The Real Deal: Seven nights' accommodations; round-trip airport transfers; breakfast daily; six days of unlimited shore diving; use of tanks, weights and belts; and a seven-day rental of a resort-owned five passenger Toyota Hi-Lux double-cabin pickup truck, from $475 per person — including hotel taxes, service charges, and rental car taxes.
When: April 18–May 29, 2009.
The fine print: Note that the $475 rate represents a savings of $73 per person off the typical package price (two travelers pay only the cost of one person's diving). Based on quadruple occupancy in a two-bedroom standard cottage; add $101 per person for double occupancy in a one-bedroom garden-view cottage; $111 per person for triple occupancy in a two-bedroom standard cottage; $534 for a solo occupant in a one-bedroom garden-view cottage. The pickup truck has a manual transmission, and vehicle upgrades are not available. Airfare is not included. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: No deadline; based on availability.
Contact: Caradonna Dive Adventures, 800/328-2288, caradonna.com.
Why it's a deal: The cost of this package breaks down to $68 a night and includes hotel accommodations, breakfast daily, a seven-day car rental, six days of unlimited shore dives, complimentary use of diving tanks, weights and belts, and all taxes. By booking the seven-night package, you'll save about 10 percent off the regular room rate. On top of that, the $475 rate also includes a special free diving promotion for a companion (every second occupant), which amounts to a savings of $73 per person.
Highlights: The package covers unlimited shore diving in the protected reefs that start right at the island's shoreline. Bonaire, which is outside the hurricane belt, is a great place for divers of any experience level. According to the folks at Caradonna, there are no waves, no surge, very little current, and crystal-clear 100-foot visibility year-round. When out of water, you can explore the island at your own pace thanks to the included rental car.
Lodging: Seven nights at the 32-unit Caribbean Club Bonaire in a two-bedroom standard cottage with a bathroom, a full kitchen, and a living room; note that only the bedrooms have air conditioners. Upgrade to a new ocean-view deluxe two-bedroom cottage for an additional $233 per person for seven nights. Upgrades are also available for single, double, and triple occupancy, starting at $57 per person for two people in a one-bedroom ocean-view studio for seven nights; singles can upgrade to a one-bedroom ocean-view studio for an additional $114 for the week; add $311 per person for three occupants in a deluxe brand-new ocean-view two-bedroom cottage for seven nights.
More: Add six one-tank boat dives for an additional $59 per person or 11 one-tank boat dives for $105 per person. Extend your stay at the Caribbean Club Bonaire for an additional $47 per person per night for four in a two-bedroom standard cottage, $52 per person per night for two people in a one-bedroom garden-view cottage, $57 per person per night for three people in a two-bedroom standard cottage, and $88 per night for one person in a one-bedroom garden-view cottage.
Before you go: For more tips on what to do in the area, visit Bonaire's official tourism Web site. As you may expect, this small Caribbean island enjoys warm weather year-round. This package is valid for travel in April and May, when average temperatures hover in the high 70s to high 80s range.