Captain Don's Habitat, Bonaire, March 2009

J Wright returned from her fifth trip to Captain Don's Habitat, Bonaire.

We took full advantage of the freedom of Habitat, making 4 dives daily. Fast, comfortable boats, easy to dive from and only one boat allowed per mooring with very little current and good visibility made for some wonderful diving.

The House Reef makes fascinating diving at all depths and times and is teeming with fish and critters giving endless photo opportunities. Access to the reef is very easy, a 10 meter walk along a wooden jetty allows easy stride entry into 2 meters of water. A short swim over the reef top and the drop off starts at around 10 meters with a sandy bottom and garden eels at about 35 meters. Shoals of jacks, Snapper, Goatfish and Wrasse are regularly seen as well as Spiny Lobster, Moray Eels, Barracuda, snake eels and Drumfish are all to be found. Big, lazy Tarpon hang around and allow quite close approach.



We found the dusk dives especially rewarding for observing fish behaviour, a seeminlgy endless stream of Creole Wrasse heading north like commuters going home, fish settling down for the night and hunters starting to prowl.

More energetic divers hired pickup trucks to access other shore dive sites all over the coast. This is a great way to explore the island as well as the myriad dive sites all around the island.

Rum Runners Restaurant on site provides a varied menu and they make a fine pizza! Accommodation in Deluxe Ocean View room around the pool was very user friendly with patio, fridge and coffee machine although we took the kettle for that essential post-dive cup of tea.

All in all, a very relaxed and enjoyable holiday with unlimited easy diving, warm sunshine and a good chance of meeting interesting folk from all over the world makes for a great winter break!