VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

Hey,

Looking at maybe Bonaire for 2 weeks in early December as a combo dive and windsurf holiday? I am just getting my dive ticket and also want a good place for beginner/intermediate windsurf lessons for Dagne?

Or maybe just go to Maui?

Any suggestions on good places to stay in Bonaire?

K

Keith. I stayed at the Hotel KonTiki near Lac Bay. It was a nice place but may be under new management relative to when I stayed there which was quite a while ago.

Lac Bay is a good place for Beginner/Intermediate learners. The water is waist to chest deep and the wind is side/on. Jibe City is a very laid back place to hang out on the beach as well. Sorobon Beach Resort is right next to Jibe City and looks nice. When I was there it was a nudist resort but it looks like that's no longer the case.

For a dive/windsurf (beginner/int) Bonaire is likely a better bet than Maui during December. Water will be warmer (definitely) and clearer (most likely) for diving in Bonaire, and December winds should be 12-18 in Bonaire, fickle in Maui as you know. Cayman Is or Turks & Caicos may be other choices. I've spent lots of time in rain in Maui in late Nov/Dec, and that kind of sucks for dive trips.

Another possibility; go to BigWinds this month to get the process started (warm, windy, lots of classmates), then anywhere where there is a sea breeze having a windsurfing rental shop with decent gear and good diving nearby, such as the previously suggested Caribbean sites, and I would add Belize to the list as being based on a Caye you get light sea breezes and access to world class diving and snorkelling.

anywhere you go in the caribe, try to nail the Christmas wind in december to january...!!
Geoffy could brief you!...but i think Tobago as more to offer as a caribe island...bucco reef is family friendly, good drift diving all around the island.and excellent family surfing at Mt-Irvine! and not touristy!


...... also, now Hawaian airlines as a saturday flight to Tahiti ($800return)...for those looking into a top of the line hawaii-moorea combo holiday...!

I spent 10 days there many years ago. The dive sites are well marked and curated because it's super important for their tourism. There were over 100 as I recall and the water is warm and clear blue. I kited at Pink Beach which has offshore winds (and a rescue boat for $20). I forget where I stayed but I did have to rent a car - without it it is tough to get around.

Yup - Tobago is super sweet. Great learner/big-gear wsurf/kite location at Pigeon Point (Bucco Reef) - which is why the big UK and German clinics are there every March. Radicalsportstobago.com. Awesome diving/snorkeling all up the Caribbean side of the Island, and for slightly more advanced divers, Speyside/Charlotteville will put you in heaven. I remember big-fish (Manta-ray) season was more around March though, but possibly anytime of year up on North - Atlantic side.

Check AirBnB, we got great deals last March. If rich - stay at Blue Waters Inn for a super-sweet romantic place.

Down-sides - hard to get to, wind is lighter than Bonaire by about 5 kts due to Venezuela's venturi effect, so expect 12-15 kts. If lucky and depending on Caribbean versus Pacific water temperatures, it can blow like stink though.

Last February my wife an I went to Tobago to windsurf and it was awesome. We considered Bonaire first but the cost of flights to Bonaire are $$$$!! For what ever reason Tobago is much cheaper than Bonaire from this part of the world. And yes, if you time it right you could maybe get in on a clinic. Peter Hart was doing a clinic while we there. If we'd known ahead of time we would have signed up for it. The week before we arrived Jem Hall was there. I still want to go to Bonaire but man, those flights!