awaiting us once we cleared Customs. A quick ride to the resort and the quick check-in and we were in the room and unpacking by 10:00 PM. The room was nice, and had a great balcony overlooking Pier 1 (where the dive boats come after every dive trip to wash off.)
The diveshop requires that you attend a briefing at 9:30 AM (the dive boats leave at 8:30 AM) and do a checkout dive before you get on a boat. We arranged with the diveshop to do the two morning dives that we would have otherwise missed (even though we had already paid for them) on Friday the 30th.

While we were staying at the Divi Flamingo, the Scuba Trust from the UK were also there. This is a group of handicapped divers. They were awesome as a group and as individuals. I got to know two of the divers, Alice and Geoff. I cannot tell you how much I admire them. Everything for them is so much harder and more involved than it is for me and other able-bodied divers. I don’t know if I would have their courage and grit if I were in their position.

On Thursday I made my 200th dive. I saw two cowfish mating in the early afternoon (around 2:30PM). I was far enough off that I failed to get a decent picture of it, but I will always remember the dance they performed – it was beautiful. It was a GREAT 200th dive!

The FOOD:

The resort provided breakfast daily on the plan we had purchased. I had my usual fruit and coffee breakfasts, while the hubs tried everything they made on the buffet at one time or another. He said the breakfasts served were good, I will take his word on that.

Chibi-Chibi restaurant – at Divi Flamingo. We ate here the Saturday after we arrived, Sunday and the Friday night before we left the island. On Saturdays they have an all you can eat BBQ. The second time we ate here, I had the blackened snapper and it was cooked perfectly. On Fridays they have an all you can eat pasta offering.

Richard’s – We ate here for our anniversary. This is a place I would return to eat on my next trip to Bonaire.

Catcus Blue – I would return to this place as well.

Bambu - VERY pricey restaurant. This is another place to which I would return.

Donna and Gorgios – I would not eat here again, even though it is such a short walk from where we were staying.


The Diving:

Day 0, May 24th:
Check out dive off the pier by the dive shop. Big drop to the water. 12 FSW, bottom time was 11 minutes.

Day 1, May 25th:
1st dive was at “Alice in Wonderland” South side, 65 FSW, bottom time was 51 minutes, viz was about 90 feet. Water temp was 80.
2nd dive was at “Corporal Meiss” South side of the Island, 63 FSW, bottom time was 51 minutes, viz was about 50feet. Water temp was about 80.
3rd dive was at “Petries Pillar”, North side, 57 FSW, bottom time 51 minutes, viz was about 75 feet, and was temp was approx 82.

Day 2, May 26th:
1st dive was at “Bonadventure Reef” at Klein Bonaire, 46 FSW, bottom time 50 minutes, viz was 75+ feet, and water temp was 80 degrees.
2nd dive was at “Hands Off Reef” at Klein Bonaire, 41 FSW, bottom time was 50 minutes, viz was 75+ feet, and water temp was 80 degrees.
3rd dive was at “Cliff#26”, North side, 63 FSW, bottom time was 51 minutes, was temp was 82 degrees.

Day 3, May 27th, (our anniversary):
1st dive was at “Backadera Reef” North side, 57 FSW, bottom time 45 minutes, viz was 75+ feet, and water temp was 80 degrees.
2nd dive was at “Andrea II”, North side, 63 FSW, bottom time was 50 minutes, viz was 80+ feet, water temp was 8- degrees.
3rd dive was at “Keepsake Reef” on Klein Bonaire, 62 FSW, bottom time was 45 minutes, viz was 75+ feet, water temp was 83 degrees.

Day 4, May 28th:
1st dive was at “Hilma Hooker Wreck” , 73 FSW, bottom time 29 minutes, viz was 75+ feet, and water temp was 80 degrees.
2nd dive was at “The Cliff”, 47 FSW, bottom time was 53 minutes, viz was 80+ feet, water temp was 80 degrees.
3rd dive was at “The Knife” on Klein Bonaire, 56 FSW, bottom time was 45 minutes, viz was 75+ feet, water temp was 83 degrees. My 200th dive!

Day 5, May 29th:
1st dive was at Klein Bonaire, “Rockpile Reef”, 63 FSW, bottom time 48 minutes, viz was 75+ feet, and water temp was 80 degrees.
2nd dive I forgot to get the name of the reef, 57 FSW, bottom time was 48 minutes, viz was 80+ feet, water temp was 80 degrees.
3rd dive was “Just a Nice Dive”, Klein Bonaire, 67 FSW, bottom time was 57 minutes, viz was 80+ feet, water temp was 83 degrees


Day 6, May 30th:
1st dive was at “Square Point” on South side, 57 FSW, bottom time was 51 minutes, viz was 75+ feet, water temp was 80 degrees.
2nd dive was at “Windsock” on South side, 41 FSW, 52 minutes bottom time, viz was 75+ feet, water temp was 81 degrees.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Bahamas, Florida Keys, St Eustatius, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Jamaica, Roatan, Curacao
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, surge, no currents
Water Temp 79-81°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions The usual rules in a underwater preserve were to be observed
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments Just a rinse bucket on the boat for photographers...however, many of the divers seemed to want to drop their masks in there and the crew said nothing. There was a lot of macro life on these reefs and clouds of small fish (brown chromis, creole wrasses, etc) everytwhere. Many Frogfish and Seahorses of all colours were eadily found, Great squadrons of squid were seen on most dives.
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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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