Well they are forecasting -27 with the windchill tonite back home so it seems appropriate to post my report on Bonaire. What a beautiful place - spent a week and loved every minute. Rented a house from off the web and a car from Netty - a truly wonderful person. Snorkled til my fins dropped off, did not have 1 bad experience either in the water or out. An undiscovered gem of a country.
I was a little surprised that it was as cloudy as it was but thank god or I would have been a lobster. Saw 2 barracuda at 1000 steps, 1 at 18 inches and the other about 4 feet - quite close in to shore north of "beach". No pics developed yet - they are due Friday. Can't wait to go back
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David,

Welcome to Bonaire Talk! So glad you had a great experience. I am sure you will be back again. Hopefully you will be able to scan the pics so we can get a view!

Welcome to BT,David! This past winter season on Bonaire seems to have been cloudier and wetter than "normal" but I'm so glad to see you have fallen in love with her and enjoyed yourself thoroughly. Bonaire is a very, very special place. When will you return! Ayo. Carole

Bon Bini, David.
Now youv'e joined our ranks, we will help you get over the PB blues.
Glad you had a great time!

David and All -- My wife and I are making our first trip to Bonaire on November 29, for 8 days. We plan ahead! We also have a house rented and will be renting a vehicle. We love to snorkel (sad to say we are not divers!), and saw your message about the good snorkeling that you experienced (consistent with all that I have read about Bonaire on the web). Can you provide some advice as to good places to go snorkeling on the island? Will make note of them and take advantage of the time saved in not trying to hunt them down while we are there! Many thanks.

Steve Jorgensen

Steve and wife,
While we did not get to all the places here are the ones we did snorkle at. We started with Andrea II and from there moved to 1000 steps. Access at both is easy although make sure that you either have surf socks/beach shoes if you have open toed fins as the coral is sharp underfoot - I did not find any great sandy beaches but once underwater it was paradise.

All the sites we visited are easily found, after 1000 steps we then tried Windsock (near the airport) easy to get in and lots to see, including the underbellies of planes as they land - scary the first time. My brother and I also tried Pink Beach (not worth it) Ol' Blue (also not great) and then Witches Hut and Jeff Davis memorial - both of which were excellent for the amount and variety of fish to be seen. But 1000 steps was the best, saw a Hawksbill turtle, eels, parrotfish, blue tangs, the 2 barracuda, and much more and all of this in less than 10 feet of water! I regret not getting to Play Funchi in Washigton Slagbaai park as it is highly rated but it was too rough and a long slow drive in. ALso tried Karpata and Oil Slick - both of which were good - all sites have lots of visibility and thus lots to see.

I suggest a lycra skin if you do not already have one as it helps prevent against heat loss and sunburn - Carib Inn had them for sale cheaper that in Candada.

A good booklet to pick up is Bonaire Dive Guide also at bonairediveguide.com

Maps abound at the rental car agents or from the park wardens who told me that as of April 1 snorkelers will have to purchase a permit for $10 to snorkle, much as the divers do now - all money goes to conservation.

Remember not to lock your car when you go snorkle as apprently windows do get broken with teenagers looking for goods. I read a story in the Bonaire Reporter that said the unemployment rate for 18-24 year olds was something like 26%...sad side of Bonaire life.

Wish I was there now.
David

Hi Carol,
At the moment I wish I was returning next week but more realistically is not before next year 06 with my son and my wife this time. Air fare from Canada is expensive. Although I can still taste the smoked marlin with lime mousse appetizer at Blue Moon - I don't know if I can wait that long.

My brother who has snorkeled many a place in the Carribean says Bonaire is absolutely the best- ease of access from shore, water clarity and amount and diversity of underwater life.
Ayo David

David --

Many thanks for the advice. Copy all. This really helps. Looking forward to the trip, and your insight is most helpful!

