Dive Review of Wannadive Bonaire/Eden Beach Resort in
Bonaire/N.A.

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Wannadive Bonaire/Eden Beach Resort: "Great Dive Trip", Sep, 2015, by Debra Ryan, VA, US ( 1 report). Report 8723.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food	N/A
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	We have been diving on Bonaire for the past 10 years, and we have seen a great number of changes. We have watched the island change over the years, seen the encroachment of the lionfish, and STINAPA’s response, aggressive but controlled harvesting which has helped maintain the populations of fry, and juvenile fish, helping to maintain the reefs inhabitants at a natural level. We have seen the impact that even the glancing blow of a hurricane can do to the fragile reef environment, and also the collective work of the dive operators and diving community to help restore the reefs and re-grow some elkhorn and staghorn corals. We have watched the cruise ship industry change the dynamics of the downtown Kralendijk, increased tourist traffic and crowded restaurants, and the end of the downtown harbor “night dives.” We waited at the harbormaster’s office to receive permission to dive Salt Pier, then saw all diving prohibited there, later changed again to open diving, provided there were no ships taking on salt. Many things have changed some for better, some for worse, but without doubt, one of the best changes is ability to dive the east coast and Lac Cai with relative ease, thanks to Bonaire East Coast Diving. Fred and Hans have teamed up to provide an outstanding dive experience of east coast diving from the comfort of their semi-rigid inflatable, twin engine boat. The east side of Bonaire is the windward side- the prevailing winds are almost constant at 5 to 15 knots, and often higher. Beyond the lay great diving, but the difficulties involved in getting there were often beyond the capabilities of even the most hearty recreational divers. Even under the best conditions diving the east coast and Lac Cai was an adventure. Entering the water near the Conch mounds at the mouth of Lac Cai, you would embark on a long swim into a current, thru the “bathtub” a sand bottomed bowl which, while often filled with tarpon, was more often than not a “whiteout” of sand, silt and surge. Once thru the bathtub, you reach soft corals and sea grasses, where you are pushed back and forth with the swell and current- two steps up and one step back- till you finally reach blue water and the reef begins to fall off into the deep. It is now (at the 25 or 30 minute mark) that you begin to see the results of your efforts – the glory of diving the east- large eagle rays, often two, three or more, gliding thru the water seemingly effortlessly- if you are quiet they will come relatively close; more turtles than you can count, and other pelagics not often encountered on the west (leeward) side of the island. Depending on air consumption and current, you have about 15 minutes to enjoy the east coast in all its beauty before heading back to your entry point, thru significant current, and as often as not a final few hundred yards with an almost empty cylinder and surface swimming to get back to the mounds- But not any more!!! Fred and Hans and the team from Bonaire East Coast Diving offer both one and two tank dives during your visit. They provide a detailed dive brief and discuss safety and process in depth. We have dived with them over the past three years and each time the experience is greater than the last- it is well worth the cost of the trip. Your bottom time off the boat increases to between 45- 60 minutes depending on experience of the group, and with Fred or Hans leading the dive (the other on the boat to facilitate the pickup after the dive) you are almost guaranteed a safe and outstanding dive experience, with all the beauty of east coast, but none of the long swim hassles of a shore entry. It opens the wonder of the east coast up to less experienced divers and those with physical challenges, as well as the experienced diver looking for something a bit different while experiencing Bonaire. [bonaireeastcoastdiving.com link]
Websites	Wannadive Bonaire Eden Beach Resort
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Caribbean: BVI, Belize, Roatan, Turks & Caicos, Andros, Eleuthera, Florida, Bahamas
Closest Airport	Flamigo	Getting There	Easy from East Coast of US
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, dry	Seas	calm
Water Temp	80-82°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	2
Water Visibility	90-100 Ft/ 27-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	The dive with East Coast diving is a guided dive. Dive time limited to the first diver that hits 500 psi
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	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	[None]

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Dive Review of Wannadive Bonaire/Eden Beach Resort in Bonaire/N.A.

Wannadive Bonaire/Eden Beach Resort: "Great Dive Trip", Sep, 2015,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Wannadive Bonaire/Eden Beach Resort in
Bonaire/N.A.