Diving Centre @Harbour Village / Bonaire

Hi,

Could anyone tell me something about the diving centre of Harbour
Village on Bonaire ? It seems that Toucan is a better choice, but the
Harbour Village is a better Hotel, So I have to make a Trade Off. Any
Suggestions ?

Thank you.
Alrik

i have stayed at Harbour Village - it is a sumptious, luxury hotel - 5 star
plus. its very quiet - not a hard diving location, though the dive
operation is extremely good. its a location to take a partner who doesn't
dive, or you want to enjoy the hotel too and chill but not dive all the
time. For a 100% dive gig i would choose captain don's.

besto

"Alrik" <alrik@wanadoo.nl> wrote in message
news:6v3c201cao3cr1p4ciqdcr8viceck3abam@4ax.com...
> Hi,
>
> Could anyone tell me something about the diving centre of Harbour
> Village on Bonaire ? It seems that Toucan is a better choice, but the
> Harbour Village is a better Hotel, So I have to make a Trade Off. Any
> Suggestions ?
>
> Thank you.
> Alrik

"Neil Grant" <neil-grant@lineone.net> wrote in message
news:40300024$1_1@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
> i have stayed at Harbour Village - it is a sumptious, luxury hotel - 5
star
> plus. its very quiet - not a hard diving location, though the dive
> operation is extremely good. its a location to take a partner who doesn't
> dive, or you want to enjoy the hotel too and chill but not dive all the
> time. For a 100% dive gig i would choose captain don's.

I am not a great Plaza fan but compared to it I think Habitat is a shithole.
Harbour Village is a world apart from either and easily the nicest resort
type property on the island.

As far as diving goes they all dive the same spots, all have equal or
equally flexible schedules, all have similar package prices and like most
dive ops on Bonaire, all are really about as good as it gets in the
Caribbean. I recommend choosing your Bonaire accommodations on either price
or amenity, but not dive op. The dive ops at the resorts are all quite good.

For my money I think Bonaire resorts shake out like this

1) Harbour Village
2) Plaza
3) Buddies
4) Lions Dive
5) Habitat
6) Sand Dollar/ Flamingo Beach/Carib Inn

Of course, that's just my stinkin' opinion and what the heck do I know
anyway?

"Luca Cappelli" <nosp@mplease.com> wrote in message
news:PAw%b.203$JR3.107254@news.uswest.net...
>
> "Neil Grant" <neil-grant@lineone.net> wrote in message
> news:40300024$1_1@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
> > i have stayed at Harbour Village - it is a sumptious, luxury hotel - 5
> star
> > plus. its very quiet - not a hard diving location, though the dive
> > operation is extremely good. its a location to take a partner who
doesn't
> > dive, or you want to enjoy the hotel too and chill but not dive all the
> > time. For a 100% dive gig i would choose captain don's.
>
> I am not a great Plaza fan but compared to it I think Habitat is a
shithole.
> Harbour Village is a world apart from either and easily the nicest resort
> type property on the island.
>
> As far as diving goes they all dive the same spots, all have equal or
> equally flexible schedules, all have similar package prices and like most
> dive ops on Bonaire, all are really about as good as it gets in the
> Caribbean. I recommend choosing your Bonaire accommodations on either
price
> or amenity, but not dive op. The dive ops at the resorts are all quite
good.
>
> For my money I think Bonaire resorts shake out like this
>
> 1) Harbour Village
> 2) Plaza
> 3) Buddies
> 4) Lions Dive
> 5) Habitat
> 6) Sand Dollar/ Flamingo Beach/Carib Inn
>
> Of course, that's just my stinkin' opinion and what the heck do I know
> anyway?
>
>
>
You left out the best-------Carib Inn!!
Bill

