A Men's Week of Total Diving Freedom in Bonaire
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT. TO BE ADDED TO THE WAIT LIST, PLEASE CONTACT THE TRIP LEADER.
When: May 23-30, 2015
Where: Bonaire, Caribbean
Price: $679 (shared bath) or $819 (ensuite)
The island of Bonaire in the Dutch Antilles has held many titles throughout the years: the macro mecca of the Caribbean, the shore diving capital of the world, the night diving hub of the Caribbean and more. But whatever label you assign to it, Bonaire has remained on the wish list of many divers for its ultimate diving flexibility. Everything on this island is made for divers, from over 70 dive sites accessible from shore and marked with yellow stones to drive-through fill stations. The entire island is wrapped by a marine park managed by divers, and on top of it all, the water is warm, clear and current free. If you like diving the way you want, when you want, how you want, then this trip is for you.
For $679 (shared bathroom) or $819 (ensuite), you will get to spend 7 days in a private villa with 8 fellow club members. You will also be able to dive as much as you want (within safe limits), 24 hours/day, with unlimited nitrox provided by Wannadive. Trucks will be available for you to explore the over 70 dive sites that can be accessed from shore.
The Island of Bonaire
Bonaire is located in the Southern Caribbean about 50 miles off the northern coast of Venezuela. It is part of the Netherlands Antilles together with Aruba and Curacao. Collectively, these islands are known as the ABCs. All the waters around Bonaire form part of the Bonaire National Marine Park. The south western coast is protected by the natural bay and Klein Bonaire, it offers great diving and swimming condition with very little waves or currents. The rugged north eastern coast line, on the other hand, bears the burden of the trade winds and waves.
On average, Bonaire's visibility exceeds 100 feet and the average water temperature is 80 degrees. The fringing reef begins close to the shore, usually a short 30 foot swim or less, making Bonaire world renowned for its ease of shore diving.
The Villa
Villa Olana del Sol is five minutes north of the island's main town of Kralendijk in the upscale neighborhood of Sabadeco, and is just two blocks off the shore in a very private spacious yard.
It offers a private swimming pool, large sun deck with furnished sitting area, amazing view of Klein Bonaire and the ocean, and outdoor dining.
The home comfortably sleeps eight in four air-conditioned bedrooms:
- Bedroom 1: One king size bed, shared bath
- Bedroom 2: Two twin size beds, shared bath
- Bedroom 3: One king size bed with ensuite
- Bedroom 4: One king size bed with ensuite
There is a large living area with flat screen TV, dvd player, cable TV, wireless internet, as well as fully equipped kitchen with a separate dining room area, a gas BBQ, stocked kitchen cabinets, sink, refrigerator, and laundry room.
The Villa is also equipped with a private dive room and a rinsing tank for all your dive gear.
Unlimited Nitrox Shore Diving
Wannadive Bonaire has always specialized in providing service that allowed their guests to take advantage of that unique natural feature: the awesome shore diving that made Bonaire world famous. With three convenient pick up/drop off points for tanks on the island, Wannadive Bonaire has achieved a level of service that is second to none.
Wannadive Bonaire is located on three properties: Eden Beach Resort, the Dive Hut and Windsock Accommodations. Eden Beach Resort is located 5 minutes north of the capital as is the Dive Hut, while Windsock is located in the south, 5 minutes from Flamingo Airport.
The sea around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire is protected and managed by STINAPA through the Bonaire National Marine Park. The Marine Park is from the high water mark to the depth of 60 meters (200ft). Users of the Marine Park have to pay an entrance fee called ‘the Nature Fee’ ($25 for SCUBA divers). The fee is not included in the price of the trip.
The trip price includes unlimited Nitrox tanks for 6 days (including weights and weight belt). Wannadive also offers boat dives, equipment rental, and classes. Please arrange directly with Wannadive any additional services you desire.
To prepare for the trip and learn about dive sites, we recommend reading Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy, a Practical Guide to Shore Dive and Snorkel Sites of Bonaire by Susan Porter.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Since none of the dives on this trip are led by a divemaster, you must be able to plan, navigate and execute your dive independently with your buddy. For this reason, this trip is not recommended for novice divers, unless accompanied by an experienced dive buddy.
Included in the price
- Accommodation for 7 days at Villa Olana del Sol based on double occupancy (shared bath or ensuite)
- Use of a rental truck (1 truck for 4 people) including insurance
- Unlimited shore diving with 32% Nitrox for 6 days
Not included in the price
- Airfare to Bonaire
- Food and beverages
- Nature Fee: $25/diver
- Departure Tax: $35
- Rental scuba equipment, boat dives and classes. Please make your own arrangements with Wannadive prior to the trip.
- Gas for truck (total gas cost to be added up and split between guests)
- Trip cancellation, diving and medical insurance
- Expenditures of a personal nature
Travel
Bonaire is served from the US by United Airlines from Newark and Houston, and Delta Airlines from Atlanta. Insel Air also serves Bonaire from Miami via Curacao. In order to arrive in Bonaire on Saturday May 23, you may need to leave California on Friday May 22. The return flights on Saturday May 30 should get you back home on the same day.
About Rainbow Divers and Payments
Rainbow Divers is a 501(c)7 non-profit mutual benefit organization, and can only organize activities and trips for its members. Membership is cheap and comes with a bunch of new lifelong friends at no extra charge. So if you’d like to participate in this trip, please join us.
Payments are due within 10 days of sign up, and are generally non-refundable. If you sign up and your plans change there may or may not be someone interested in taking your spot. If you cancel without having made all payments it is your responsibility to find someone to pay your obligation in full. It is a very good idea to carry trip insurance to cover such an eventuality.
Trip payments may be made by PayPal or by personal check. PayPal will accept credit card payments, regardless of whether you have a PayPal account. The price is the same regardless of payment method. Please consider using PayPal, as electronic payment greatly simplifies the work of our volunteers. Please send PayPal payments to paypal@rainbowdivers.org
All divers on this trip should be comfortable diving in currents and have good buoyancy skills. Divers are required to carry valid, in-force dive accident insurance, such as may be obtained from Divers' Alert Network (DAN).
Divers must agree to NCRD's Event Terms and Conditions to participate in this trip.
