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Dive Review of Belmar Bonaire in
Bonaire

Belmar Bonaire: "Many Trips to Bonaire", Sep, 2015,

by Frank Hall, IN, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 23 reports with 6 Helpful votes). Report 8363.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 3 stars Food N/A
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation N/A Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments We've made many trips to Bonaire over the years. Like just about everywhere else, there is more traffic and hustle/bustle than there used to be. The reef and fish life are not quite as healthy either. There's more crime. A friend got their car broken into twice on this trip. Nothing was taken or broken because they didn't leave anything in the car and left the car unlocked as instructed by the rental company. Never the less the glove compartment and other areas had been gone through.
That being said, Bonaire is still a great place to dive, and the vast majority of people are very friendly.
As I said earlier, we've made the trip to Bonaire many times. However, this is the first time we stayed at Belmar Apartments. Belmar is associated with Buddy Dive.
The Good.
Belmar is located about 5 minutes South of the airport. They'll pick you up and take you back to the airport. All of their rental trucks are at Belmar Apartments. Can't be much easier.
I'd give the entire staff an A+. It's a small resort, where they actually know your name and will try to accomodate your requests. The apartments have fully equipped kitchens and an ocean view. Each apartment is furnished differently depending on the owner. The small pool and grounds were always well kept. Plently of tanks were always available. There is a set of steps from the tanks to the dock and another set from the dock to the water, but they are easy to manage. Sara's Smile, the house reef is covered with soft coral and is beautiful. However, a lot of surge so the water can be stirred up.
Areas of Concern.
The traffic noise was terrible in our ground floor room. A new airport terminal is under construction and large trucks run up and down the road from sun rise to sun set. The rental trucks set right on the edge of the road so you really have to watch when loading tanks. AC is only in the bedrooms. The living areas face the water, mostly West, so you can connect the dots it gets very hot and stuffy in the afternoon. I would suggest making reservations through someone like Bonaire Pros or another agency. Belmar doesn't have a secure website for reservations. If your opt for a 2nd story room, beware that the steps are VERY steep, have sharp turns, and are located at the front (away from the water). Buddy Dive is supposed to pick divers up at the Belmar dock. The boat only came on one day, so I'm not sure how the boats are scheduled. We were shore diving only.
Websites Belmar Bonaire   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Roatan, Belize, Little and Grand Cayman, Florida Keys
Closest Airport Flamingo Bonaire Getting There Delta through Atlanta

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 82-82°F / 28-28°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 80-60 Ft/ 24-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions None
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

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 2 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 2 stars
UW Photo Comments No camera rinse tank.
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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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