On our 3 weeks on Bonaire, June 23-July 14th, we did the Wildside with Larry 3 times.Although this is a $100 trip, it was worth every penny. You do a drift dive first, come into Lac and deco for about 30 minutes, then you suit back up and moor at the "Blue Hole." I have to tell you that the Blue Hole is absolutely extraordinary. It was the most beautiful dive site I have ever seen. We saw 3 turtles and 78 tarpon, along with spotted Eagle Rays, nurse sharks, octupus, etc. The fish are bigger and the hole is a panorama of color. I highly suggest you give it a shot.

Congratulations! Guess you had several days of calm water/weather.

Jim,
How rough was it getting on and off the boat? I'm in good shape, but I did just have my hip replaced in June (going in October)...

Jim...you have sold me we will definately give it a try next time! Karen & Rog Huff

Jim, got pictures??? Please???

You counted 78 tarpon. They must be been staying pretty still

Darryl ??/

Don't you know the counting thrick???
you count the eyes and the back fins and devide it by three!!!

James , sounds great , like cynde says Pictures please

sjosss

Good Day James

Your experience sounds wonderful on the Wildside.

Have a couple questions....were reservations required? Or could you call up that morning or the day before to get a spot? How many divers per boat?

Did you take pics? If so, can't wait to see.

Oops....

And yet another question.

Did you do the same site all 3 times?

James just had a change to read your profile....

I'm right around the corner from you. I'm the Aerobic Coordinator for LA Fitness Oxford Valley. Might you be a member there?

Susan F,

Check out http://www.infobonaire.com/larrys/

Tom

James, Is the rough part getting in and out of the boat? The website says its rough....rough in the water too?

Thanks, Tom!

We bumped into Larry outside Chat n Browse this past February - he was all excited about his new boat which at that time was in transit to Bonaire. His descriptions of the diving had us drooling. and from what he was saying, the new boat was going to make it even easier. I can't wait!

First, let me say that Larry, although extremely colorful, is one of the safest dive operators I have ever had the pleasure to dive with. Everything is about safety. He even has oxygen on board. The boat is a 30 ft. zodiac. This is the same boat our Navy SEALS use for insertions, along with rescue with our US Coast Guard. Although the east side can be very wild, entry is no problem. You simply get up on the "sausage" and do a back roll into the surf. Everyone goes down together, and the dive master floats a big floater on top for Larry to follow. When it is time to come up, on the drift dive, everyone comes up together on the dive master's cue. You then proceed into Lac Bay, the calm, to deco and have some water etc. When time, everyone suits up again, in the calm, and you go back out to the hole. At this point, Larry moors, you get up on the sausage again, back roll, and follow the dive master across these incredible sea fans and surge, into the blue hole. The whole is probably 3/4 of an acre in area. You go around it clockwise, and exit where you came in across the sea fans. This is in 12-15 feet of water. Entry onto the zodiac is fairly easy as the deck is at water level, and the ladder extends maybe 3 feet below water level. As far as counting the tarpon, they were completely motionless. I counted 74, but the dive master counted 76. It was very cool to see that many tarpon all at once. I am not a photographer. However, this great couple we met from California, are sending me a CD. He told me it will take a while. Susan, if you have any trouble getting up the ladder, Larry is strong enough to grab the back of your BCD and haul you right up on deck. He is quite an imposing figure, and was a combat diver in the Canadian armed forces. Lorraine, I am not a member of LA fitness. I feel that what Larry started on the east side of Bonaire is only going to help get more divers to the island. It is an incredible experience, and one I hope to do many times. Although the sites on the west side are still incredibe, this just offers another thing to do on Bonaire. As far as reservations, you can call or go online, I guess. We just see Larry a lot down there, so we set it up that way. I hope I answered all the questions from above. You really owe it to yourself to do this at least once. However, the hole may get into your soul.

Jim, Thanks for the follow-up. I have heard good things about Larry, now I am phsyched to go.

The guy that introduced me to Bonaire said the same thing about diving the "Hole". Tarpon every where. Can not wait to see your photos.

Susan,
I was just on the phone with Smack. When I asked him if he wanted to do this he said "Hell Yes!!!"

We are ready whatever day(s) you and Geoffrey want to do it.

Denise K., Are you reading this?