"Luca Cappelli" <nosp@mplease.com> wrote in message
news:9zK%b.61$xI4.27933@news.uswest.net...
>
> "Bill & Susan" <williet10001@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:8Uy%b.23671$hm4.6867@newsread3.news.atl.earth link.net...
> >
> > "Luca Cappelli" <nosp@mplease.com> wrote in message
> > news:PAw%b.203$JR3.107254@news.uswest.net...
> > >
> > > "Neil Grant" <neil-grant@lineone.net> wrote in message
> > > news:40300024$1_1@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
> > > > i have stayed at Harbour Village - it is a sumptious, luxury hotel -
5
> > > star
> > > > plus. its very quiet - not a hard diving location, though the dive
> > > > operation is extremely good. its a location to take a partner who
> > doesn't
> > > > dive, or you want to enjoy the hotel too and chill but not dive all
> the
> > > > time. For a 100% dive gig i would choose captain don's.
> > >
> > > I am not a great Plaza fan but compared to it I think Habitat is a
> > shithole.
> > > Harbour Village is a world apart from either and easily the nicest
> resort
> > > type property on the island.
> > >
> > > As far as diving goes they all dive the same spots, all have equal or
> > > equally flexible schedules, all have similar package prices and like
> most
> > > dive ops on Bonaire, all are really about as good as it gets in the
> > > Caribbean. I recommend choosing your Bonaire accommodations on either
> > price
> > > or amenity, but not dive op. The dive ops at the resorts are all quite
> > good.
> > >
> > > For my money I think Bonaire resorts shake out like this
> > >
> > > 1) Harbour Village
> > > 2) Plaza
> > > 3) Buddies
> > > 4) Lions Dive
> > > 5) Habitat
> > > 6) Sand Dollar/ Flamingo Beach/Carib Inn
> > >
> > > Of course, that's just my stinkin' opinion and what the heck do I know
> > > anyway?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > You left out the best-------Carib Inn!!
>
>
> No I didn't...it's last....along with Sand Dollar and Divi.
>
> I like Bruce and I used to like his property, but given the amenities
> provided by the others he's really not quite up to snuff any longer. But
for
> every market there is a niche or two and Bruce fills one quite nicely on
> Bonaire. About twenty years ago Divi was the premium property on the
island
> and Carib was the coolest intimate resort in the Caribbean (along with
> Southern Cross Club), but times change.
>
>
Sorry didn't see what I was reading!!
Bruce and the Carib fill a very nice place on Bonaire. Those of us who spend
a lot of time there really enjoy the Inn. I don't stay there, only get my
tanks filled there, but a lot of our friends have been staying there for the
last 20 years, ever since Bruce has been there, and wouldn't stay anywhere
else!
Just don't think that it should be last!!!
Bill

"Bill & Susan" <williet10001@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:xrM%b.24706$hm4.20990@newsread3.news.atl.eart hlink.net...

> > > > For my money I think Bonaire resorts shake out like this
> > > >
> > > > 1) Harbour Village
> > > > 2) Plaza
> > > > 3) Buddies
> > > > 4) Lions Dive
> > > > 5) Habitat
> > > > 6) Sand Dollar/ Flamingo Beach/Carib Inn
> > > >
> > > > Of course, that's just my stinkin' opinion and what the heck do I
know
> > > > anyway?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > You left out the best-------Carib Inn!!
> >
> >
> > No I didn't...it's last....along with Sand Dollar and Divi.
> >
> > I like Bruce and I used to like his property, but given the amenities
> > provided by the others he's really not quite up to snuff any longer. But
> for
> > every market there is a niche or two and Bruce fills one quite nicely on
> > Bonaire. About twenty years ago Divi was the premium property on the
> island
> > and Carib was the coolest intimate resort in the Caribbean (along with
> > Southern Cross Club), but times change.
> >
> >
> Sorry didn't see what I was reading!!
> Bruce and the Carib fill a very nice place on Bonaire. Those of us who
spend
> a lot of time there really enjoy the Inn. I don't stay there, only get my
> tanks filled there, but a lot of our friends have been staying there for
the
> last 20 years, ever since Bruce has been there, and wouldn't stay anywhere
> else!
> Just don't think that it should be last!!!
> Bill

If it was a list of places personal, or with personality, it might very well
be 1st. But what I was trying to do was present a list of places that had a
variety of accommodations, amenities, activities and physical plant. I don't
stay at any of the places I listed anymore myself, because we have been
using oceanfront condos/apartments for the past few years. Quiet, private
and easy are our goals on Bonaire these days. For my family and myself this
is the best way to enjoy Bonaire. I have come to really dislike the resorts
who host "scuba shop trips". In general, the people who make up those trips
are after something different than I am both on the boat, in the water and
après diving.. But I am not denigrating them...after all...years ago I was a
"scuba shop trip" patron myself, and probably acted as bad, boisterous and
boring as they do today :^)

