Captain Don's Habitat, Bonaire

We have dived the beautiful coral walls of Bonaire many times, staying at mom-and-pop, small, apartment complexes, as well as large, well-known dive venues. This trip we chose Captain Don’s Habitat primarily because of an off-season diving special that was too great to overlook. We kept our expectations reasonable – clean rooms, bountiful house reef, acceptable food. We’re pretty low maintenance divers.

We could not have been more pleased when we arrived and were checked into our rooms. Captain Don’s Habitat is a gorgeous Resort and, much to our liking, not a huge venue. Our deluxe rooms were exactly that. Large rooms with two queen beds, AC, television, small refrigerator, coffee pot, and a gorgeous lanai, complete with a purring Calico Cat whose visits we loved. From our lanai, we looked out over palm trees and the Ocean’s most splendid sunsets. Looking to our right was the large swimming pool and deck area. Just beyond that was the dining area, bar, and an anything-you-need shop.

The dive operation

The dive area consists of two levels. The upper level for the Dive Office, Nitrox and air tanks for shore dives and outdoor seating area for orientation and Ocean views. The lower level is outfitted with dive lockers and wetsuit hanging area, gear rinse tanks, benches and platforms for gearing up. (Don’t forget to pack a lock for your locker.)

The dive operation was well-organized, although the orientation was difficult to hear in the large, outdoor area. The dive freedom of Captain Don’s Habitat was a welcome change from nearby resorts that we had visited previously. The length of dives was determined by politeness to others on the boat, not a rigid time determination. Divers were free to dive at their level of Certification and skill, without need to cluster at the heels of the guide. And Captain Don’s Habitat was very serious about protecting the reef; divers were quietly confronted underwater if fins or body parts endangered the reef.

Boat dives are available every day. The dives sites are posted on a Dive Board and guests can sign up for the site they are interested in diving, with a maximum number per boat. House-reef shore dives were available at any time, but there was a need to select and analyze your tanks prior to the tank locker being locked in the evening.

The Dive Instructors and Dive Masters were well trained and serious about their jobs, but were also amicable. They expected attention during the dive briefings, as well as adherence to safety requirements on the boat.

The single drawback of the dive operation is the system of obtaining air or Nitrox for shore dives which involved divers hauling and loading multiple tanks to their trucks. A drive-through pick-up system would definitely be an asset. A minor inconvenience, to be sure.

If you’re planning to do shore dives around the island, you will find this resource extremely helpful: Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy: Practical Guide to Bonaire Shore Dive and Snorkel Sites of Bonaire – 7th Edition, Author Susan Porter.

Marine life

The Island of Bonaire has worked hard to overcome the negative issues related to the Lionfish invasion. There efforts have been fruitful. We see fewer Lionfish here than in any other recently-visited dive area. Thus, the marine life was far more abundant, and the dives were all excellent.

Six-foot Tarpon glided beside us on night dives enjoying the bounty of small fish that our lights identified for them. A creepy, exciting feeling to think you’re alone, only to sense the gliding 6-footer nearby and then see the shining eyes of your unexpected dive partner. There are ample Frogfish, Parrot Fish, Eels, Rays, Flounders, Crabs, Lobsters, Conch, and all the regulars.

Dining

Dining at Captain Don’s was also a highlight. The breakfast meal is included in the Resort fee. The offerings were abundant and prepared well. Oranges and an industrial reamer provided the freshest OJ available. There were buffet options, as well as cook-to-order stations. You can choose to dine in the morning sunshine overlooking the ocean or retreat to a shaded area.

Lunch and dinner could be ordered on site. The menu was varied in food items and price range. We were never disappointed; the food was excellent and a good value. Servers were always friendly and attentive, and service time was “typically tropical”. Dining and fellowship were never meant to be rushed, right? Dining al fresco at Captain Don’s and watching the Tarpons in the waters below was always a great choice for us. Only occasionally did we venture into town to check out other dining venues.

Off-gassing day

Come the end of your dive trip, spend your off-gassing day exploring the Island which is rich in culture, museums, desert views, flamingos, donkeys and goats, petroglyphs, wind surfing, salt mines, Slave huts, cactus fences, shops and restaurants.

We found Captain Don’s Habitat to be a wonderful place to relax, socialize, dine, dive, snorkel, and daydream to our hearts’ content. We will definitely return!

VivianNovember 2019