Trip report for 25-Apr > 9-May for a couple of freedivers, one a beginner. This is our fourth trip to Bonaire in 5 years.

FreeDiving - we dive with 4' fins, mask, snorkle and weight belt (and a camera.) Marvin can dive to 90' (has done the Hilma Hooker). Bea is a neophyte at freediving and she made it to 55' this trip. Marvin can hold his breath for 1 1/2 minutes or so -- maybe a minute for Bea . (We are scuba divers, and we did scuba on previous trips to Bonaire. But, this trip we just did freediving.)

Wonderful resource - Bonaire Diving Made Easy; Practical Guide to the Shore Dives of Bonaire. Great for us because it gives good details about depths. And, it is a post-Lenny work.

Getting to Bonaire - American AL from Denver to Miami, ALM on to Bonaire - through Curacao. Our travel agent didn't tell us the early evening flight from Curacao to Bonaire was canceled, but when I called ALM to reconfirm, they did. There was some delay leaving Miami due to a power failure, and an increased INS 'presence'. But that was the only delay for the trip. Our luggage made it in Fine Shape both going and coming. We only had 30 minutes in Curacao on the way back, but that worked out OK. ALM only had maybe 30 people on the flight from Curacao to Miami. Probably not A Good Thing for staying in business.

Staying on Bonaire and Vehicle - We stayed at Happy Holiday Homes again. They arranged for a truck rental with Budget - new truck, even had tread on the tires(!), air conditioning, a radio that worked, and a tape player. Wow!

The usual winds blew nicely until the last 3 days. Then the wind quit, and the heat and humidity went way up -- and a few mosquitoes showed up. Even the locals were commenting on how hot it was. Guess that is the way it is there in September.

Dining - We eat in for most meals. It is always interesting to go shopping, trying to figure out 'which' is 'what' in Dutch on the store shelves when we only have German, French and English between us.

But, for breakfast we went to Cozzoli's (excellent) and Zeezicht (OK - they were running a jack hammer at that time in front of Cozzoli's). We had dinner at Chibi Chibi twice (great both times: Catch Of The Day), and at Capriccio's once (pricey, service so-so, desserts truly wonderful!).

Diving - Pink Beach, Angel City, Windsock, Oil Slick Leap, Ol' Blue, 1000 Steps, The Cliff, Karpata. All were different and great. Marvin was shown a couple of sea horses by one of the dive-masters from the Habitat boat at Oil Slick Leap. Neat!

We also read quite a bit, go down to the Town Pier and people watch. We went to Rincon Days. And, grocery shopping takes some time. We try to be visitors more so than 'tourists'.

So, back to Gunnison. It snowed once (about 8") while we were gone, so the lawns are green. Now, to get a garden in and catch up on web work for my clients. We will post pictures on our web site ( http://www.frontier.net/~jonz/Bonaire.html ) sometime, but it will be a little while before I get to it.

Bea and Marvin Jones

ah...to be able to free dive to 90'...

sounds like you did it right;-)

Like those Coloradans!!! "It snowed 8" so the lawns are green."

I guess we do look at thing differently !! Since that is where our water comes from . . .

Denver got hit last night - I think it is to remind them where their water comes from !

Bea & Marvin - didn't realize you were in Bonaire the same time we were. How did we miss including you in the BBQ at Jake & Linda's? Seeing you are from Colorado we are planning a get together for the folks living in and around Colorado. If you're interested - it's July 13th at a restaurant yet to be determined around C470 & I-25. If you can get into town it should be fun. Let me know - gail.currie@9news.com

I guess before we left I was mostly just lurking, answering a few questions, and gathering information - so I never saw the information about the BBQ. It would of been fun to meet Jake and Linda and the other folks.

Well at least you'll get to meet the Coloraod/ Wyoming contingent on July 13th. I've got your names down on the list. We already have 20 people coming if they all can show up.