Just returned from the sunny oasis that is Bonaire and our lovely hosts Esther and Menno from the DBV. We had to postpone our honeymoon as there was not availability when wanted it. It was worth the wait. This was our third trip to Bonaire and our second at DBV. We can't imagine staying any where else.

As you have read, breakfast is part of the package and is absolutely divine! Esther will make you whatever you want and it is always hot and served with a smile. Be sure to try the cinnamon/sugar pancakes (even the plain ones are great!) at least once. Actually, if you try them, you will have some every day! I seem to find about two pounds everytime I go there! You can definately tell that they ran a restaurant in Holland.

Both Menno and Esther are very helpful with diving and snorkeling activities. Their insight into diving and the places to go are right on. There was a pod of dolphins traveling thru the area when we were there and they were in the exact spot we were at 10 minutes after we surfaced. Of course! But it was a real treat to even be able to observe them from the shore.

The room we were in was very comfortable and the fact that you could take a long, hot shower in the afternoon after diving was a real treat, especially since they save that water and the water from the sinks and use it to water the beautiful grounds. All of the water is safe to drink as it is desalinated sea water. Nice to know you don't have to worry about getting sick.

Mosquitos can be a problem in the early mornings and the evenings, but when we were there there was a nice breeze each evening that seemed to keep them away for the most part. The BBQ night was very nice. It started with a Rum Punch cruise and then ended back at DBV with a variety of salads, BBQ'd fish and (that particular night) a chicken satay. It was totally awesome! The best chicken satay I have ever had, hands down.

It was hard to come home, especially since it was snowing (!) in Denver yet again this year. The flip-flops off the plane made for some cold feet! The warm, sunny weather and the ambiance of the DBV will make you want to stay. It happened for Esther and Menno, it could happen to you. I told Esther that I was going to write a bad review so that they would always have availability for us when we want to visit. Heck, like I said already, I had to postpone my honeymoon just so I could stay there! I was even offered another destination and declined. You will not regret visiting Bonaire or staying at the DBV. Enjoy!

We just got back from Villa Safir late last night.
1. The accommodations were great. Rooms seemed new, always clean, gorgeous view, made to order breakfasts, Bianca and Peter always cheerful and helpful. They have a Wednesday night barbecue for the guests (only a total of three rooms), which was really impressive, good camaraderie (it almost always helps when there are Canadians around, I have found), food terrific. Couldn't ask for a better bed and breakfast anywhere.
2. Bonair is a terrific diving destination. Shore diving is so much more convenient than boat diving in many ways. Get in your truck (included in reservation package) and go about 10-20 minutes to any one of dozens of great sites. The reefs are everything everyone said they are. I had some sinus problems, so I stayed a little shallow for the last three dives, but 30-40 foot dives on these reefs are still gorgeous. Peter and Bianca were great. Friendly, accommodating, as good as it gets. Peter does a check-put dive as part of the package, and then we were off on our own. I did another dive with Peter as well. He is very knowledgeable and helpful with gear and diving tips. The whole package would no doubt work great for experienced divers, but we are now at about 20 dives, and Peter was perfect for our experience level. We wound up doing about 5 or 6 dives just the two of us, and it was easy and safe. The only issue for us with shore dives was the entrance and exit, which made for some low comedy as we tried to time the waves and get our fins off or on at the same time. By the way, we snorkled a couple of times, too, and if you want to shorkle, and not dive, you won't be disappointed. It was as good as we've ever seen. Also, never a problem with crowds, at any site. Usually, we were either the only ones there, or there was one other couple. I think I saw a total of about 10 other divers in the water all week.
3. The restaurants on Bonair were quite a bonus. Way too many really good ones to fit into a week. Three stand out: Pasa Bon pizza; It Rains Fishes (don't ask me), a slightly upscale (shirts with collars? upscale t-shirts? really good live jazz), waterfront place with great food (try the fish gratin); and Rose's, a family affair in Rincon where the locals, including a variety of generations, hang out and provide an entertaining backdrop to great fresh fish and goat stew.
4. Those who say there is nothing to do on Bonair aren't right, but they aren't very wrong, either. Beyond diving and snorkling, it is a destination resort for windsurfing and kite sailing. After that, well, there is the donkey sanctuary (when they tell you the donkeys can get aggressive when you are feeding them, you should take this to mean that you need to have a well-established escape route. Seriously); there are several cool Indian "inscriptions," with explanations; there are some depressingly small slave huts to see as you drive by; and there is the drive north into the Slagbaai national park. Starkly beautiful, remote, take your gear and spend a day.
5. There is almost no litter anywhere.

If you are one of THOSE divers--you know the ones that have to be up before the sun and down to 100 feet before they are happy--this may not be the place for you. However, if you like to enjoy your vacation in a relaxed and accommodating atmosphere then DBV is THE place to stay on Bonaire. With Esther’s warm personality and non-stop energy and Menno’s laid backed yet mischievous nature they are the perfect B & B hosts.

Booking at least a couple of boat dives with Menno is highly recommended. You will see some rare sea creatures not normally spotted just doing shore dives. Even better, you will get one of Esther’s yummy muffins. Getting the rental trucks and doing shore dives was an excellent adventure also. Esther and Menno are both very knowledgeable about the different dives sites on the island. Their dive lockers are fantastic and it was a real treat having dry equipment every morning.

If you are not terribly fond of dogs—no worries. Bully and Usco are well behaved and do not bother the guests. They simply work you over with the hopeful look in their eyes, gradually and patiently breaking down any resistance to their charms.

The rooms are nice and clean and the common areas are also set up well. We enjoyed hanging out in the hammocks and sitting around the pool. We especially liked having the large shared refrigerator to store our beer and snacks.

The reviews on Trip Advisor say it all- the Deep Blue View is outstanding and worthy of the 2008 Trip Advisor award. Everything you need for a perfect dive/snorkel vacation can be found at the Deep Blue View. It's true that the rooms are lovely, the dive lockers to store your gear in are convenient and the grounds are beautiful, but even more than that is the hospitality of Esther and Menno. (The dogs add a nice touch, too!)
Since the DBV only has five rooms, you get to know the other guests. It was fun to have breakfast together and discuss what dives everyone had planned for the day. The shore diving was great as were the boat dives with Menno. Don't miss the opportunity to go night diving at the pier with Esther- very exciting seeing two seahorses! The rum punch sunset trip was fun and the bbq which followed was delicious. We had a great time and look forward to returning.