Oh Bubba! After reading this thread, there is no way I am gonna leave the island without at least one trip with Larry even if I have to walk home. In my mind, I'm already there!

When are you guys going in Oct.? We'll be there the first week in Oct. Also heard good things about Larry and the East side. We are thinking about going there too.

Tom, Yes, I am reading it and really would like to do it!!

John and Sue, I'll probably just miss you, I am there Oct 9th through 16th.. Denise

Jim - thanks for the info - I wanted to do Larry's wild side dive - had a long conversation with him about it - and yes he is colorful!!!! I just plain ran out of time - I could not fit everything in on this trip - that just means I will have to go back to Bon soon and try it!!!LOL!!!

Would love to see the pics once you get the CD!!

Hmm, I may have to do this next week. Got to keep the Larry's of the world employed. :D

I also have had the joy of diving on the east coast of the island with Larry. We saw many beautiful things which included turtles, southern stingrays (so many no one on the dive bothered to count them), spotted eagle rays, green moray eels, and I was fortunate enough to see a few sharks as well (both nurse and reef sharks).

To reiterate some of the points that James mentioned in response to the questions asked. Entry is fairly easy as it is just a backward roll off the sausage of the boat into the water. Then everybody heads on down with the divemaster for the dive who tows a drift float so Larry (who is on the boat) can follow where the group is. As people reach the stated levels of air (700 psi/50bar I think), they ascend to the surface. They are than picked up by Larry. Entry into the boat is fairly easy as James stated, the ladder goes into the water and allows you to enter the boat at deck level - it is great as I didn't have to climb over anything to get into the boat!

James also did not lie about the tarpon! It is amazing to see that many in one place at the same time! And they are so docile that the photographers in the group were able to get within 2 to 3 feet!

To answer some specific questions or comments: Ida the weather does not need to be very calm for this boat to go out. It was custom designed for that side and can handle the waters very easily, including not upsetting the passengers!

SusanF - there was another person on the boat who had a bad back, and she was able to get in and out of the boat quite easily. Basically, once you climb on the boat you sit with your tank on the bench, therefore no supporting it. I'm sure your hip will be able to handle the diving here.

Hope this clears up any questions people have. Also, try his website http://www.larryswildsidediving.com There are also other threads within Bonairetalk that talk about the east side, and in particular Larry's Wildside operation.

We are coming down in September and were thinking of trying the Wild Side diving with Larry. Thanks for the posts, this has been great and convinced us that we will definitely do this. Question, should I make reservations before we come down or wait till we get there? We are extremely flexible about which day and we will be there for 11 nights.

thanks!

Has anybody had any luck contacting Larry via email? I've tried to email him a couple of times to find out about availability for my upcoming trip (August 21-28) but haven't had any luck. Any suggestions? Also, does anybody know what days Larry operates?

Thanks,
Mike

Am I the only one that thinks its a bit steep to be charging $100 for 2 dives? I know the market sets the rates but crikey I know of a lot better dives around the world that I would rather do (never mind the tarpon) at $50 a throw (and I do like Bonaire a lot)

Err, Mr. Hamilton, kind of cold hearted for a guy with his picture on the $10 bill! Just kidding. But seriously, all those old sayings come to mind. "You get what you pay for" or "you can spend $50 for a fresh bushel of oats or $5 for a bushel that has already been through the horse. They are both oats and the choice is yours." If you go to a third world country (like Key West), places in the pacific, even Coz, where divemasters will work for tips and a beat up Panga with an 80 horse will cost you 2 grand you can afford to charge $60 for a two tank. I can't even imagine what a custom Zodiac Hurricane 920 with two 225 Yamaha 4-stroke engines shipped to Bonaire runs. I'll bet its going to take a whole lot of $100 two tank dives to pay for it before Larry ever sees a profit.

I don't think its so much "what the market will bear" as it is "what is costs to even get into that market." Keep those Yamahas purring Larry. There are 9 of us coming in November that can't wait to be overcharged!

oops, egg on face. I see that was your brother Alexander and not Andrew Hamilton with his name on that $10 bill. Oh well, sorry about that!
John

John, have you contacted Larry and if so, how did you get in contact with him?

Mike

Andrew, as you said -- the market sets the pricing.

