BONAIRE
Bonaire was named the “Home of Diving Freedom” by Captain Don over 35 years ago and it still holds true today! With over 50 world class dive sites and most of them accessible by shore 365 days a year, warm waters, and great visibility, it really does make Bonaire the ideal location for dive training. Our house reef is less than 30ft from our classroom where we have a beautiful confined open water area and can easily reach depths of 160ft. Other sites offer access to even deeper depths from shore. With the ease of convenience and on-site location we are not beholden to a boat schedule. Very rarely do we lose days of training due to weather and even more rarely to equipment issues, as everything we need is right at our fingertips.
Getting There
Bonaire is located in the Caribbean Netherlands. Coming from the US, United Airlines offers direct flights from Houston and Newark, American Airlines from Miami, and Delta from Atlanta. Depending on convenience of travel days there is the possibility of coming through Aruba or Curacao. Coming from Europe, KLM has direct flights from Amsterdam.
Getting Around
As mentioned, the diving will be done by shore and the pickup truck is the preferred vehicle. It is also the vehicle that makes up most of the rental fleet of the car rental agencies on Bonaire. You will need to reserve a truck if you want to dive other sites during your training or be able to enjoy other sites after training. We can provide accommodations at Captain Don’s resort and complete the entirety of your training on our house reef, giving you the option of avoiding having a rental car.
Dive Logistics
With our onsite facility, shop, and resort, logistics could not be easier. We are able to provide all consumables as well as fill and mix any gas we desire. We also have the ability to provide accommodations. We are a Dive Rite dealer and carry most spare parts for the O2ptima. We have a huge stock of EAC’s and also carry Intersorb and Sofnolime for those who prefer to pack. Besides CCR equipment, we also carry a good selection of dive equipment and essentials for technical diving.
Diving
We will be diving in warm, beautiful, blue Caribbean waters. The average water temperature is 80-82 degrees Fahrenheit year around. We will be spending long days in the water and most people find between a 3mm and 5mm full suit is sufficient. With Bonaire being close to the equator, the sun can be very intense. Non-reef-safe sunscreen is not permitted on Bonaire. Please consider not using any sunscreen and bringing sun protective clothing.
Where to Stay
With our shop and house reef located on Captain Don’s Habitat Resort we are able to provide accommodations. The resort is complete with restaurant, bar, and 2 swimming pools. There are also a few other restaurants, ice cream parlor, and a huge convenience store within walking distance of the resort. We can truly offer a “stay and dive” experience. Accommodations booked with us also receive a 10% discount. There are also Airbnb options and other hotels as well.
Other things to know
Bonaire uses US currency and most major credit cards are accepted. However, very few places take American Express or Discover. We do have a hyperbaric facility and recommend having dive insurance. We have excellent drinking water from the tap, it is a little low on mineral content and we recommend bringing hydration powder or to increase salt intake while on Bonaire. Please consider not buying bottled water.
