November 28th – One last good gulp…Pali Coco

We quickly packed our gear to make the most of the rest of the day. It wasn’t hard to figure out where we were going. We were there 2 times already, and I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of it. It’s one of the most accessible shore entries around (but watch the exit!).

If you ever make to (or back too) Bonaire, and you don’t go to Andrea II (Pali Coco), then your missing one of the best spots in the world for snorkeling. It was the most spectacular snorkel, but at last something can go wrong. Kodak lost my slides from this snorkel, and 2 others of Emi’s & mine too. First time it’s ever happened to me, but this roll just about killed me. I guess there’s some hope that the person who got ours will return them back to the store and somehow they’ll make there way back to me, but I’m not counting on it. I had a great series of pictures of Karpta above the water line that I was really looking forward to.

Fortunately I can at least pass on some of the experience and you’ll have to try to use a little imagination, and some shots from the previous day.

We got to Andrea II and much too my surprise there were a number of older people there who thought it was a good time to take their clothes off. Pretending that I’m not the update Yankee that that I really am, I just ambled by and casually didn’t look, although I regretted a glimpse later.

Off into the water to see what we could see, one last time up and down the shallow near shore reef that we’ve grown to love. Rainbow Parrots, Jewel Fish (Juvenile Yellowtail Damsels/Baby Charlottes), clown wrasse, harlequin bass and two giant French Angels, one of which was the largest I’ve ever seen. That brings something to mind, large that is. Andreas is a spot that was both rocked and missed by Lenny. Every now and then you’ll see a huge Elkhorn coral that’s perfectly upside down, and other places where it’s pristine and older than any of will ever be. Somebody mentioned to me, and I also couldn’t help noticing that the fish seamed larger this time. You still had the amazing; no unsurpassed stunning diversity of species, but there appeared to be more, larger individuals especially in the Parrotfish and Angelfish.

The soothing schools of Blue Tangs sailed passed us, stopping every few minutes to browse on some tender algae and then I looked up. I was a big Blue Parrot fish, one of the males with the funny lumped head and the down turned mouth with the black lipstick lips. I was so excited I almost jumped out of the water. I had never seen one before outside of a book. It’s not that unusual a fish I suppose, but there’s nothing like spotting something you’ve never seen before, but you know what it is because you’ve spent nights plowing through books of fish and surfing the internet honing you skills so when the moment arrives you’ll know what it was. Of course I kept calling it a Purple Lipped Parrot, but fortunately was corrected, those lips were just so funny. I saw him (and photographed him) several more times during our snorkel, but I can’t show you what he looks like. But it’s just another reason to go back, not that I need another, but I would love to go back and watch this guy some more, what a sight.

We saw lots of drum, soldier fish and squirrelfish poking there heads out from their hiding spots. Emi and I have learned the reward of patience when it comes to snorkeling, the slower and quieter you go, the more you see. Andreas has an amazing amount of invertebrates, sea cucumbers, shrimp, crabs and lots of little guys I’m not even sure what they are, but I’m going to learn!

In a previous visit earlier that week we saw an amazing behavior between a fish and an eel. It was almost like the fish was the eels guardian.

The eel would swim freely as long as this fish was by his side. And the fish would escort him from spot to spot, making sure he got there safely. If the fish would stray, the eel would hunker down in the coral until his little buddy came back. At one point I thought the fish was trying to stand up to me and shoo me away from his thin pal. A really nice encounter.

Of course you always have to have some French Grunts around

The coral is truly spectacular in this spot, especially for snorkelers who do get to see quite as much in the shallows usually. After passing through the entrance of the reef, turn right and work your way towards Barcadera and swim out a little deeper for the return trip.



Lot’s of juveniles, like this Rock Beauty can easily be observed by the most novice snorkelers. The area is very calm most of the time, hardly any current at all.


Don’t miss this spot snorkel people, and take your time, move slowly, quietly, you’ll be amazed at what will be reviled to you, especially at night. You’ll have to go back to the beginning to learn more about that.


We took a little more time after rinsing our gear to drive around town and take a few more memories…



Then we were off to a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with the nicest group of people you could ever meet. I was honored to be invited to the other side of the cam, all because I carried a couple little camera parts along with my camera parts. It really was a treat and it was indicative of my entire trip which was filled with wonderful people everywhere we went. Locals, tourists, transplants alike, kind of like a tropical Lake Woebegon.

Another treat was a great dinner with all sorts of Bonaire Talkers just like you at the Garden Café. When you make your way down to Bonaire, try to hook-up with a couple fellow BTers for dinner, or coffee or a dive. You’ll get so much more out of your vacation.



