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Snorkeling Bonaire: Comparison to Hawaii?
Bonaire Talk: Snorkeling Bonaire: Archives: Archive 2001- 2007: Archives - 2003-04-01 to 2004-04-30: Comparison to Hawaii?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Pacific (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 6:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Can anyone comment on how the snorkeling from shore compares on Bonaire versus Hawaii? We have only been snorkeling in Hanauma Bay on Oahu and at a large number of sites on Maui. From the pictures I've seen it looks better on Bonaire. The things I have heard about Lenny knocking everything down to 30 feet is somewhat discouraging though.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathalie Meyfarth (BonaireTalker - Post #39) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 8:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I haven't been to Maui so can't speak to that. I have snorkeled in Hanauma Bay, Oahu and think Bonaire is much better, even post Lenny. Bonaire has a much healthier near shore reef and a much greater variety of marine life. I was appalled in Hanauma Bay at how they let tourists literally walk on the coral. No wonder it was all dead. So change your name to Joe Caribbean :-)and head to Bonaire. There are some near shore areas on Bonaire and Klein Bonaire that still have good coral growth. Ask when you are on the island where to go.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By C Poteet (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #192) on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 11:24 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Joe -

Our very first snorkeling experience was Kauai. It was so much fun, it hooked us. We still remember the curious unicorn fish and the majestic Moorish idols.

We have also snorkeled Hawaii, St. John, Gran Cayman and Virgin Gorda. Bonaire tops them all, even with the damage from Lenny.

The fish life seems to be a bit smaller in Bonaire, and you most likely won't see anything bigger than a large tarpon or very large baracuda, but the plethora of smaller colorful animals is stunning.

We've seen more variety of marine life and geology in Bonaire than anywhere else. There are so many more snorkeling locations on Bonaire and they are so close to the shore; just walk into the ocean. In many locations, the swim to the reef is less than 20 feet.

And in comparison to Hawaii, the water is decidedly more comfortable and generally calmer. We often became quite chilled after 30 minutes in the Pacific; not so in Bonaire.

Something you may not anticipate about Bonaire in comparison to Hawaii: the sun is significantly more intense. You are much closer to the equator. Take and use serious sun protection. And, because most beach entries are broken coral and limestone, foot protection is highly recommended.

You are in for a material upgrade in your snorkeling experience. And just as I told Katie on another thread, start planning your second trip now!

Let us know what other questions we may answer.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3202) on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 3:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I second and third what Nathalie and Charles have to say about snorkeling and protection. You are in for the treat of your life! Just be certain to prepare accordingly and you will have the best water experiences you could ever imagine. And, yes, you will be planning your next trip the moment you land! We knew we wanted to live on Bonaire before we were even there, but when we saw her from the air on our landing approach we were totally convinced it was the place we needed to be. We have not been able to move there, yet, but have been returning year after year to enjoy all she has to offer. We work so we can travel to Bonaire...not much else counts! LOL. Ayo. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Pacific (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 12:12 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you everyone for your great comments! Now I'll never forgive myself if we don't visit Bonaire. Nathalie, I have to agree about Hanauma Bay. It's pretty well trampled, but at least they force all visitors to watch a new "don't step on me" video before entering the park. We still saw one person standing on the reef though, so I guess it could use some improvement. Hanauma was the only place we saw turtles (2 in 2 hours). If you ever go back to Hawaii, skip Oahu and head for Maui. If you visit Maui, skip Molokini (unless diving) and head for South Maui. Past all the southern resorts and a short hike across some lava beds there is easy snorkeling that absolutely blew my wife and me away. It was a small lagoon surrounded by black lava (underwater, the lava had a white coating on it making it look like a surreal swimming pool) where we encountered a 4-ft long trumpetfish hanging out vertically in water that couldn't have been more than 5 feet deep (among several hundred other much smaller fish). There is also some very good snorkeling in West Maui north of all the resorts where we found a huge school of something like yellowfin tuna swirling around us and a shy octopus in the same snorkel. Of course, after we snorkel Bonaire we might never go back to Maui - we'll see. I guess I should brush up on my fish identification beforehand. We do own booties that we bought for lava entries. We usually rent the snap-on fins that fit over the booties but found really cool fins last time that went over the boots with velcro closures. Anyway, I'm so excited about going snorkeling again that I'm rambling. Thanks again for all the great responses!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3209) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 1:23 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Joe...not to brag about Bonaire or anything like that (who,us??!!!) but seeing a trumpetfish hanging out right next to you is a pretty common occurence....amongst many other fishies and marine life. Turtles are spotted by snorkelers, too. Brushing up on the fish ID is a great idea...be certain it is a book which covers the Caribbean fellas. Paul Humann's books are great. You will even spot some fish that won't be listed in the books, too! This should really get you into the mood for Bonaire!