"Luca Cappelli" <nosp@mplease.com> wrote in message
news:0UM%b.913$xI4.41222@news.uswest.net...
>
> "Bill & Susan" <williet10001@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:xrM%b.24706$hm4.20990@newsread3.news.atl.eart hlink.net...
>
> > > > > For my money I think Bonaire resorts shake out like this
> > > > >
> > > > > 1) Harbour Village
> > > > > 2) Plaza
> > > > > 3) Buddies
> > > > > 4) Lions Dive
> > > > > 5) Habitat
> > > > > 6) Sand Dollar/ Flamingo Beach/Carib Inn
> > > > >
> > > > > Of course, that's just my stinkin' opinion and what the heck do I
> know
> > > > > anyway?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > You left out the best-------Carib Inn!!
> > >
> > >
> > > No I didn't...it's last....along with Sand Dollar and Divi.
> > >
> > > I like Bruce and I used to like his property, but given the amenities
> > > provided by the others he's really not quite up to snuff any longer.
But
> > for
> > > every market there is a niche or two and Bruce fills one quite nicely
on
> > > Bonaire. About twenty years ago Divi was the premium property on the
> > island
> > > and Carib was the coolest intimate resort in the Caribbean (along with
> > > Southern Cross Club), but times change.
> > >
> > >
> > Sorry didn't see what I was reading!!
> > Bruce and the Carib fill a very nice place on Bonaire. Those of us who
> spend
> > a lot of time there really enjoy the Inn. I don't stay there, only get
my
> > tanks filled there, but a lot of our friends have been staying there for
> the
> > last 20 years, ever since Bruce has been there, and wouldn't stay
anywhere
> > else!
> > Just don't think that it should be last!!!
> > Bill
>
> If it was a list of places personal, or with personality, it might very
well
> be 1st. But what I was trying to do was present a list of places that had
a
> variety of accommodations, amenities, activities and physical plant. I
don't
> stay at any of the places I listed anymore myself, because we have been
> using oceanfront condos/apartments for the past few years. Quiet, private
> and easy are our goals on Bonaire these days. For my family and myself
this
> is the best way to enjoy Bonaire. I have come to really dislike the
resorts
> who host "scuba shop trips". In general, the people who make up those
trips
> are after something different than I am both on the boat, in the water and
> après diving.. But I am not denigrating them...after all...years ago I was
a
> "scuba shop trip" patron myself, and probably acted as bad, boisterous and
> boring as they do today :^)
>
>
Sounds like we're the same!! That's exactly the way we are. We've been
renting a waterfront house there for the last 18 years and wouldn't do it
any other way, but it's not for everybody.
Bill

"Bill & Susan" <williet10001@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:T7T%b.25248$hm4.6787@newsread3.news.atl.earth link.net...

> Sounds like we're the same!!

I think so, we've been visisting Bonaire for over 26 years now. Over that
time I think I have seen every resort that's left and a number which
disappeared long ago.

> That's exactly the way we are. We've been
> renting a waterfront house there for the last 18 years and wouldn't do it
> any other way, but it's not for everybody.


I haven't done that yet myself. We take a oceanfront condo (last few years
has been at Belmar) and always claim that while we are on island we will go
out and look at houses for the following year, but never seem to rise from
that patio overlooking he Caribbean. Hey, I'm 49...getting
older...and...will...just a bit spoiled. These days, once I'm comfortable I
tend to enjoy it for as long as possible. Ha ha ha

Of course it's that "comfortable" thing that always brings us back to
Bonaire for a couple weeks during the Christmas season.

But you are right, being **off-resort** isn't for everybody.

"Luca Cappelli" <nosp@mplease.com> wrote in message
news:g8r0c.38$5U5.58720@news.uswest.net...
>
> "Bill & Susan" <williet10001@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:T7T%b.25248$hm4.6787@newsread3.news.atl.earth link.net...
>
> > Sounds like we're the same!!
>
> I think so, we've been visisting Bonaire for over 26 years now. Over that
> time I think I have seen every resort that's left and a number which
> disappeared long ago.
>
> > That's exactly the way we are. We've been
> > renting a waterfront house there for the last 18 years and wouldn't do
it
> > any other way, but it's not for everybody.
>
>
> I haven't done that yet myself. We take a oceanfront condo (last few years
> has been at Belmar) and always claim that while we are on island we will
go
> out and look at houses for the following year, but never seem to rise from
> that patio overlooking he Caribbean. Hey, I'm 49...getting
> older...and...will...just a bit spoiled. These days, once I'm comfortable
I
> tend to enjoy it for as long as possible. Ha ha ha
>
> Of course it's that "comfortable" thing that always brings us back to
> Bonaire for a couple weeks during the Christmas season.
>
> But you are right, being **off-resort** isn't for everybody.
>
>
We rent the 3rd house to the north of Belmar!! #4 Punt Vierkant. The house
beside the dock with the cannon! We're there the first 3 weeks of Feb. every
year. If you're ever there at that time, please make yourself known. I'm 60
(a very young 60) now and have never enjoyed life more, but I understand
where you're coming from.
Bill

"Bill & Susan" <williet10001@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:kSx0c.27467$hm4.12300@newsread3.news.atl.eart hlink.net...

> We rent the 3rd house to the north of Belmar!! #4 Punt Vierkant. The house
> beside the dock with the cannon! We're there the first 3 weeks of Feb.
every
> year. If you're ever there at that time, please make yourself known. I'm
60
> (a very young 60) now and have never enjoyed life more, but I understand
> where you're coming from.
> Bill

We'd love to come meet you but we stay from mid-December until January 4 or
5th. I still have a daughter in college and one in high school so our family
vacation periods are still dictated by school schedules.

I am trying to remember that unit right now...is it the one with the deep
Yellow garage doors? Off the top of my head I don't have a clear picture of
it at this moment, but I remember there are some really nice properties just
north of both Belmar and Bel-Aire. The cannon doesn't seem to register
though.