We first heard of Bonaire while on vacation in Curaçao, already loving the island vibes, warm weather, and incredible people.
It was perfect for diving, which had all three of us hooked at the time.
But there was a small snag: the spectacular underwater views were only accessible by a boat dive, and that didn’t sit well with Yoni.
His stomach had a longstanding disagreement with small boats—turning every trip into more of a survival challenge than a fun adventure.
When we mentioned this to a friend, he said, “You should check out Bonaire, just a stone’s throw from here.
There, the reef is so close to the shore you can just stroll in, gear and all.”
A diving paradise without the boat-induced nausea? Sold!
So, in 2011, we set off to see what all the fuss was about—and wow, did it deliver!
We fell for Bonaire, hard.
By the next year, in 2012, we had no doubts where we’d be ringing in Christmas and New Year: back on Bonaire, the paradise that had our hearts.
This time, I went all out and rented us a dreamy beach house.
Forget a hotel room—this place had its own private beach, meaning we could literally step from the porch into the ocean.
Our very own slice of underwater heaven.
The house looked like something straight out of a movie on the brochure, and when we arrived, it somehow managed to be even better in person.
After the long-haul flight and a bumpy ride in our rented pickup truck (the standard island vehicle, which Thom was obsessed with),
we crashed,ready to sleep off the jet lag.
Thom did wake up a few times through the night, complaining about loud neighbors, which was odd considering the place was quite secluded.
When morning arrived, we discovered our “neighbors.” Turns out the house came with two giant parrots who not only spoke but also alternated between English and German! These two squawking locals made quite the racket, and they had opinions, too.
We spent most mornings holding conversations with our new feathered friends.
The rest of the trip was pure magic. For two weeks, we soaked up every bit of Bonaire’s charm, exploring its underwater wonders and roaming its wild landscapes.
The vibrant coral reefs felt like stepping into a different world, and each dive reminded us why we loved this place so much.
The island’s beauty inspired our yearly New Year’s Wishes video for our community, which, true to form, Thom directed, filmed, and edited with her usual flair.
It was our best one yet!
And of course, in between dives and beach lounging, we kept up with our year-end tradition.
We’d sit on the beach, reviewing the year’s memories, laughing over the funny moments, and dreaming up the adventures we’d tackle next.
It didn’t take long to decide that, naturally, we’d be back the following year. How could we not?
While Bonaire wasn’t destined to be our permanent home, it left a lasting mark.
We loved its warmth, quirks, and endless diving.
And even though we eventually found our forever island, Bonaire would always be our cherished little paradise, where parrots chatted, turquoise waters waited just steps away, and memories of laughter, family, and exploration filled every corner.
