John “Smackster” Anderson Bob T. and I returned to Bonaire on the evening of October 11 and stayed until the morning of October 26.

Air transportation was through Continental Airlines and Bonaire Express, all flights to and from Bonaire were on time.

We stayed at a townhouse in Belnam which is owned by Liz and Ed Ginnochio. The two bedroom townhouse was in good condition and even included a washing machine.

Our truck rental was arranged by Liz through AB Carrental. It was the typical king cab pick-up truck. One nice feature of the truck was the wooden tank rack which would accommodate, I believe, seven tanks.

As usual John and I used WannaDive Bonaire for our shore dive package. We also did a couple of boat dives through WannaDive on this trip. Because we were staying away from their operation at Eden Beach, we always had a few extra full tanks at our rental apartment.

The People We Met

During this trip we we able to meet and spend some time with,
Ann
Barbara (Babs)
Bob and Julia
Bas
Cam and Sheryl
Cynde
Darlene
Dave and Wanda
Dirk and Mary M. (aka Nurse Shark)
Douglas and Sylvia (Martin’s cousin)
Ellen and Irwin
Jake, Linda, Yana and Bas
Liz and Ed
Martin and Angela
Norma
Rayford
Ron, Diane and Randy
Ruth
Susan P.
Yana

I know I left out some people – sorry!

The Eating

We ate at
Lovers Ice Cream
Bongo’s, several times
Pasa Bon, twice-mmmm
Rib Factory
La Guernica, tuna-mmmm
Gibi’s House
Coco’s
Some snack near Rincon that Bas took us to. Mmmm, I can still taste that Buriku Rabo Soppi chowder. The grilled meat was kind of bland though.
Antriol Catering, wahoo-mmmm
Bobby Jans, ribs and sate-mmmm
Croccatino’s, possibly the best tuna I have ever had
Casablanca, mmmm-laughed when Darlene ordered a mixed grill for herself
Swiss Chalet, twice, mmmm, I love Suzy (sorry Pam)
A little place south of the old Bon Awa ice cream stand on the way to Cai. Can’t remember the name, but their seafood chowder was incredible. Bas, can you help me out with this?
Den Laman

The Diving

I dove 37 times on this trip. Sites visited were:

Alice In Wonderland
Andrea 1
Atlantis (watch out for kite surfers, I almost got hit right next to shore)
Baby Beach*
Bachelor’s Beach
Belmar
Cai*
Carls Hill
ChaCha Beach
Chocogo
Eden Beach*
Fisherman’s Hut
Front Porch
Invisibles
Knife
Oil Slick Leap*
Ol Blue
Secret Spot
Something Special
Soft Coral Garden*
Thousand Steps
Windsock

*means more than once

During these dives I saw fish and some other things.

Can’t wait to go back.

The End

Oooops! Forgot the obligatory photos - sorry!

Here are some of some people. I don't know who they are because these photos were on a camera I found. Since the people in these photos are prettier than the folks I hung around with I decided to put them here instead.

and

and

See what I mean? Aren't they cute?

Will try to post some photos of pretty fish and things later.

Bye all

(Message edited by vtscuba on November 1, 2005)

Tom good report and pictures. Glad you had a great time.

Ooooops! Just realized that this photo was supposed to have been the fourth image in my 5:28 pm post.



You see, that lady with the Tiara and flowers was dragging out her acceptance speech so long, that the guy in the foreground (me) started to focus on the sign in the photo.

(Message edited by vtscuba on November 1, 2005)

So Happy you had a great time but I am also happy you are home Buddy!! I Missed you!!!

Uh...Tom...I think all we did was eat...LOL! Great pictures...waaa....had such a great time! You got Klemo's spot...LOL!

I love it!! I wish I was there!

LOL Tom, those are some pretty strange folks you found on that camera! I could have sworn I saw a lady encircled by a wreath of meat while I was there! Perhaps she will turn up on another roll???

Great pics and folks, Tom! Lots of smiling and red (from sun) faces. I recognized all of the eateries, too...I don't know if that's a good thing or not! LOL!!! No linguini with white clam sauce, however....sometimes we must sacrifice what we want and suffer with something even more delectable! Thanks for letting us join all of you! Carole

Photos From Some Dives

The following photos were taken with a Sony Cybershot DSC-P10. Besides cropping, the only editing (on some) was for color.

If you do not know the names of the fish and creatures in these captures, I recommend you pick up the complete set of Caribbean Reef Fish, Reef Creature and Reef Coral Identification books by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. These are also available on cd. Another great resource is the "Fishes of the Caribbean And Adjacent Waters" interactive DVD from ReefNet, Inc.. See: www.reefnet.ca

More?

and

a few more

Tom love your report and pictures. Right to the point way to go.

ooops, found some more

and these

Tom, FYI, I just decided that the Sony is NOT for sale! It's definitely worth keeping. You got some great shots!

You know what? It is cold here in the northeast and warm in Bonaire.

Susan - Bas, please meet me at the airport. I am going back!

Tom, Totally Awesome shots! Thank you! There are so many I just love, looks like you had fun with that octopus! And that red crab is one I don't know, will look it up in my reef books when I get to Bonaire as they are at my house there. Will be purchasing a second set for my house here too in the states this coming trip so I can i.d. here too! Keep em coming!! Now, I can't wait to go!

Wow, wow, and MORE WOW !!! Great pictures !!
I love the anemones... I could watch them all day.

And the one of the lobsters under the ledge... the look like soldiers going into battle !

Thanks and I anxiously await more more more.

Woohoo Tom! Nice shots! Thanks for posting! MORE MORE MORE!

Thanks all. Those are all of the photos I will be posting.

Smackster, good call on keeping the Sony. Many thanks for allowing me to use it. Thanks also for putting up with me on another great trip.

Bas - Susan, thank you for everything you did for John and I:-{)}

Say hi to Daisey for me:-{)}

Great Report and awesome photos Tominator!!!

Tominator,
Thanks for the pictures and report.
I can't wait to get back to Bonaire! I think diving with Bas is GREAT. I hope he will take Craig and I back to Washekemba and Spelunk in Dec.
Yana

Enjoyed immensely.

Thanks!

Laura

WOWZA!

That was delightful.
I have some classical music playing in the background and I just kept on scrolling and scrolling and totally enjoying your dives.

MMMMMMmmmmmm
thanks and
do some more !!

mare

Most excellent, Tom. Very enjoyable, a few more pictures and details would be nice . Fifteen days on Bonaire and I want to hear some gossip, enquiring minds want to know. I mean what is (are) this (these) Cynde/Martin/Darlene/Angelea etc. person(s) really like normally/drinking/narced? Or is this one of those, what happens on Bonaire stays on Bonaire deals?

AUSUM AUSUM Shots Tom, and good times were definitely had in those pictures. Whish I had been there.

Cecil, Thanks! More photos would be nice, the other shots are not worthy of band width usage in my opinion. Looking back, I feel about a third of the u/w photos I posted also could have been left out.

Sorry, I have no gossip to share.

Cecil, I'm not normal, drink, and don't think I got narced...LOL!

tom, thanks for the pic of me "flying down the reef." I love doing that when the current is strong

Great pictures of friends - people and fish!

Awesome pics, Tom! I loved the tarpon and the turtles! Thanks for sharing!

Tom, Awesome pictures on land and in the water!!!! I can't believe that is the first time you used that camera!! You got some really great shots!!! Ilove the picture of Gibi! He looks good as a blonde!!! Great shots of the whole gang!!We sure did have some really good times all together. It was great to see and hang with you and Smack again! Till next time!