Is it too much? Not for me: a) Larry really does do a great job; b) the diving is unique by Bonaire standards; c) no other operators go over there on a routine basis; and d) he is very well equipped.

So far I have only done shore dives with Larry -- I plan to try out his new boat this fall.

On Bonaire (west side + Klein), it is easy to shore dive for $100/week or to boat dive for $15 to $25 per tank. On the one hand, this makes the $100 seem steep (where it would not in Kona; the outer atolls in Belize, parts of the South Pacific, etc.).

OTOH, by saving so much money shore diving, I am fine with paying more for a day or two of something different. The way I look at, five days of shore diving with a $100/eastside trip is still less than a week in Cozumel...

Mike: You might try calling him in Bonaire at Tel/Fax (599) 717-5246 or Cell (599)790-9156. You could probably also find him through JanArt -- http://www.infobonaire.com/janart/map.html

David
As you rightly say I guess its the relative cheapness of the shore diving which makes me baulk a bit at the $100 price tag. But hey if there is demand, and he fills his boat good luck to him.

John - to someone who still uses good old Ł stirling I'm afraid its news to me that I have a fellow Hamilton's monicker on the greenback. Shame I cant trace him on the family tree....

I guess you all are shore divers and really aren't aware of what any of the resort dive shops charge for a boat dive. The "going" resort rate is around $ 40/one tank and $60/2 tank. Comparing east and west sides is like comparing apples to oranges. And as John said, you get what you pay for. If you go to Bonaire frequently, you have become "spoiled" with easy and inexpensive diving options.

To answer the question of how many divers. Max is 12.

In response to the questions about the ladder on Larry's boat, here is a picture I took in May of a diver coming aboard the boat.

My buddy and I will be in Bonaire all next week. Even though we paid for an unlimited shore diving package, we will most likely dive with Larry for atleast 2 days. It is well worth the money and the experience.

We dove with him on 3 different occasions last time, even before the new boat and we couldn't get enough. We even made our last 2 dives with him back on the East at the same two sites we visited a couple days earlier.

Bonaire's West side is excellent, but the East side gives you a different flavor, almost like going to another island.

Jason

Does Larry provide cylinders?

The ladder looks nice. Do you see it Susan, Geoffrey, Denise and John "Smack"?

(Message edited by vtscuba on August 11, 2004)

Last October, we had to provide our own cylinders. Not sure if this has changed..

Jason

Larry has air tanks on board and their use is included in the price. Larry has no problem if someone wants to bring their own Nitrox tanks. I have been diving with Larry twice and each time we did a drift dive and then Blue Hole from the mooring (after coming in to calm water for the surface interval). The drift dive sites were different each time. Larry said he has been concentrating on five different drift dive sites so far. I only have to go with him three more times to see them all!

Can't wait to get back to Bonaire (in October).

Thanks Murray and Nadine for your post. You have convinced me. I am there in October and Larry's is high on my list.

I am so psyched to dive with Larry with you guys -Tom, Smack, Sue and Geoffrey :-) The ladder looks good to me. Sue, I hope your hip is healing well. 1 week in Bonaire goes by way too fast, I hope we are able to get to do this! Counting down to October . . . denise

Me Too!

Speaking of counting down: I got a new cellphone a couple of days ago, and it has a countdown feature. Denise, you're arriving in Bonaire on Saturday the 9th, right? Assuming landing at 2:15PM (optimistic, I'll grant you), you have 58 days 2 hours and 35 minutes (from 11:40 Eastern), and Tom, Smack, Geoffrey and I have 59 days, 2hours and 35 minutes

I was so excited about the countdown I forgot to say that my hip is healing really well. I'm using a cane still, but not really using it, if you know what I mean. I've occasionally gotten up and run across the room before realizing that the cane's over where I started still. I've resumed going for short walks at lunchtime. I'ma gonna be ready to dive!

Denise, You are right, time does fly by too fast, that is why we booked two weeks. But then again you are going back again with your hubby before too long, if I am right.

Susan, Glad to hear you are recovering so nicely. And thanks for the time till Bonaire update Susan.

Some of my Bonaire buddies say diving the Wild Side by boat is for sissies. I guess I had better get "Sally" embroidered on my wetsuit, because I feel I might want to go out with Larry's a couple of times.

well, then, call me a sissy, too! I almost got washed out to sea when Jake tried to take us in on the east side from shore. But he was a sweetie and hung onto me, losing his mask in the process. I think next time I try the east side, it will be by boat! I'm not too keen on breakers breaking over my head like that...

