Anon user: Has everything you would need right from directions to the sites to the underwater terrain and species of fish and coral to expect.
United States on Aug 17, 2023
Lori: Having never been to Bonaire, this is just what I needed. Since we’re basically on our own while diving, these tips are quite valuable regarding safe diving practices and expectations of Bonaire.
United States on Jul 29, 2023
mr matteo nasi: ...and some fresh and current advice on local conditions. Very well made. The only drawback is that the 3D isometric (gorgeous) maps are not very precise with bearings and distances, but no big deal really.
Netherlands on Jul 22, 2023
Nicholas Harvey: Incredible detail and accuracy!
United States on Jun 14, 2023
David: What and excellent guide with wonderful maps that provide depths of the sites, suggested routes and so much more. The site description, how to get there, access challenges and more make this an amazing resource if it's your first time diving in Bonaire. Many dive shops I have been in have this book on their counters and/or table.
Canada on Jan 19, 2023
Olaf S.: The perfect book to plan dives in Bonaire. Great descriptions of the sites. A lot of pictures an maps.
Germany on Dec 07, 2022
Richard Norton: In my opinion this is book is a "must have" for first time visitors to Bonaire and a "should have" for repeat visitors. It does a great job of laying out dive sites on the west side of the island, explains quite a few more and gives an idea of conditions on the boat only -accessible dive spots on Klein Bonaire. My wife and I just returned from a week in Bonaire and this book had become dog-eared from pre-visit consultatione authors place all the usual cautions about accuracy and not relying on the book as a navigation aid, but you can do a lot of pre-dive planning from the book alone. In addition to the well rendered depictions and descriptions there is also a useful fish finding and identifying guide and some information about Bonaire in general. Having read the book let's you ask a lot smarter questions from the local dive staffs at the local dive shops and resorts.
However, even a 5 star review doesn't denote perfection and there are small ways this book could be improved. Although the authors use a three tier system to evaluate current, depth and dificulty, there is no real base line given. Just how fast is are one dot, two dot and three dot currents? You can...
United States on Apr 22, 2022
tpak: This is a great guide. I love the dive maps, they were super helpful for planning our dives. All in all, we hit 20 sites in 5 days and this guide was invaluable. That being said, most dives on the West side of the island are similar in nature, kick out a bit from the shore, descend, follow the compass W or WSW and go down the slope to your depth and either go left or right, hit your time limit and then reverse your route. Pretty easy route finding overall but the book definitely helps you figure it out.
The book definitely lacks info for the East side of the island and could put more than a single Klein Bonaire site in, although, Klein Bonaire probably has enough sites for its own book. The East side I'm not sure on but the West side will keep you plenty busy.
If you go, go at the full moon and be sure to do a night dive with your dive center in the 3 days following the full moon to see the ostracods. That is truly special. Google it, you will not be disappointed.
United States on Jan 15, 2022
mrs eileen baldwin: So we pre ordered this book back in January but wanted to wait till we were in Bonaire to review it.
This book is outstanding, it just blows all the other Bonaire guides out of the water. The attention to detail is great, trying to find tricky sites has been so easy, then it has like a drone image of the site and it tells you the best way to enter the dive site, it then has a 3D like image of the site and where to find things.
I showed this book to two Dive Managers here in Bonaire and they were really impressed with everything, and again agreed with all my comments.
I've only found it in the supermarket here, so I suggest you order it before you leave, you wont be disappointed.
United Kingdom on Mar 27, 2019
Explore Bonaire with Reef Smart Guides: Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, and Surfing | "Dean Nicholson's Nala's World: A Journey of Adventure and Friendship Across the Globe" Hardcover | Unlock the Secrets of Slow Travel: See the World and Enjoy the Journey on a Budget with this Unique Travel Guide | |
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B2B Rating |
92
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99
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97
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Sale off | $10 OFF | $12 OFF | |
Total Reviews | 14 reviews | 1 reviews | 89 reviews |
Publisher | Reef Smart Guides; Digital original edition | Grand Central Publishing; Illustrated edition | Bhavana Gesota |
Paperback | 280 pages | 228 pages | |
Aruba & Netherlands Antilles Travel | Aruba & Netherlands Antilles Travel | ||
ISBN-10 | 1633539806 | 1538718782 | 173607430X |
Item Weight | 1.05 pounds | 14.4 ounces | 12 ounces |
Scuba Travel Guides | Scuba Travel Guides | ||
ISBN-13 | 978-1633539808 | 978-1538718780 | 978-1736074305 |
General Caribbean Travel Guides | General Caribbean Travel Guides | ||
Language | English | English | English |
Customer Reviews | 4.8/5 stars of 296 ratings | 4.9/5 stars of 6,880 ratings | 4.6/5 stars of 237 ratings |
Dimensions | 5.5 x 0.75 x 8.5 inches | 5.88 x 1 x 8.5 inches | 6 x 0.58 x 9 inches |
Best Sellers Rank | #2 in Aruba & Netherlands Antilles Travel#5 in Scuba Travel Guides#5 in General Caribbean Travel Guides | #61 in Animal & Pet Care Essays#293 in Traveler & Explorer Biographies#2,745 in Memoirs | #27 in Solo Travel Guides#31 in Budget Travel Guides#124 in General Travel Reference |
Sean: Awesome 3D renderings of some of the major dive sites, make it easy to navigate and determine your dive depth and where to find wrecks, points of interest, and landmarks on the dive sites. Excellent and thorough explanation of how to find sites, entries, and potential sea life. If you’re a first time Bonaire diver or a regular this book is awesome!
Canada on Aug 27, 2023