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Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino

Bonaire, Bonaire

4.3(1,132 reviews)

Family

Divi Flamingo is one of Bonaire's best-known dive resorts, and for certified divers its advantage is simple: the Calabas house reef sits right off the shore and is open for unlimited shore diving 24 hours a day, night dives included. Guests describe eagle rays, sea turtles, octopus and dense schools of reef fish within a short swim of the pier. Divi Dive Bonaire is a PADI five-star operation with its own fleet of dive boats, private lockers, a gear rental shop and a full course schedule, and it runs a PADI Reef Renewal specialty with the Reef Renewal Project Bonaire for divers who want to help restore coral rather than just look at it.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+PADI five-star dive operation with unlimited shore diving on the Calabas house reef 24 hours a day, so night dives off the pier need no booking and no boat
+The Calabas reef sits right off the resort's shore, and snorkelers regularly report eagle rays, turtles, octopus and big schools of reef fish without ever boarding a boat
+Divemasters at Divi Dive Bonaire are consistently praised for expertise, safety briefings and treating new divers with the same care as veterans
+Divi says town is a 5-minute walk, so Kralendijk's waterfront restaurants, shops and bars are easy to reach on foot after a dive day
+Updated studios across from the dive shop sleep up to six with two queens, a sleeper sofa and a kitchenette, and dive lockers sit on the pier, which makes it easy for dive groups and families
+The PADI Reef Renewal Diver specialty, run with the nonprofit Reef Renewal Project Bonaire, lets you spend part of your trip tending coral nurseries and outplanting coral
+Bonaire is outside the hurricane belt, with air averaging about 81F and water around 78F year-round, so storm season is far less of a gamble than on most Caribbean islands

Cons

−Bonaire's reefs are showing stress from coral disease and heavier cruise traffic, and some returning divers say the reefs aren't what they remember from years past
−Dive boats can feel crowded in peak season, with travelers reporting a single divemaster handling groups of up to 14 divers
−All-inclusive is an optional upgrade, not the default rate, and it only covers the three on-site outlets, so compare room-only plus town dinners against the plan before you commit
−On-site food gets mixed marks, often described as adequate rather than memorable, and pureocean's theme buffets require a reservation
−The shoreline is a narrow, rocky reef entry rather than a sandy swimming beach, and the free chairs and palapas are first-come, with unattended chairs reassigned after two hours
−Live entertainment runs three nights a week, Monday, Friday and Saturday, and beyond that the casino is the main evening option
−A rental car is close to essential for the rest of the island; there's a Hertz desk off the lobby, but cars book out fast from December through April

Above the water, it's a modest, colorful, laid-back resort rather than a polished one. Rooms come as pool and garden view guestrooms around the main pool, deluxe oceanfront rooms where fish swim below your balcony, and updated studios with kitchenettes near the dive shop. There are two pools, a day spa, a gym with yoga and Zumba classes, and a small casino that's open 7pm to 3am for guests 21 and over. Dining is three oceanfront outlets: Chibi Chibi Beachfront Bistro for seafood and continental plates, pureocean with a daily breakfast buffet and Latin, Asian, Italian and Caribbean BBQ theme buffets four nights a week, and the pureocean Beachside Bar with happy hour and live music on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. You can book room-only or add the all-inclusive plan, which has special kids pricing. Food is fine but rarely the reason people come back.

This is a resort for divers and serious snorkelers first, and for families who are happy with a quiet, nature-focused trip. It competes most directly with Buddy Dive and Captain Don's Habitat on the same stretch of coast; Divi wins on the house reef, the walk into Kralendijk and the casino, while Captain Don's has more old-school dive character. Bonaire is not a cheap island once flights, a rental car and dive packages are added, and if you want big pool parties, nightly shows or long sandy beaches, this is the wrong island. Rent a car for at least a few days to reach Lac Bay, the salt flats with their flamingos, and the north end of the marine park.

Common Questions

Do you need to be a certified diver to enjoy Divi Flamingo?

No, but it helps. The Calabas reef right off the shore is excellent for snorkeling, and plenty of guests spend whole days snorkeling from shore. Divi Dive Bonaire runs introductory and PADI certification courses for beginners. Non-divers should know the evening scene is quiet, with live music three nights a week and the casino as the main options.