Faith

I wonder what your buddies would call folks that dive the west side by boat!!!

James, They would call them lazy:-{)}. They normally only arrange boat sides to the west side to sites inaccessible by shore. They were playing when busting me about boat diving that is all. They have offered for years to take me by shore but the conditions never seemed safe to them during my visits.

Faith, You had a good dive partner with you. BTW, thank you and Dan for telling me how to grill baby potatoes when we were in Bow - mmmmmmm.

Hey Sally :-)

I would not call those who boat dive on East or West side sissies ... I call them (me) pampered and spoiled !!

Sue, Darlene laughs at my counting down the days. I like YOUR count down better, down to hours and minutes, by cell phone

Tom

Just kidding, we tried an east side shore dive with Jerry Ligon a few years back and finally aborted the entry. We haven't done a boat dive in Bonaire in several years, just enjoy the freedom to dive when, where and as long as we desire.

What's value?

In SOCAL for $85-$100 you get:

- 2,3 or 4 tank boat dive with AIR
- breakfast
- lunch
- desert (fresh brownies and ice cream)
- bunks with pillows/blankets
- Air conditioning
- Showers
- wake-up call
- some boats even have jacka-ruzzies.

Here on the east-coast for $85-$100 you get a simple 2/3hr boatride, you bring everything else ...

Since you can do some of the wild-side via shore (not without a challenge) it would appear that the value for Larry's $100 is poor. HOWEVER, you're on vacation ... COVENIENCE is EVERYTHING and while I would agree that I wouldn't spring for $100 on a regular basis I wouldn't mind paying it for a single trip during a week of vacation.

YMMV

Bob

Hey......just in case you shore divers need a reminder...nature is free, for all else there is Master Card!

Oh, and for the East Coast contingent, arriving in Bonaire either the 9th (Denise) or the 10th (Susan, Geoffrey, Tom, John) of October:

53 days, 3 hours 43 minutes until touchdown for Denise, and
54 days, 3 hours 43 minutes for the rest of us.

Bob...sounds like you are talking about one of my favorite SoCal dive boats...Great Escape would have thought Bottom Scratcher if you hadn't said AC I always complain how expensive the boats are out here on the left coast...guess I will shuddupp! You made it sound like a real deal!

The moderators have been asked by other Bonaire businesses who also provide diving services to point out that Murray & Nadine Rubin, whose postings appear above, have a financial stake of some sort in Larry's Wild Side Diving (or at least in his new boat). As such, any comments from either of them promoting Larry's services should be taken with a big grain of salt (i.e. they must be suspect as subjective and self-serving, vs. purely objective).

Under BonaireTalk policy, they should also be clearly identifying themselves as affiliated parties when posting messages on the topic of dive operations on Bonaire or accommodations (as they own a unit at Harbour Village last we knew).

This issue had previously been raised with the Rubins verbally (Murray) and electronically (Nadine) with respect to posts regarding both Larry's business and Harbour Village (where they own a unit).

Generally, if people pay to fail heed after such contacts, we make it a more public posting such as this one so that we can ensure all interested and affected parties see that the BonaireTalk policy on self-promotion is clearly being enforced.

Jake
BonaireTalk Co-Moderator

Interesting . . . talk about a complete loss of credibility - not very ethical IMO.

Regarding Nadine's post about costs, Wannadive charges $30 for one tank.

Anyway, I've done 6-7 dives on the east side and they were fantastic. We were accompanied by Bas, and did it from shore, and it was great.

I suspect that people used to diving in California, in surf, wouldn't have a problem diving Baby beach and places like that. Just make sure its calm enough, and you're aware of the currents and weather . . .