Steve and Julie

Steve,

You MUST take the water taxi to Klein Bonaire and do the drift snorkel. The water taxi to Klein costs $16 each and for an extra $2 each he will let you drop off your stuff (cooler, etc.) at the beach and then you reboard the boat and he takes you WAY up current and lets you jump in. You then slowly (at your own pace) drift back to the beach. It is a totally awesome snorkel. Do it early in your stay as you will most likely want to do it more than once.

Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Belinda

Belinda -- Indeed, I had read about that particular trip, and thought it might be worth it. Now I KNOW it is. Thanks. We will definitely do it.

(p.s. See you live in Aldrich, MO. We live in Columbia!)

Steve

Steve, as an alternative to the taxi I suggest the Woodwind. This boat sails out of Divi. Dee is an excellent guide and will snorkel with you. You will see much more with her guidance. You can always go back on your own later in our trip.

Steve,

Small world! Definitely take the drift snorkel - it was some of the best snorkeling we did. Another of our favorites is the drift snorkel from LaDania's Leap to Karpata (hmmm, I'm sensing a trend here - drift snorkel, drift snorkel, we like to let the water do the work!) :-)

Belinda (21 days - yahoooooooo)

George and Belinda -- Sounds like we have a number of options! Your advice will be heeded, and is most appreciated. Belinda -- sounds like you are headed that way in a few weeks. If so, let us know how much fun it was! :o)

'Aye.

Steve

Belinda Z, the drift dive from LaDania's Leap to Karpata is great too. We are both divers and have done that drift dive a few times and love it. Have a good time on Bonaire!
Andy

Andy,

We LOVE the drift from LaDania's to Karpata - last trip it was the only snorkel we did twice. I'm sure it will get several more visits from us this month!

Thanks!

Belinda (19 days woo hoooooooo)

Maybe a dumb question, but when you drift dive from LaDania's to Karpata, how do you get back to your car with all your gear? Do you have a non-diver with you who meets you at Karpata with your car? We looked at it last year, but couldn't work out the logistics.
Steve,
I lived in Columbia in the late 60's and graduated from MU. Loved it. And you're going to love Bonaire!!

Linda,

You park at Karpata and take a short (10-15 minute) walk back to LaDania's. Fortunately for us snorkelers our gear is not heavy.

The second time we did it Mike actually dropped me at LaDania's Leap with our gear, went and parked and hiked back without gear. I have seen divers doing that also.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask. I'll have even more to tell in a month or so after trip number two (woo hoooooooo)!!

Belinda

Linda and Belinda -- Sounds like a 50's group!

Another silly question, perhaps. Is the LaDania-to-Karpata drift trip on Klein Bonaire or the main island? Not sure I could decipher that from previous messages.

Linda -- what was your major at MU. I am one of the 12 Deans here now. You may be one of our alums!

'Aye.

Steve

Belinda,
Thanks for the info. We'll definitely give it a try in August on our 4th trip. And my Mike can drop ME off and do the walking back--sounds like a plan!
Steve,
I was a social work major. While going to school, I worked for the campus stenographic services and worked regularly at the Med Center (microbiology dept), Ag school and the Sociology Dept. How long have you been at MU?
LaDania to Karpata is on the main island.
Linda

Steve,

LaDania's to Karpata is on Bonaire (not Klein Bonaire).

Linda,

The only drawback to that is you have all the time to sit there watching the current come in - kinda freaked me out a bit when the water was rougher than normal. But I did have a little crab there to keep me company.

Enjoy!

Belinda

I always drive to the finish point and hide some towels, my shorts and water bottles then drive back to the jump in point. Everybody dives. When I exit I dump my gear, don my shorts and hike back for the car while all my buddy divers lounge in the shade drinking the water and wait for me to return. Of course the beer and smokes are in the car so I'm all too happy to hoof it down the road for that cold brewsky.

http://www.shorediving.com/
This address will give you step by step guidence of all the Divesite on Bonaire and other places. Enjoy....... Ron

(Message edited by ronindiana on March 19, 2005)