Good night Bonaire…one last flurry of pictures on the day we left, still to come.

Good nite, sweet Snork, good nite! What a shame about the lost photos. I had the same thing happen with Kodak years ago...it truly does hurt. You are right, now you must return..this time with the digital and you won't worry about anyone else losing your pics. Joe and I have not snorkeled Andrea II yet...you mentioned an easy entry but watch out for the exit...what happens? I hope those folks had lots of sun block on that day! Sounds like they were having lots of fun doing their own thing with nature. Your photos are fabulous, Snork....really capture the spirit of Bonaire and her architecture, the marine life and all. Look forward to the grand finale, too. Ayo. Carole

Great episode Scott!
Thanks 4 sharing it with us. At nov 22th we dived at Adrea II and guess what we saw? We spotted our first big, two kinds of blue, funny looking, lump-headed fish. After the dive we went back 2 the dive-shop 2 look the fish up and we learned it was a Blue ParrotFish (male). I guess he's hanging around there. We did not encounter one on the other dives or snorkels, so they seem 2 bee pretty rare, but I'm not sure.
Sorry 2 hear about your pictures Ah well, just like u said, another reason 2 return! Maybe they will show up... I'll keep on hoping (would love 2 see pictures of the Blue ParrotFish).
Sigh, guess it's almost over now....

Carole, the exit comment was kind off an inside joke between Emi & I as I got knocked on my butt twice trying to get out of the water. It’s not a difficult exit at all, but maybe a little slippery on the rocks. I was just being a klutz that day, should have laughed about but didn’t. Also the exit could be very hard to find if your night snorkeling. Use the reflective parking pole as your guide; your flashlight will clearly illuminate it when you hit it. There’s only one passage through the reef in the area that I could find.

Igor, If I get the pics back somehow I'll post the Blue Parrot.

Thanks, Snork. Sorry to hear you had a butt landing...done that, too...not funny at all at the time, but you can usually chuckle afterwards.....MUCH afterwards! Joe and I will definitely check out Andrea II for a snorkel in May. Can't wait. The colors look fabulous, as well. Carole

Snork...we always do Andrea II on our trips...biggest Parrot fish ever in the shallows...great dive....
again...thanks for sharing your birthday and holidays with us....it was great,sure felt like home...but with a better view!

Snork
Can not wait to get back to Bonaire. Just booked 9 nights at the end of January staying at the Divi. We were there last year for the first time and loved it.
Mark and Diane Meyer
Lancaster PA

Mark...your neighbors also!

Alright Mark and Diane! It's in your blood now...you are very hooked. Have a great time. We just love the Divi, too. Enjoy! Carole

Meryl,

It was a pleasure to meet you and Steve. I’m so glad we go a least a little time to talk and hang out. Emi and I just had the time of our lives. Traveling is great, but when you meet up with follow travelers who share something in common with you it really makes for a great time. Hopefully we’ll all see each other again, perhaps back on Bonaire!

Marc,

That’s great, I hope you get to meet up with a couple of Bonaire Talkers while your there, and please post pictures when you return!

You can use the first shot of each roll of vacation film to take a picture of your name, address, etc. printed large on a sheet of paper, so that if they get to the wrong person, he/she could contact you. It's so disappointing to have vacation pictures lost. I don't recommend this for pictures taken in/around your house, or other would-be sensitive areas/subjects, though.

I know what you mean about 'regretting' a look. Some visuals are hard to get rid of! It never seems to be a Brad Pitt or Jennifer Aniston look-alike getting naked on the shore. Ugh.

That’s a great idea; I’ll have to remember that in the future. I suppose that using digital reduces some of the risk of pictures getting lost, but I’ve always loved slides.

And yes sometimes it’s hard to avoid an eyeful.

My wife and I will be returning to Bonaire the last week of February with a snorkeling group called Sea for Yourself. We're getting there a day early and are looking for a shore site to snorkel on that day. I've seen other positive reviews of Andrea II, but I've also seen mention of difficulty in exiting. What's the problem in the exiting? Also, is it a long or tortuous climb (like 1000 Steps). One of us has bad knees. 2 weeks and counting!

Just a bit slippery and the waves can bounce you a little if you go down (like I did). The only thing that was bruised was my ego. I’ve got more bad parts than I can count (knee, feet, neck, back) and I didn’t come close to bothering any of them. My suggestion is get on your feet as soon as you get to the sandy patch, take off your fins and walk the last 3 or 4 steps. I’m always so careful to never step on anything that sometimes I windup in water too shallow to easily standup. There’s plenty of sand (at least there was) the last few feet so you won’t harm anything.

Hope you have a great time!