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Dive Review of Captain Don's Habitat in
Bonaire

Captain Don's Habitat: "Capt Don's Solo Diving adventure", Aug, 2017,

by Patricia A. Sinclair, LA, US (Top Contributor Top Contributor 31 reports with 10 Helpful votes). Report 10179 has 2 Helpful votes.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments In late July I mangled to injure my lower back trying to save the life of a baby gecko that had somehow gotten into my home. My trip to Bonaire, already paid for was scheduled for 3 weeks after the injury. I was positive I would be able to dive and be totally healed by the time of the trip. Well, the lower back while better, was not in shape for a boat bumping against the dock in rocky water. So boat dives were out, as it made my back really hurt!

My favorite DM (Nieto) was out of the water due to an injury and he suggested I shore dive. I thought as a single diver that was out for me, but he said I could solo dive, if I wanted to do so. Of course I would and did!!!

So twice a day (sometimes 3 times), everyday, I met Nieto at the dock, he had my tank and gear already set up for me, I walked down the steps, sat down in the water and he brought the tank/bcd/reg to me, I geared up and dropped into the water. All my dives were 70 minutes or more and for 2 to 3 dives a day that was great.

I had a wonderful time shore diving and I was able to find all the macro life I wanted and soon figured out where everything typically hang out I found 3 different octopus and just had a great time watching them. Lots of blennies, red lip blenny, roughhead, spiny head, sail fin and all the small shrimps and so many, many baby trunkfish on this trip. There were also the usual fish,sargent majors and their eggs (it was breeding season), grunts and tomtates were everywhere. I looked around for the seahorse I had been told existed down the wall a bit, but I never did find it, but t was fun looking.

The navigation here is easy - follow the rope to the wall then go either left or right on the wall, return is just as easy. You can go over towards Buddy's resort and see the coral trees and usually there are schools of horse-eye jacks hanging around under the dive boats after the afternoon dives are done.

My average dive was 35fsw, 75 minutes and I came back with at least half a tank of air every time.

Food was good, I had the package which allowed dinner and breakfast every day. I don't eat lunch, as I am usually changing batteries for the camera, or lenses and ports out for afternoon shooting, etc. So the prepaid meal plan was great for me, and the food was wonderful. I had a fried whole snapper for dinner one night, it was fabulous. Most nights I had a glass of wine with dinner and as I was doing shore dives, I was able to linger over breakfast (or go a little late and avoid the crowds.)

I intend to return to Bonaire again in 2019, and I will surely stay at Captain Don's again. The shore dive only route might be the best for me, as I can take my time and shoot what I want and just linger over the reef. I like that!
Websites Captain Don's Habitat   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Jamaica, Bimini-Bahamas, Grand Bahamas Island, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, Roatan, St Eustatius, Florida, Florida Keys, Dumaguette-Philippines, Cebu-Philippines, Bonaire, Curacao
Closest Airport Bonaire Getting There most American airlines fly there

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm
Water Temp 82-86°F / 28-30°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 75-100 Ft/ 23-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions The only restrictions the dive boats put on you are no deeper than 110 fsw and restrict to 60 minute dives.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Not much in the way of places to set up the camera, though there was a camera bucket to rinse the camera after dives. I usually go dry when on the boat, that way my camera is not bounced around everywhere and knocked into the other divers' equipment.
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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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