Diving Bonaire

Very pleased with the content of this book! There are extensive details about the location, underwater terrain and marine life of 58 of Bonaire's dive sites. There is also a section on lodging, restaurants, dive centers, grocery shopping... right down to where to get the best local ice cream! We're diving Bonaire in April and I've already chosen some of those must-dive sites!

I bought this book before going to Bonaire in the summer of 2002. Our group of 4 used it extensively during our stay there and found it very useful in describing the different dive sites. The book does a very good job of describing how to find the shore diving sites, where to park, how to enter the water and what to expect in the water. There is a good map and good broad overviews of the island, the culture, marine life, hotels and resturants. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone planning to go to Bonaire.

Many people go to Bonaire for their vacation without visiting either Aruba or Curacao (the other two islands in the group known as the "ABC Islands"), so it is nice to see Bonaire as a separate Diving Guide and not included as an afterthought. "Diving Bonaire" measures 10" x 7" and is another guide in the medium size format favoured by Aqua Quest. These particular publishers set high standards and demand all contributing authors/photographers maintain those standards at all times. This is, therefore, another worthy addition to the series. The book is well laid out and includes a liberal sprinkling of high-quality photographs which bring colour to almost every page. Commencing with a brief history of Bonaire's past and present, the book then goes on to include all that useful information required by any potential visitor - currency, climate, getting there, entry & exit requirements, telephones, shopping, and time difference. Chapter 2 concentrates on accommodations and diving facilities and this is followed by a further chapter devoted to dining. Chapter 4 is an overview of what the diver can expect to find underwater. This really sets the scene and includes such important information as temperature, visibility, depths, moorings, reefs, boat dives, shores dives, skill levels, equipment and more besides. In chapter 6 we get down to specifics. This commences with a map of Bonaire and Klein Bonaire across two-pages on which are marked no fewer than 56 principle dive sites. Curiously, this is followed by brief notes on 58 sites and this gives rise to my one minor criticism - namely that Nos 57 and 58 (rated as being "For Professionals Only") are not shown on the map. With a final chapter devoted to Marine Life, the book then concludes with a number of Appendices containing that all-important emergency information, useful numbers and a list of diving facilities. Altogether, this book contains all the information the potential visitor to Bonaire will require when contemplating such a trip. As I said, only one minor criticism, but not enough to deprive these authors of a well-earned 5 star rating because they have used the word "guide" to the best possible effect. This is a first rate diving guide to Bonaire. All the information is there to allow you to consider carefully whether or not Bonaire will be your next diving destination. If you decide against visiting this splendid island, it will not be through any failing within this book. NM

An excellent book for the first time diver at Bonaire. Also a great book to help revive mamories of past dives at this wonderful site. The book outlines the major sites and not only describes the dives but also takes a moment to rate how suitable some sites are for snorkeling. There are brief reviews of resturants and a short listing of where to stay, Bonaireian customs and local nitespots. The book concludes with a short section describing some of the fish, sponges and corals that inhabit the clear waters around Bonaire.