I'll keep this short and sweet since Tom has much more info than I can recall.

Tom and I finally had a trip without flight issues and made every connection to and from Bonaire as planned.
The next two weeks included some of the best dives I have ever had. We hit several sites I had not dived before including Invisibles and one we like to call "The Wall". They are now among my favorites. Many appearances in front of the cams(Tom had a blast with that) to share the fun with everyone and pass on a few messages to family and friends(BT'ers included). When Jake asked for help with installing a new temp probe, Tom and I just said "when?". Tom did a great job with the layout and we worked together and got it done.
It was also great to meet and talk to others here in person for the first time. Now I can put faces to the names. The best part was seeing old friends again and being made to feel at home from beginning to end. All the folks at Wannadive and Bongos were the best. Micheal G., Jake and Linda(and Grendal and Blicki and Mandy), Martine and Angela, the kids from the Maria Hoppner(sp?) foundation, made this the most memorable trip ever! I probably missed a few names so include yourself when I say Thank you ALL!
A special Thank You goes to my buddy/travel companion, Tom. So many times we were thinking the same thing, had great communication, and just relaxed and enjoyed our time together. It's friends like Tom that make the experience of Bonaire that much better. Two thumbs up!

Sorry, I said I would make this short. Oops.

Smack

Nice Smack :-) Are you going to post any of your underwater shots to share? Please !

Now the pressure is on Tom to get out a report too.

Smack, I can live with Martini, but Martine is a different thing. I think the real Martine would be offended if people were accusing me of being her...

Nice report and a big THANK YOU to both Tom and yourself for being great people to hang out with!!

Smack, we loved your cam antics, and I think you need to put up a new profile pic...one with a tiara perhaps? hee hee....glad you had a great relaxing time...now all you have to do is make it through another Vermont winter!

Martin, forgive me to the extreme! There is no way you could be confused with anyone else! I sure do hope I run into the two of you again. Burgers at the Lost Penguin! My treat. BIG HUG to you and Angela.

Smack ... fish have names too. I am quite certain that I saw you with a fish on our one dive together.

Something to start it off.

Good lord, is that turtle as big as it looks in the picture??

oooo neat turtle pic :-)

Smack, thanks to you and Tom for keeping us entertain. It seems that you guys had a terrific time and of course specially if you are traveling with someone like Mr. T. - You guys are funny

That is a big turtle!!!

Elvira.. I totally agree with you...for thanking the guys for their entertainment in front of the cams

Smack... (and of course Tom) can't wait to see more pictures! Love the turtle

(Message edited by dianaw on November 3, 2004)

Check this guys lip. Either he/she is very unlucky or very tough. (hook in mouth)

I love rays!

have any eel pictures, for Tom :-) ?
Denise

Graceful creatures!

Oh wow! Is that the spotted eagle Tom pointed out when I dove with you guys? I did not get a picture, it was moving away too fast.

and then there is the unique

look how fast their little "wings" go !

Then there is Sparky, a very tolerant southern ray

Say hello to my new buddy, Fred.

Our "Girls of Bonaire" calendar girls (so far).

One of them was a sweetheart.



One would sell her soul for a pork rib.



Then there was the lady John woke up next to one morning:-{)}



Finally, There was a beauty who talked sweet one minute and would bite your hand off the next:-{O}

Thanks for all the great pictures guys!!! I'll Get to mine sometime. It was so much fun hanging out with the both of you!!! I hope we can do it again sometime!

Darlene, I too hope we can do it again:-{)}

I was just handed a disc of Smack's photos. Will be working on our trip report in my spare time.

Geoffrey there were many fish at Capt. Don's.
Thanks for inviting Smack and I to dive there with you folks.

I hope you don't mind- I tried adjusting the colors in one of the pictures. Don't ask what i did, as i am still learning and I'm not sure myself! LOL!

No problem, Greg. Play all you want.

Tom... thanks for Grendal and co pictures ... I really miss seeing Grendal and Blikje and Mandy in front of the cams... Glad that they are doing fine.

Smack... really great pictures, specially the squid I like!

I think I did a little better with this one!

Nice snaps of the girls Tom.

this is getting to be FUN! I am so happy i am learning this stuff. I hope you like what I did...


(Message edited by GregZ on November 3, 2004)

Denise, I am sorry for this late response. We saw so many eagle rays on this trip, I do not believe you dove "Block Wall" with us this year. This site is where the Eagle Ray and turtle photos above were taken. FYI, Smack handed me his camera a few times and this ol sissy actually got close enough to a few eels to take their pictures.

Diana, My pleasure. I believe the "Ladies" are missed by many humans. That squid was in front of Buddy Dive.

Thanks Seb. They are sweethearts, aren't they? Just so you know, the happy faces on the puppies was a direct result of Casablanca's "Mixed Grill".

Greg, You are getting better! A little less red on "Fred".

Kelly, That little guy "Fred" was less than 18" long. In response to your mean e-mail of yesterday, yes he did pose for Smack. For at least 5 minutes.

Tom.... lol... it seems like the things I want pictures of the most, are the ones who laugh at me while swimming in the opposite direction. I still hear the sinister laughing in my sleep sometimes..

18" huh... well it looked like one of those huge tortoises on land to me. ;)

Great pictures, I can't wait to see more !!! More ! More !

Fred. I never get tired of him. I hope he is doing ok. I wonder if he misses me?

My new friend, Martin in front of the Confidence.

Bad edit on Martin pic! Oops.

Hi Smack,

Please tell the others about the rescue attempt Tom and I did....

Martin

(GREAT pictures btw, well, that's except the last one... )

Uhh, I was talking about the subject of the picture and not the editing of the picture...

Bart blowing air rings. He still can't tell me how he does that.

John, it's just like blowing rings of smoke. I do the same thing...

Oh yes, Martin!
Folks, Martin spotted a fish underneath the wreck with some fishing line trailing behind it. He captured the line and slowly gathered it in as Tom moved in to assist him. Together, they managed to bring the fish under control and found the hook embedded in its jaw, cut the line and removed the hook. Last seen, the fish was dazed and moving slowly, but with any luck saved to continue on. I was so intent on watching the action, I missed getting it on film(by seconds). Excellent job, guys!

Martin, may someone (ie:Tom) give your pic the quality it deserves. That is if He gets around to his report. Where are you, Bubba?

Have been working on the trip report (web pages) as time allows folks. Contrary to what some may think, I have a paying job to attend to as well - darn.

Also, between Smack's photos underwater and mine above, I have been busy editing. 25-30 shots of turtles (not all Fred) an equal number of rays, 15-20 seahorse, etc...

Funny you post that capture of Martin. I did a partial edit of that one this morning. Have to combine that shot and one I have of a Chia Pet and it will be ready.

Love me, don't you Martin?

Tom, I will tell you after I see the picture...

You won't see the picture till your trip report is posted......

We did post a trip report (well, of the first few days that is, after that, we were too busy having fun with you guys...)

I am humbled Martin. Hope we can meet again soon.

Here are a few images. Their quality has been reduced to allow posting here. The final edits will be hosted on one of my sites.

Great pictures Tom.

Cool report Smack...I love the pics, it was a blast watching you and Tom playing around for us...hope to see you on the island some time soon!