Linda, Pat, Ann and I are planning to go to Bonaire, probably in March 2026 for 6 days shore diving.
Bonaire is a small island (24 miles long) in the southern part of the Caribbean, just north of the coast of South America. As such it is out of the path of the tropical rain systems, and is semi-arid. It is subject to the trade winds, so it is always windy, and the wind invariably blows from the East. This holds the daytime temperature to around 30 deg C. Sea temperature is around 26 deg C. The East coast is subject to the waves driven in by the winds, but the Western side of the island is thus relatively calm and is fringed by a coral reef. There is a road along the west coast with dozens of dive entries onto the reef. Divers usually hire a pick-up truck and drive themselves and their kit to a chosen entry and guide themselves along the reef. Qualified divers only, any level.
Flights are with KLM, changing at Schipol. The return flight is late in the evening, so the 7 night stay allows 6 days diving. We tend to do 2 dives per day, about an hour each. The diving is mainly scenic, looking at the corals and the critters. There is only one wreck of any size, so there is no reason to dive deep. There is a marine reserve around the island, and fish life is usually pretty good. Very little current unless diving in the far south or far north of the island. The tourist-facing people all speak English. The locals speak a form of Creole, and the administration of the island is Dutch. The currency is the US $.
We have been before, so chat to Linda, Ann or me for more details. Last time we went we booked flights, accommodation, diving and truck direct, at a cost of about £2000 each. We were self catering, so adding in food and drink suggests a rough total cost of around £2500. March is high season (as the Canadians and Americans fly down to avoid their winter) so I am keen to book this soon. If anyone is interested can you please let me know straight away, so I can investigate accommodation and transport for the appropriate number.