Is Divi Flamingo all-inclusive?

Only if you choose it. The resort sells both room-only and all-inclusive rates, and you can add the all-inclusive plan at check-in or before arrival through Divi reservations. It covers unlimited food and drinks at Chibi Chibi, pureocean and the pureocean Beachside Bar, with special pricing for kids. Since town is a short walk away, some guests prefer room-only and eat around Kralendijk.

How is the house reef compared to boat dive sites?

Calabas is one of Bonaire's best-known shore dive sites, and you can dive it any time of day or night without scheduling or paying extra. Boat dives reach different sites around the island, most popularly Klein Bonaire, which many guests do at least once for the variety. Most divers mix both over a week.

Is there a casino and what are the hours?

Yes, the casino is on the resort grounds and open daily from 7pm to 3am. You must be 21 or older with a valid ID to enter, and there's a Players' Club for points. It's small, and guests treat it as a low-key evening option after a dive day rather than a destination.

Is a rental car necessary in Bonaire?

Strongly recommended. The resort is a short walk from Kralendijk, but Sorobon and Lac Bay, the salt flats where flamingos feed, and the north end of the marine park all need a car. There's a Hertz desk just off the lobby, and cars book out well ahead in high season (December through April), so reserve before you arrive.

How does Divi Flamingo compare to other Bonaire dive resorts?

The main competitors are Buddy Dive Resort and Captain Don's Habitat. Buddy Dive is the biggest operation and popular with serious divers, and Captain Don's has the most history in Bonaire diving. Divi Flamingo wins on its Calabas house reef, the walk into town and the casino, so the choice usually comes down to which house reef and vibe you prefer.

Restaurants (2)

Type	Restaurants
Buffet	Pureocean
International & fusion	Chibi Chibi Beachfront Bistro

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.

What's nearby

1000 Steps
20 min drive · 6.5 mi
Kralendijk
8 min walk · 0.4 mi
Klein Bonaire water taxi
4 min drive · 1.0 mi
Willemstoren Lighthouse
25 min drive · 11 mi
Rincon
25 min drive · 8.9 mi
Slave Huts
25 min drive · 11 mi

More things to do (20)

Atlantis Beach · beach25 min drive · 8.9 mi
Bachelor's Beach · beach6 min drive · 2.5 mi
Te Amo Beach · beach4 min drive · 1.7 mi
Fort Oranje · historic site11 min walk · 0.6 mi
Bonaire Museum · museum3 min drive · 0.8 mi
Terramar Museum · museum4 min drive · 1.0 mi
Harbour Village Marina · marina6 min drive · 1.7 mi
Bonaire Sabal Palm Park · nature13 min drive · 5.8 mi
Salt Pier · viewpoint14 min drive · 5.7 mi
Mangrove Info Center · nature14 min drive · 4.9 mi
Mangrove kayak tour (Lac Bay) · excursion14 min drive · 4.9 mi
Sorobon Beach (Lac Bay) · beach15 min drive · 6.8 mi
Seru Largu · viewpoint15 min drive · 5.5 mi
Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary · wildlife20 min drive · 8.6 mi
Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire · wildlife20 min drive · 5.5 mi
Mangazina di Rei · museum25 min drive · 9.8 mi
Indian Inscriptions (Onima) · historic site25 min drive · 9.3 mi
Washington Slagbaai National Park · nature35 min drive · 11 mi
Gotomeer flamingo viewpoint · wildlife35 min drive · 13 mi
Boka Kokolishi · beach55 min drive · 16 mi

Amenities

Casino

Yoga Classes

Diving

Snorkeling

Free Wi-Fi

Buffet Dining

Spa

Gym

Show 1 more amenities

Beach

Google Reviews★ 4.3 · 1,132 reviews

Corey L.

a month ago

“Clean rooms. Close to downtown. Naturally friendly staff. Dive shop has anything a diver needs. Knowledgeable friendly, cordial staff.2 min walk from room too dive shop. 1 min from shop to dive point. Nitrox always available. Some one always ready...”

Greg W.

2 months ago

“Fantastic dive with this shop! Guides James and Nicole were knowledgeable, patient, and fun. Top-notch gear, smooth operation, and amazing marine life sightings. Perfect for all levels—5 stars! I'll be back!”