By Scott Phillips (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 9:39 pm: |
While reading some recent threads here on BT, I've been reminded of a conversation I had several years ago with some divers in Bonaire who "just didn't get it." We were floating around in the pool at Buddy Dive, chatting with a group of folks who were almost done with their first dive trip to Bonaire, and they were complaining about how "there's nothing to see here" and "we just don't get the appeal of this place". I was kind of stunned: in the previous 3 or four days, we had been inked by a baby octopus, had spent half an hour following an adult octopus all over the place, had been buzzed by an eagle ray passing by close enough that we could have touched it, had seen three turtles (one swam through my dive buddy's legs, another lay motionless on a ledge while we watch from inches away), several frogfish of various colors, a few seahorses, juvenile trunkfish, clouds of silversides, huge tarpon up close and personal....y'know, all the cool stuff that Bonaire's waters are so full of. Further discussion with these folks indicated a few things: they had been to dive locales like the Red Sea, Caymans, various South Pacific islands, etc. and were used to seeing big, grand stuff with very little effort; but more importantly, their only dives had been boat dives where they "stayed with the group" and didn't see much of anything.
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By Fiona Rattray (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #240) on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 9:55 pm: |
Scott, I second that emotion.
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By DIVER DEBBI (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #384) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 12:10 am: |
ditto above sentiments....there are people who do not see the wonder all around them ...I have heard that about the park ...that holds so many beautiful experiences if you only stop and look...Bonaire rules !
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By Kay Powers (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #804) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 12:47 am: |
I agree....5 days and counting....Bonaire is my paradise!
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By Bob Smits (BonaireTalker - Post #91) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 1:55 am: |
Very well said Scott. Could not agree more.
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By Faith M. Senie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #515) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 7:55 am: |
heh, and that's exactly why I so disliked St. John (USVI) so much -- the divemaster spent so much time rushing around trying to find big ol' pelagics for his customers and went zooming past a zillion really cool macro critters that I was dying to see -- but in St. John, you MUST stay with the DM and are not allowed to putter around on your own (yes, we asked). By the 3rd day they finally figured out that we hated being dragged around the ocean like that and gave us some time poking around under the boat at the end of the dive. But by then we were pretty much done with diving with them... When Bonaire says "diving freedom", it really does mean something!
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By Igor van Riel (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2503) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 8:14 am: |
Amen Scott, I agree!!!
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By Karin van Veen (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1336) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 8:32 am: |
Although I only snorkel, I cannot immagine someone doesn't like Bonaire's underwaterworld. It's so relaxing, so much to discovver, it's great when you discover a tiny fish around the coral. And the coral,.... Go to Karpata, and you'll see the most beautiful underwaterforest you can think off!
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By Larry Leonard (BonaireTalker - Post #59) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 10:20 am: |
Bonaire ruined me for non-Bonaire diving. Since my first trip to Bonaire 3 years ago I have honestly hated every diving experience since. The self paced, self guided, self scheduled style of diving showed me what real diving was all about. I'll never ride the cattle car boats again - well, I won't like it. ;)
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By Edward Stewart (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 10:22 am: |
Many divers with many taste's
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #233) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 11:20 am: |
I love this thread...because I love Bonaire and the relaxed way I can enjoy the sea life. Totally agree with you all....
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By Renea (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #113) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 12:01 pm: |
Wow, can't believe that some people could say that about Bonaire! Scott, I totally agree with you plus, Bonaire is home of DIVING FREEDOM!! 87 days till we make our 6th trip back!
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By Mary Wills (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #223) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 12:37 pm: |
I, too, have tired of being herded about a reef by an impatient dive master. On some of my last boat dives, I'd let the hurried dive master and his (mostly) willing herd go off at a frenzied pace while I spent time near the boat finding wonderful critters.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #108) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 12:50 pm: |
Bingo! Shore Diving Bonaire and boat diving the live-aboards in that order is the way to go IMHO. 20 Minute/$80.00 boat dives at 80 feet with a Dive Master? No Thanks.
