By Joe Pacific (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 6:47 pm: |
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.
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By Nathalie Meyfarth (BonaireTalker - Post #39) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 8:22 pm: |
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.
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By C Poteet (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #192) on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 11:24 am: |
Joe -
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3202) on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 3:32 pm: |
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
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By Joe Pacific (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 12:12 am: |
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!
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3209) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 1:23 am: |
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!
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By Joe Pacific (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 5:06 am: |
Re: the trumpetfish.. that's the kind of thing I was hoping I'd hear.
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By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #993) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 10:32 am: |
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.
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By Joe Pacific (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 2:30 am: |
Excellent trip report, Darlene!
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By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #997) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 3:45 pm: |
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.
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By Belinda Z (BonaireTalker - Post #71) on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 5:38 pm: |
Joe,
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By Robert Larson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Sunday, March 7, 2004 - 1:40 pm: |
Hi Joe,
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By Joe Pacific (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Sunday, March 7, 2004 - 6:37 pm: |
Thanks for the input. Bought our tix last night!
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3242) on Sunday, March 7, 2004 - 8:52 pm: |
You GO JOE!! Congrats....now the countdown starts for you! Carole
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By Joe Pacific (BonaireTalker - Post #26) on Monday, March 8, 2004 - 12:11 am: |
Ya, now I can't wait to experience this PBD thing. Sounds horrible! I'll have to move there to escape it.
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3244) on Monday, March 8, 2004 - 2:58 pm: |
That's one solution! Carole
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