Sand Dollar Bonaire

Sand dollar is full of divers, young and old, and sits right on lively Bari Reef. There’s a small sand beach that’s rarely crowded, with lots to see snorkeling. Dive Friends is on site for gear, instruction, boat trips, and guided dives. The accommodations vary, so I’m giving them 4 stars, though they’re all pretty decent. For me, it beats the big resorts hands down.

The remodeled units are great, and you wake up to the ocean every day. It’s right on Bari Reef, with a dive shop and restaurants nearby.

The property is really nice, and we had spectacular sunrises from our room every morning. Our screened porch was great, though the airflow wasn’t quite enough to dry gear overnight. The reef out front is an easy dive, and having Dive Friends right next door helped a lot. There were tanks for the house reef, gear and storage, plus plenty of tanks to take to other dive spots. If you’re doing 4/5 dives a day, it’s handy that Dive Friends has lots of places to trade tanks. The staff were responsive and helpful. The unit and its furnishings felt quite dated, and the mattresses were pretty hard, but the price was right. Still, it was an overall great experience.

We stayed in A6, a gorgeous condo with beautiful views and beach access. It was quiet and not busy, and the reef right out front was full of fish and coral. The dock made diving easy, with a dive shop next door. The island location was great for getting around quickly. There were plenty of restaurants nearby, or we could cook in the well-equipped kitchen.