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No photos available at this time
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Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5
(best):
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| Accommodations |
 |
Food |
 |
| Service and Attitude |
 |
Environmental Sensitivity |
N/A |
| Dive Operation |
|
Shore Diving |
|
| Snorkeling |
N/A |
Overall Rating |
| Value for $$ |
N/A |
| Beginners |
|
| Advanced |
|
| Comments |
Months of research on Bonaire left us with concerns about resort facilities, dive operations and crime. We are serious divers with extensive Caribbean experience. We chose Toucan's special offer along with the Plaza Resort package. Arrival by AA was on time and Budget rented the typical 4 door Toyota pickup for $220 for the week.
The resort desk staff at 10PM on Saturday checkin was lead by Marco who was very personable and had us in our room within 10 minutes. The room was a Junior Suite which was air conditioned, large, 2 queen beds, refrig, safe and a balcony overlooking the Caribbean and pool on the upper floor (J109). The room was clean and comfortable. Maid service changed the linens on Wednesday and the rest of the week we had the Privacy Please sign on the door.
Diving with Toucan was excellent with 8:30 departures for 2 tank and back by 12:30 (sometimes 1PM if we overdove our sites). Each day included a North or South dive site on west Bonaire and a second dive off Klein Bonaire. Pieter as DM was outstanding at critter finding for UWP (he is a frogfish and seahorse specialist)! Other DM's were great to dive with too. Gear lockers and rinse tank were right at the dock. Tanks were always at 3K+. Shore dive tanks were located in three different convenient places.
18th Palm off resort beach is great dive for orientation and afternoon/evening dives. EVERY DIVE OF THE 12 WAS AN AQUARIUM DIVE!!
The slope starts at 20' and goes off to sand at 100' at 45 degrees. On every dive we were surrounded by reef fish beyond count. Juvenile Drums abounded as well as several seahorses and frogfish (sponges). Trumpets of 4 different colors were logged as well as several rays, peacock flounders, golden morays and scorpionfish.
The sites were all easy dives with average botton time exceeding 60 minutes at depths of 60'. Beyond 60', the fishlife drops off as does the available light. There is simply no need to dive deeper than 60' anywhere in Bonaire in order to see maximum fish and coral.
Overall, Bonaire is a solid "5" across the board. No reported crime, great restaurant choices, clean rooms, friendly staff and a GREAT Dive Operator. It is the place to go regardless of your experience level. A true vacation! |
Reporter and Travel |
| Dive Experience |
Over 1000 dives |
| Where else diving |
18 of the Caribbean Islands since 2002 plus Indiana and Florida |
| Closest Airport |
|
Getting There |
|
Dive Conditions |
| Weather |
sunny, dry |
Seas |
choppy, noCurrents |
| Water Temp |
84-80°F / 29-27°C |
Wetsuit Thickness |
1 |
| Water Visibility |
60-100 Ft/ 18-30 M
|
Dive Policy |
| Dive own profile |
yes |
| Enforced diving restrictions |
60+ minutes or 500psi, whichever came first, but not really enforced
|
| Liveaboard? |
no |
Nitrox Available? |
N/A |
What I Saw |
| Sharks |
1 or 2 |
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 |
 |
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5
(best):
|
| Subject Matter |
|
Boat Facilities |
|
| Overall rating for UWP's |
|
Shore Facilities |
|
| UW Photo Comments |
Obviously Bonaire is great for UWP. Each boat had a large tub for cameras with signage for NO MASKS - CAMERAS ONLY! Toucan also had a phot center with computer offerings to copy, edit (CS), burn to disc and print at a very low cost. On staff professional offered free advice and comments - OUTSTANDING! |
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