Darryl

Jake – in response to your post earlier today regarding Nadine and my posts on this thread, I must say we are somewhat surprised. Your description of Bonaire Talk policy in the above post is significantly different from the Bonaire Talk policy you described to me in our discussions last year in your office. At that time it was clearly understood by me that the purpose of Bonaire Talk is to provide a non-commercial service to interested parties by sharing information about Bonaire and not to promote businesses. Nadine and I fully support that concept and very much appreciate the service Bonaire Talk is providing. I further understood from you that there is a difference between promoting a business and providing factual information in response to actual questions asked by Bonaire Talkers. For instance, saying the food is good at a particular restaurant is clearly promoting that restaurant while simply giving the address of a restaurant in response to a specific inquiry is simply fulfilling the purpose of Bonaire Talk. If the policy has been changed since our meeting, I was not aware of that change. Nadine and I have no problem being identified with Harbour Village and with Larry. However, we fail to understand how that disclosure applied to our postings – can you tell me how a picture of a diver coming up Larry’s dive ladder in response to a specific inquiry is subjective or has to be taken with a big grain of salt or is not purely objective? Our intent was to simply provided factual answers to Bonaire Talkers’ questions – it is not necessary for us to promote Larry’s business, the Bonaire Talkers on this and other Bonaire Talk threads are doing that very well by themselves.

Murray,
While your responses may be factual, I don't think you can deny you were promoting him. In your posts you obviously sound like you're very happy with Larry and the service he provides. Isn't that good promotion, especially since everyone of the board thought you were just another tourist who used his services? The fact that you have a financial interest in it obviously makes your posts smell a bit fishy, and definately not credible.

Darryl

Murray,

Factual responses in ventures you don't have a financial interest are fine.

"Factual" responses (as long as they do not mention prices) about a venture/business/thing you do have a financial interest require disclosure of your interest. That's why when CNN reports on something having to do with AOL Time Warner (or whatever they are called these days), they also always indicate that that have an affiliation so that there can be no misunderstanding as to the relationship and any possible ambiguities/perceptions/etc. with respect to subjectivity/objectivity.

Please note that factual responses about a business you are affiliated with (as well as about competing businesses) should also not be filled with lots of adjectives and hype.

Several of your posts above failed on that count as well as the required affiliation statement.

My response is wordy. Darryl's is more to the point, and says just about the same thing.

Jake

Yep....you guys sounded like tourist to me
Having said that outboard engines are wildly expensive.
Anybody want to guess what the MSRP is for a pair of Yamaha 225 4 Stroke engines is?

Since I am the original starter of this thread, I feel the need to speak to the above controversy. I am in no way affiliated, nor do I have any business interests in "Larry's Wild Side." What I was trying to expose other divers to was a really good experience that I had while on Bonaire the last time. Please do not take me with a "grain of salt" as I am very sincere in what I posted. As an 8 time diver to Bonaire, I am simply just trying to tell people about a positive experience on Bonaire. God knows we have heard enough bad experiences lately.

Jim,

I think that's understood.

I've heard nothing but rave reviews (from real tourists) about Larry's Wild Side Diving and his new boat, and comments on this board from others (who don't have a financial stake) only reaffirm that.

(And Linda and I got to check the boat out when Larry happened to be bringing it to the boat yard near our old home right around the time he got it on-island - mind you that was on land, but nevertheless quite impressive).

I hope to have enough spare time one of these days to do east coast boat diving myself - so far I've only experienced it from shore, and it's amazingly different from the placid west coast of Bonaire - different topography, different flora & fauna, etc.

Until then, however, I will need to live vicariously through others (or brave another shore entry or two on the west side - this time with my mask a bit more firmly attached).

Jake

Yo Larry....Zodiac Hurricane 920 with a pair of 225 Yamaha 4 strokers!!! Go man go.
I checked with a buddy over at Zodiac.....let me tell you boyz and girlz....that's a fine fine mighty fine boat....and....a C-note a head is cheap.
Sign me and Eva up for christmas...I'll dang near pay just to ride...the diving is gravy Will tip really big if I get to run the throttles.

Waldo, Kathi and I will be down on December 24 until January 2. Howz about we do the blue hole together? Then, possibly, you can cook up some more ribs and chicken, while I get you cold beers. What do you say?

Jim, I appreciate you posts. I still plan on diving with Larry at least once hopefully twice. A c-note is cheap as Wally says.

Jake, Thanks for passing on what you have heard from other visitors. Do you think you will find time to play on the east side in October?

Wally, $30,000?

I was just at a party on Sunday where I met a fellow Bonaire talker, Dr. David Franks. We have agreed to try to make a dive together, on the east side on December 27th. We will both be on Bonaire at this time.