By ruby conn (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 2:05 pm: |
what would I be missing if I only did boat dives? Thank you in advance
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By Ron Myers (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #141) on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 2:12 pm: |
You will miss the freedom to dive on your own schedule. I am spoiled about not having to dive at a time specified by a boat. Shore diving is not that hard, especially from most of the Bonaire dive sites.
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By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #497) on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 2:17 pm: |
In addition to the freedom of diving on your own schedule and at your own pace you would miss out on the chance to explore the shallows as you finish your dive. I often drain my tank in the waters under ten feet at the end of my dive because there is so much to see. At most sites your truck will be only steps from the water so you do not have far to walk with your gear.
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By Cecil Berry (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4089) on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 2:31 pm: |
A lot is the short answer and the same amount of work. IMHO. Let's examine the two procedures.
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By Denise Kacavas (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1027) on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 3:20 pm: |
Lots of divers, lots of different opinions.
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By William Borek (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 3:23 pm: |
Unlike most dive destinations, Bonaire is perfectly suited to shore diving. The reef line is close to or at the shore (Oil Slick Leap)making almost all dive sites accessible. Only sites at Klein Bonaire absolutely require a boat.
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By Dr. Director (BonaireTalker - Post #77) on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 3:55 pm: |
Why not consider a combo. My wife and I are both in our late 50s and we dive to relax rather than exhaust ourselves, so usually only do 2 dives a day on each of our two trips per year to Bonaire. We do six 1-tank boat dives (with Toucan for the last 5 years) and balance that with an equal number of shore dives. That provides diving at sites not accessible from shore (all of Klein Bonaire and several mainland sites.), plus freedom to dive when and where you want. Also it is less tiring this way. Several trips ago we started doing the shore dives in the morning (makes for a lazy morning not having to rush for an 8:30 AM boat departure since we stay at Belmar), and then the afternoon boat dive (leaving at 2 PM). We usually pick shore sites with easy entries, as I need to carry her gear into and out of the water (bad knees). We have found Oil Slick Leap, Something Special (in front of the Yellow Submarine), North Belnam, Margate Bay, Atlantis, Vista Blue all easy entry (meaning a short haul for me from the truck's tailgate, plus not too challenging due to surf or surge). Also Eighteen Palm (at Plaza), and Belmar's house reef are both very easy entry. After all, how hard is it to gear up on the dock at Belmar and either do a giant stride entry or a climb down a ladder. We usually ask the dive people which sites and which entries are easiest at any given time, since they know our needs/desires/style of diving. Another resource is the website http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/ABC/index.htm. We also typically let the dive shop know where we are diving or planning to dive any particular time, and when we expect to be back, just in case we run into trouble.
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2081) on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 7:05 pm: |
Another consideration, for your decision, is how you use air. I use little so on the average boat dive I have nearly half a tank of air when the boat is ready to leave. I find that frustrating, having done the work of getting on the boat and gearing up, etc., etc. And if I stay down to the end of my tank I am not popular on the boat. (It is amazing how impatient some people become on a vacation! :–) ) As noted above that varies with dive operator.
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By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1960) on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 8:56 pm: |
Ruby, For many of the same reasons already mentioned, I can not imagine going to Bonaire and not shore diving.
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By Keely Ehrhardt (BonaireTalker - Post #24) on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 9:40 pm: |
I was speaking online to the author's best friend and she said that the book will be available at the Chat N Browse store on Bonaire. I believe she said that other places have them but the Chat N Browse has the most. (I'm not sure on the spelling of the store).
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By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1961) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 5:02 am: |
Thanks Keely.
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By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #498) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 6:08 am: |
Well Tom I am not sure that is the unveiling we had planned for the new edition of Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy but I sure did laugh over your tall tale!! As both Tom and Keely have said, the newest edition of Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy has recently been published. Copies will be available at many locations in Bonaire hopefully within the next week. Single copies are available for the next two weeks by emailing me through the board until all the bugs are worked out at which time I think I will let Tom handle that announcement since he has a new career in marketing. And before anyone questions my involvement, I get no financial compensation from the sales of the book -- I am simply helping my good friend, Susan Porter. I have also had clearance from the moderators, through Tom, on this. Happy Diving everyone!
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By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1963) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 10:01 am: |
The only part of my post which was a tall tale, was my description of the people I met at the coffee shop and what they were doing:-{)}
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By James Thomas (BonaireTalker - Post #41) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 1:52 pm: |
Ruby
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #348) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 2:21 pm: |
I agree totally with James. I was doing boat dives in Cozumel for a couple of years before we finally visited Bonaire. I've never returned to Cozumel and the only boat dives I have done in the last 5 years is to Klein and the Wild Side with Larry. I have absolutely no desire to boat dive the West side of Bonaire (Except maybe Rappell - that's a boat dive only isn't it?) The freedom to dive your own schedule and discover your own adventure without a Dive Master is way better than boat diving in my opinion. Bottom line - I believe you would be missing out on the main dive reason for going to Bonaire in the first place - after all, it is the shore diving capitol of the world. Have a great trip!
