By Becky Hauser (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 11:51 pm: |
Wow, did time fly. I can't believe it's over already. Thus ended my first but definitely not my last trip to Bonaire. I'll break it down in categories:
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15008) on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 12:05 pm: |
Becky, glad you had a great trip and the "incidentals" didn't ruin it for you! I come back with my shins bruised from top to bottom (along with a few other bruises) when I come back from a dive trip...legs don't look "pretty" on my return...LOL! Skeeters, next time buy skin so soft from Avon, and as soon as you get out of the shower or water, spray from head to toe. Also, take some in your purse in the evenings and spray the legs and feet...repeat...Avon also has bug "towlettes" always ahve some of those in my purse.
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By Margarita Murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1131) on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 1:02 pm: |
Becky, really enjoyed reading your report. Any pictures? Now I'm curious to find out what happened on that night dive.
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By Becky Hauser (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 11:16 pm: |
Ah yes, the night dive... Well, it started out well enough, but with 11 people, 2 of whom needed the dive for AOW certification it was a bit too much. I was supposed to be paired with the other woman needing the dive for certification, but at the last minute Divemaster Chris buddied me with a Divemaster in training instead. The descent was awesome, but once on the bottom, the other AOW woman got narcosis. Needless to say, there was a bit of scurrying by both divemasters and my buddy to try to straighten it and her out. I calmly stayed out of the way but in sight of my buddy and was repeatedly kicked in the head by this other womans friends. That was where the dive began losing it's appeal for me. I did my best to stay out of the way and close to my buddy, but it seemed like no matter where I went or moved to I was getting bashed about the head by fins. The one woman continued to do this all the way back to shore, my buddy and I tried to slow down, move any direction we could, and she was always in our faces. The technical aspects of the dive were fine, the descent was fine, the divemasters were awesome (as was my buddy!!) but it was overall just frustrating. Don't get me wrong... I wouldn't hesitate to try it again, but this time in a smaller group!
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By ...boom dee ay (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #755) on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 12:45 am: |
Becky, great trip report and even better attitude!!
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15029) on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 11:51 am: |
Becky, I agree with Tara, that's the attitude! Did the woman get narced or just panic? Night diving for some isn't so relaxing and a lot of people panic...especially a first night dive, AND a deep dive combination. Glad you were able to keep perspective and not ruin your thoughts to try it again. Night diving is definitely something special and wonderful (in the right circumstances).
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By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #293) on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 1:22 pm: |
sometimes the bugs can be voracious. we did buy Cactus Juice and can't wait to try it. i don't get bit much but my wife does and the bites really swell up. two years ago a friend was visiting us and didn't remember getting bit once...but after she got home, she got sick and was diagnosed with dengue fever from a mosquito bite. you can't be too careful...but you shouldn't get too paranoid either.
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By satoru wakeshima (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 4:46 pm: |
Pat -
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By Tom (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2757) on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 6:38 pm: |
Becky, thank you for a wonderful post. Glad to see a person focus on the positive as you did in this trip report.
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By Becky Hauser (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 8:23 pm: |
Cynde - The divemaster said it was narcosis, but it certainly could have been panic... she was completely unresponsive to his hand signals until he took her up about 10 feet. He said he saw her eyes clear and saw her focus on him again, sounds like narcosis to me, but I'm not too experienced with it (thankfully)
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15052) on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 8:41 pm: |
Becky, wow, no kidding...wow...a little unerving. It sounds like the DM's handled it well. Good thing they switched the buddy positions before you did the dive...
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By Becky Hauser (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 9:08 pm: |
Cynde - No kidding!!!! The DM's were amazing. I am very glad that through whatever stroke of either luck or genius, my buddy assignment was changed during the pre-dive briefing. I'd like to think nothing would have changed much, but I think if it happened and then I still had to be her buddy I'd have freaked!
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By Lynn Schwiebert (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Thursday, November 3, 2005 - 2:44 pm: |
What was the tip about the tram in Atlanta?? We will be going through there.
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By Becky Hauser (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Friday, November 4, 2005 - 12:26 am: |
The Atlanta tram tip was just that on my way TO Bonaire, I thought I'd get my exercise and walk from my arrival gate to the departure gate. It was quite a ways even with moving sidewalks. But I though I was doing the right thing and trying to be "active". I met a couple at Bongo's my last night on the Island and they told me to stop being macho and use the tram. They were right... it was super fast and MUCH easier. I'd recommend it. I always seem to do stuff the hard way the first time around. Have a great time!!!!!
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By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1765) on Tuesday, November 8, 2005 - 11:42 am: |
Nice report! I love your answer to returning to Bonaire:
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By Becky Hauser (BonaireTalker - Post #14) on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 - 3:09 pm: |
Darlene - thanks for that! Only one visit under my belt and I'm already a Bonaireaholic! I can't wait to go back, yet I'm looking forward to going other places too. I just felt so immediately comfortable on the Island it was like that old pair of jeans. Ya just gotta love that feeling!
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