You won't have to hike as much as you did across the lava beds in order to see the underwater shows in Bonaire, either.

You are just in for the best treat of your lives!! I can't wait for you to be there and get into the waters and enjoy the show....over and over and over and over and over...ad infinitum!

When are you going to be on Bonaire?? Where are you staying? Get ready for the PBD to set in when you are packing to come back home...Post Bonaire Depression....the only way to cure it temporarily, at least, is to book your return flight back to Bonaire. Not joking, either....it helps, but you will still yearn to be back on Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Pacific (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 5:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Re: the trumpetfish.. that's the kind of thing I was hoping I'd hear.
This Post Bonaire Depression thing makes Bonaire sound like an addictive drug. I'm almost afraid to go. I can't wait!
I bet all you seasoned veterans out there are salivating and thinking about your first time going out there, huh? That's what I thought.
;-)
I hope land is cheap.
I can see it now... quit our jobs, move to Bonaire, start a business or two, buy a boat... Sounds wonderful.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #993) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 10:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Joe , Check out my trip report. I only snorkel and have posted a few pictures. I also name all the fish that I see while snorkeling. A section of my report says all the regulars and I mean you see lots of them! As far as turtle sitings, I see a turtle or two almost every single time that I sailed on the Woodwind over to Kline. They do a two stop and sail with lunch and drinks included on a nice trimaran. You also might like to do a guided snorkel with Renee from WWW.reneesnorkeltrips.com. I go out with her regularly and she has spotted all the rare sightings for me like the frogfish, seahorse, highhats, upside down jellies, nurseshark and much, much more.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Pacific (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 2:30 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Excellent trip report, Darlene!
I've seen several posts about protecting your limbs during night dives. Is this for jellyfish? Are there a lot of jellies about in day and/or night time? If so, are they easy to spot and avoid? My wife and I were snorkeling in a little rip-rap protected area (Lydgate Park on Kauai) a couple of years ago when the sea was REALLY rough outside the breakwater. While we were in the water they posted the beach for man-of-war presence. I saw a lot of little dime-sized plastic-bag-looking things floating around which I guess were pieces of jellies that had been smashed into the rocks. After we got out, my wife's eyes started reddening and burning and didn't stop for 2 days. We have since theorized that her mask leaked a little and she got some jelly stingers (I forgot the technical term for them) in her eyes... Thus my concern.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #997) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 3:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jellies are not usually a problem in Bonaire. I have been there seven times now and I only encountered them once and it was only over at Kline and during the month of March. They weren't serious stings either. They just felt like you were getting a little zap.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Belinda Z (BonaireTalker - Post #71) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 5:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Joe,

We just returned yesterday from our first trip to Bonaire and have already booked the villa to return next year.

Be sure to take the water taxi over to Klein Bonaire and pay him the $2 extra to do the drift snorkel. He lands at the first stop and you walk onto the beach and leave your cooler, etc. Then he takes you way up the coast and drops you off and you just drift with the current down to where you left your stuff. We saw barracudas, 2 turtles, at least 4 puffers (I LOVE those little fishes) just to name a few. When we got in close to the reef we were swimming through jellyfish so thick (mostly little tiny ones the size of your little fingernail although there were some bigger ones mixed in) that it actually decreased visibility. According to Renee (Darlene mentions her above) you don't have to worry about them or the ones with black spots (we saw some of them on the drift snorkel from La Dania's Leap to Karpata) but if they have red spots beware. She says anything with red you need to watch out for.

As we got close to the end of the drift snorkel on Klein the reef was not in very good shape and the sandy bottom really hurt visibility. But the other 1 1/2 hours we drifted were AWESOME!

We also did a guided snorkel trip with Renee. At Karpata she found an octopus in about 10 feet of water and then she found a second one in about 5 feet of water. She is really, really good and a day with her is worth the investment in time and money (and not a lot of money to boot!).

Belinda

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Larson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Sunday, March 7, 2004 - 1:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Joe,
Wifey and I snorkeled different spots in Maui just last year. We did see some fish not found in Bonaire which was a treat but other than that Bonaire has Maui beat big time. You won't believe how much beautiful hard and soft coral there is. The water is much calmer also. Be sure to snorkel Lac Bay. Its quite a wade out to the snorkel area but well worth it. Be a little cautious if the current is running out of the bay. And if you don't have a camera GET ONE. Have a great time.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Pacific (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Sunday, March 7, 2004 - 6:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the input. Bought our tix last night!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3242) on Sunday, March 7, 2004 - 8:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

You GO JOE!! Congrats....now the countdown starts for you! Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Pacific (BonaireTalker - Post #26) on Monday, March 8, 2004 - 12:11 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ya, now I can't wait to experience this PBD thing. Sounds horrible! I'll have to move there to escape it.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3244) on Monday, March 8, 2004 - 2:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

That's one solution! Carole

 


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