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By Mary Mueller (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4108) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 4:32 pm: |
Tom - great picture of Sus's book!! I think we should also mention that cover it the designed by Linda Richter!!!
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By Susan Porter (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #147) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 4:44 pm: |
Mary,
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By Susan - BSDME (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #148) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 4:49 pm: |
Actually there are a few stories to go along with the picture...
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By Mary Mueller (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4109) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 5:10 pm: |
Susan - sorry I did not mean to say it was not your picture - I knew that Linda made it beautiful!!
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By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1483) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 6:23 pm: |
Sue, the cover came out awesome and I like your new handle!!! I have already sent a check off to Sue Taft because I couldn't wait to have a copy!!!! Tom, thanks for letting the little secret out early!!! I think it is great that us BT folks have first dibs on the first edition of Sue's book!
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By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1484) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 6:24 pm: |
Oh Sue! I forgot to ask. How come your newly painted truck isn't on the cover???
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By Tish Dace (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #181) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 7:23 pm: |
Congratulations, Sus!!!!
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By Mare (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #941) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 9:48 pm: |
DUH!
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By Tish Dace (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #182) on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 9:57 pm: |
Thanks for a long laugh, Mare.
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By Susan - BSDME (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #149) on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 7:11 am: |
Mare,
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By David Bridenbaugh (BonaireTalker - Post #19) on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 11:35 am: |
Our most recent trip in April produced 35 dives in 11 dive days. No way to do that boat diving. If all that you want to do is one or two dives per day. Great. Do the boat dives. Go ahead and deal with coming up from your dive early because the DM put an hour restriction on your dive. Or the group passed you while you were looking at some macros and the anxiety of maybe being left behind made you beat fins to catch up. What if you love the reef so much that you want to do it again after your SI? try getting the Captain to do that!
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By Dr. Director (BonaireTalker - Post #78) on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 12:39 pm: |
The really nice thing about Bonaire shore diving and boat diving is different folks = different strokes, and Bonaire offers a very wide range of diving options. If you just want a few lazy dives, you can do that on Bonaire. Or if you want to dive to your heart's (and computer's) content, you can do that too. Shallow or deep. Long or short. Day, night or in-between. It is completely your choice and no one else should tell you what is right. I believe the responses, read collectively, certainly infer that. Multiple responders = multiple views, and all are right. Habitat's slogan is "home of diving freedom". That slogan could just as well apply to the diving options on Bonaire. Try boat dives if you wish and try shore dives if you wish. Regardless, just go enjoy Bonaire. That way, when you go back to Bonaire (and hopefully you will want to), you will know which types of dives you want to do, and how to do them.
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By Tish Dace (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #183) on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 1:47 pm: |
Seems like most people responding on this thread are shore divers, and they have a low opinion of boat diving.
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By James Thomas (BonaireTalker - Post #42) on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 10:16 pm: |
Tish
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By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #281) on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 12:21 am: |
We get a shore diving package and then do individual boat dives. We enjoy both, just don't like doing the morning boat dives so do some afternoon boat dives so we can do Klein and other sites that are boat only. We are not early risers and the morning boat dives are to early. Give both a try and decide for yourself.
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By Tish Dace (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #184) on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 9:24 am: |
James,
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By Randy P (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #357) on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 11:34 am: |
The absolute stone cold EASIEST shore diving is of course the "house" reef at any of the waterfront resorts. I'm a huge fan of the one in front of Buddy (and Capt Don and Sand $). You walk down a flight a wide sturdy stairs, head west and in a couple minutes or so of relaxed finning you are on the reef.
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By Tami Lamb (BonaireTalker - Post #93) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 1:30 pm: |
I did my first shore diving on Bonaire- I was so thrilled that we came back up in the correct place! I was so used to looking for the boat....I love to shore dive- you aren't running for the boat, you aren't fighting to get off the boat or on the boat or have scads of people hanging all over the things you want to see. But I also love boat dives on Bonaire- the trip to Klein usually only takes 10 minutes (of 15) - I never get seasick, the reef is a little more pristine- someone else is hauling the tanks around and I don't have to carry one forever to get anywhere. Plus I don't have to make the decision of where to get in and crawl over all the coral. I love to shore dive AND boat dive. (The only trouble with a 2 tank boat dive in the AM is sometimes missing lunch. Now THERE is a problem- I hate to miss a meal!!)
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By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1496) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 9:00 pm: |
I just got my copy of Sue Porter's revision of Shore Diving Made Easy! She did a great job and I just wanted to mention that it is great for people who snorkel!! She does a great job at describing the entries and what you can expect to see!!! Another little feature I like is that it doesn't weigh alot like my ID books because my suitcases are always too heavy!
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By Ron Edison (BonaireTalker - Post #68) on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 11:56 am: |
I've done a total of three boat dives and 24 shore dives in the Caribbean. With shore diving, all I miss is the mass of flapping fins and the cloud of bubbles from all the divers ahead of me, frightening away all the fish before I get to see them. You have to lug your equipment from the storage shed to the boat or to the tank pick up location anyway. (At Sand Dollar the tank pick up is much closer than the dock.) At most shore sites you can park within 20-50 feet of the shore.
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