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By Larry Leonard (BonaireTalker - Post #60) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 1:00 pm: |
I did not even think about the cost of cattle car boat diving - every trip pre-Bonaire I would be stunned to see the end of vacation tally yet thought that it was the only way. On the other hand, the more divers they stuff in those boats the less of them will be on Bonaire. ;) Cram 'em in guys! :D
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By Denise Kacavas (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #730) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 1:27 pm: |
I enjoy boat dives in Bonaire :-) Request my favorite dive locations, jump in the water, take my sweet time looking at whatever I like and no concern as to where the dm is or what he/she is doing, 45 to 60 min dives
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By Denise Kacavas (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #731) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 1:45 pm: |
and the boat dives I've done in Bonaire (with Divi) have not been cattle boat conditions ... done that in FL though :-(
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By Bob Smits (BonaireTalker - Post #92) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 1:51 pm: |
Now I understand why so many people have made much more dives then I did.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #110) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 2:01 pm: |
We did a boat dive on Bonaire once. The Dive Master told us to be on the surface with 500 PSI; so, my brother-in-law and I stayed in approximately 10 - 30 ft. of water underneath the boat until we were down to 500 PSI. My wife, a snorkler at this time, was on the the boat when the dive master got out of the water and back on the boat. When my brother-in-law and I finally surfaced w/500 PSI exactly, my wife informed us that the dive master was ticked off in a major way. Obviously, he had something better to do than wait for paying customers. Bottom Line - Shore Diving = Diving Freedom, adventure and low cost on a weekly basis (IMHO). That said - To each their own.
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By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #706) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 2:17 pm: |
Dive Bonaire at Divi used to say "turn around at 1500 psi and come back on the boat at 500 psi". The first time I dove Bonaire, I asked "Max time?", got the 1500/500 answer, I replied "No, how long?". I finally got an answer of 60 minutes. When I got back on the boat after 60 minutes and showed the DM my SPG with 1800 psi and asked if he really wanted me back on the boat at 500 psi, he said "OH!" No problem after that, they gave both psi info and max times along with max depths.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #111) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 3:09 pm: |
No problem with the PSI rule. Big problem with being told to limit our dives to a certain length of time (i.e. 60 minutes); therefore, one of the big reasons for our preference for shore diving over boat diving (not the only reason though). As for live aboards, we often returned to the Cayman Aggressor with less than 500 PSI and the DM's never said a word. There were no time limits on the Aggressor and the DM's, while in the water, never interfered. We enjoyed the Aggressor much more than any of the boat dives we have done on Cozumel for example. Once again - to each their own. I hope this thread helps those trying to decide between boat, shore and/or live aboards for whatever reason.
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By Jerry Besco (BonaireTalker - Post #41) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 3:49 pm: |
Bonaire is an adventure above water as well as below. The Dutch are great people and I like the fact there's no one to harass you to buy something, like some islands. It's big enough to hold new experiences but small enough you can't get lost for long. I had the good fortune to dive in all four seasons and look forward to coming back in '05. Every time I do, I "Get It" a little more and appreciate it a lot more.
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By Bob Smits (BonaireTalker - Post #93) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 3:54 pm: |
Linnea, where does your Dutch name "wijkhof" come from?
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By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1123) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 5:17 pm: |
I love this thread too. Scott really put it well. And I agree wholeheartedly with Bob Smits (his post #92)!
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By Israel A. Sanchez (BonaireTalker - Post #39) on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 9:10 pm: |
Like Marcus said, To each their own! Sometimes people arrive to the Island misinformed and the setting is just shocking to them! More times than not, it is the complainers who are responsible for their own disappointment. They fail to research THOROUGHLY and go through various sources to finally reach out an opinion. I found hard to believe there were visitors to the island who were "shocked" there were no sandy beaches. Alas they were there... complaining... A diver who is "shocked" not to find pelagics or walls in Bonaire either booked a last minute trip without asking much, or simply failed to research more. Heck, Bonaire is known as the "Macro Capital" of the Caribbean, and any traveling diver can tell you that. Ed Stewart is also right when he states that there are divers and there are people who dive. If those people show up to the island expecting things that are not there, their fault! They should've done their homework! My point is that if you come prepared with plenty of information and KNOW what to expect from the island, well then, you will rarely be disappointed. Granted somethings are beyond our control (like service and quality of food at the restaurants which seem to fluctuate as much as the tides) but that is minimal compared to the big picture. It is much easier to get sour and assign blame than it is to take responsibility for one's actions, or lack of thereof. Just my two cents! Coach Izzy
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By John Carter (BonaireTalker - Post #54) on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 10:24 am: |
Karin,
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By Bob Smits (BonaireTalker - Post #96) on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 10:40 am: |
So in the US people go to a restaurant to have a quick fill of their stomach :-)
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By John Carter (BonaireTalker - Post #55) on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 12:48 pm: |
There are times when we will go out for the sake of a long dinner it's just most times its eat and get back to activities especially when we are in Daylight Savings Time. Things slow down in the winter. I couldn't make it to midnight. I have to hit the rack by 10 PM as I get up at 3:30 AM to go to the gym.
