Captain Don’s Habitat is the first dedicated scuba diving resort on the Caribbean Island of Bonaire. Well-known for its spectacular reefs and the unique concept of “diving freedom”, dive visitors to “Habitat”, as it is known, regularly return home with stories of incredible sights, colorful creatures and unforgettable dives.
I returned to Habitat for the first time in many years a few weeks ago. As much as things are as I remember them (great diving, warm water, professional staff), there’s also a lot new at Habitat.
Mainly, a brand-new expansive dive center, complete with classrooms, a product showroom and even a new technical diving facility. According to the Habitat management, this is only part of the changes happening at the resort.
The shore diving is incredible. Just a short swim from shore and I’m on the reef looking for seahorses and frogfish. There’s plenty to take pictures of, and with today’s digital imaging products, I can shoot until the batteries run out. Any questions I had were easily answered by managers Roger and Wilco (Yeah, Roger-Wilco – I’m NOT kidding).
The pair make a great team, along with the other dive staff members who were there when I needed them but also NOT there underfoot when I just wanted to dive.
My dive buddy and I enjoyed a leisurely shore dive that included a couple of encounters with two friendly morays and several other curious creatures. No sign of any lionfish – that’s by design. Resort Manager Jack Chalk has his crew out hunting the predatory lionfish every day. Island-wide, the “anti-Lionfish” efforts have netted more than 200, but the fight continues. Thankfully, there aren’t any on the Habitat house reef.
The accommodations were great – just about every unit has some type of ocean view (the sunsets were great!) Next time I visit, I’m anxious to stay in one of the new units that were still being completed during my stay. Habitat is just as I remembered it AND it’s also completely different – in a spectacular new way. If you haven’t been to Bonaire or Habitat lately, here’s a good excuse to go!
Talking with the marketing folks from Habitat, they told me about several new special promotions including one where the second traveler DIVES FREE and another interesting offer for single divers that includes FIVE DAYS OF FREE shore diving
Check out the website at www.habitatbonaire.com