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By Bob Smits (BonaireTalker - Post #97) on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 1:38 pm: |
It's a shame that you did not post a picture with yr profile.
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By John Carter (BonaireTalker - Post #56) on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 1:46 pm: |
Nah, I'm skinny and bony. Just getting up early to go to the gym makes it part of my workday. If I were to do it at the end of the day I would have all day to find an excuse as to why I can't make it to the gym. This way if I can get my feet on the floor ( in other words out of bed) I can get my workout in and get to work by 6:30 or 7:00 before I know what's happening.
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By Bud Gillan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #108) on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 5:34 pm: |
A Fresh Fish Story about getting waterlogged on Bonaire.
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By Bob Smits (BonaireTalker - Post #100) on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 5:42 pm: |
Bud, I just love yr last line:
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By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3343) on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 5:44 pm: |
Brain, what brain???
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By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1850) on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 6:16 pm: |
Hey Bud, it is fresh herring night on Bonaire! Jake is at De Tuin right now indulging on fresh herring flown in today on KLM.
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4925) on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 8:44 pm: |
Well, I was the sole American representative at DeTuin's Hollandse Nieuw night tonight, and welcomed with open arms by the many Dutch friends (and a few Antillean ones too) that I saw there.
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By jos van osnabrugge (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1167) on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 10:49 pm: |
Bud , I just love the way you synops it all:
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By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #101) on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 2:11 am: |
Jake,
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By Fiona Rattray (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #247) on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 3:58 am: |
Thanks for that post, Jake, now I am hungry...sigh...I miss De Tuin...maybe Bob will describe the korenwijn for us, too, I'm not familiar with it....bring on the Slow Food revolution...
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By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #102) on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 4:47 am: |
Geneva's and Korenwijn are made according to ancient tradition. Distilled from the finest grain and carefully selected herbs and spices.
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By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #103) on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 4:49 am: |
Next time I come to Bonaire, I'll bring some Korenwijn. We can consume it at Gibi's. Or would Bongo's be more appropriate?
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By Fiona Rattray (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #248) on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 9:00 am: |
Thanks, Bob....sounds like making Scotch whisky except for the juniper berries and other herbs....the same distillation into three parts, and the art form of the blending of the different "washes" to get something wonderful....the flavour in whiskey comes from the spring water, the peat and the malted barley...
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By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #104) on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 9:16 am: |
Ardbeg:
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4929) on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 10:29 am: |
No Korenwijn for me last night, although Genever/Geneva was poured for some.
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By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #707) on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 11:41 am: |
I will have to make the herring nights while I am on Bonaire. I have not had fresh herring, but I love pickled herring in sour cream.
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By Bud Gillan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #110) on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 5:00 pm: |
Bright Ideas,
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By Cosimo Leipold (BonaireTalker - Post #48) on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 9:24 am: |
Gee, I wonder what this whole thread might be in reference to... ;) I said it was amazing for macro life!
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By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #124) on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 9:30 am: |
Cosimo,
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By Cosimo Leipold (BonaireTalker - Post #49) on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 10:08 am: |
I figured this whole thread was in response to my Trip Report which has been getting regularly kicked squarely in the groin for a week or so now. Since I talked about macro life and a lack of 'big' fish I figured thats what the first post was in reference to.
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By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #125) on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 10:19 am: |
If seen a lot of compliments on yr trip report too.
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By Scott Phillips (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 10:30 am: |
Since I started this whole thing, I feel compelled to comment.
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By Bob Smits (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #126) on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 10:42 am: |
Cosimo and Scott,
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By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1641) on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 11:42 pm: |
Bud, we'll be glad to take pictures or help capture jellyfish, but we are DEFINITELY NOT VOLUNTEERING TO GET STUNG.
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By sherri rommuno (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 11:58 pm: |
2 trips, and 40+ dives. My husband and I agree. We love the "freedom" of diving. I love the fact that I can breath my tank to 500 psi. On all other dives out side of Bonaire I am forced to come up with 1200 to 1800 psi (I conserve my air well). We love to micro dive, we can spend 60 minutes in a small area. We see tiny baby eels, shrimp, sea horse, octopus cleaning their house etc. The freedom of shore diving on "your" time schedule is very cool. Learn your navigation skills to dive on your own on the shore dive sites. A MUST is "salt pier"
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