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Snorkeling Bonaire: Snorkel question
Bonaire Talk: Snorkeling Bonaire: Archives: Archive 2001- 2007: Archives - 2004-05-01 to 2004-12-31: Snorkel question
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Spencer (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Saturday, October 23, 2004 - 3:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We have been to Bonaire several times and love the snorkeling but wonder if someone can shed some light on this question. Is there any place (besides the reef at Sorobon which we have done many times and greatly enjoy) where snorkeling is excellent in 5 - 10' depth? We have done the drift dive at Klein several times and it is beautiful but always looking down 20 - 30'. We have gone to some of the sites along the road up at the oil refinery but again ....deep. Last year we went through the Marine Park and didn't see much of anything although we spent a full day trying. Any ideas appreciated.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3659) on Saturday, October 23, 2004 - 3:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Divi's tree at Klein is great, excellent soft corrals there.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Spencer (BonaireTalker - Post #11) on Saturday, October 23, 2004 - 4:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Martin; That's not an area we would be seeing on the drift from where the water taxi lets you off to NoName beach?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3661) on Saturday, October 23, 2004 - 4:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

NP John, it's on the west side of Klein, I think you have seen the east side of Klein.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marabeth Owens (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #289) on Saturday, October 23, 2004 - 5:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I would think that Karpata would be GREAT snorkelling.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #361) on Saturday, October 23, 2004 - 6:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I snorkel ALL the sites while my husband dives...even the Hooker. I find that the northern sites....Karpata, Ol Blue, the Andreas, etc. are all great in the shallows. I saw my first seahorse at Oil Slick.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil Berry (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3823) on Saturday, October 23, 2004 - 7:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Another surprising good snorkeling spot is just to the right of the Tipsy Seagull at the Plaza resort. It's a rather large section less than 6' deep with lots of coral heads to swim around and through.

Andrea I and II is good also.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #187) on Saturday, October 23, 2004 - 10:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi John,
We snorkel at Windsock, Andrea I and II, Thousand Steps, Oil Slick is on the deep side, but good, Karpata is excellent when sea is calm, haven't really tried the south sites although I have heard they are good too. We dive the south sites and lots of shallow before reef, so who knows, I think it depends on what time of year you go and which way currents are going etc. Hope this helps. There is one other spot to the right of Windsock by a little yellow building in the direction of the airport, very shallow entry, but a whole lot of fish there, in August I saw a turtle, cornetfish, and a whole lot of other species, too many to name, with my kids, all in 10-12 feet of water. You can snorkel from that building area all the way down to Windsock, turn and come back or walk back, there is no current!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Spencer (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Sunday, October 24, 2004 - 12:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Many thanks to everyone ... I'm taking notes for our trip next month and will check these out. If anyone has a suggestion of a good way to get to that site on Klein referred to by Martin above, I'd be glad for the tip.
Thanks again to all.........
John

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3662) on Sunday, October 24, 2004 - 3:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

John, It might be possible to join the dive boat, just for snorkeling, you'll have to ask at the hotel you're staying.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By The Ginocchio's @ Golden Reef Inn (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #370) on Sunday, October 24, 2004 - 6:04 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Definitely, Tori's Reef, on the main road in town across from "Yellow Submarine". I also definitely suggest contacting Renee Snorkle Trips. She is EXCELLENT. She is very inexpensive, knows all the great places and has an extremely keen eye! I passed up 3 out of 5 octopus on one trip, but she caught them all!

Enjoy!

Liz

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Blanchard (BonaireTalker - Post #15) on Sunday, October 24, 2004 - 7:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree about Rene', she is very good. Also, Dee from the Woodwind took us on a night snorkel last January and it was fantastic. We started at town pier and ended at the Divi dive pier. We have seen many fish off the sun pier at Divi and then south toward the dive II pier and off Richard's Restaurant.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Pacific (BonaireTalker - Post #95) on Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 4:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hidden Beach is excellent. You will need to search these pages for directions as it is not marked. We found it no problem. Also, behind the little yellow hut just north of Windsock and the steel jet fuel pier, on the south side of the peninsula where you can park your car (behind the hut.) Shhhh. Don't tell anyone, but the elkhorn coral here is in really good shape in 3'-10' of water. You can see Windsock from here, but frankly, Windsock sucks by comparison. Also Wayaka II in the park has cool ravine-like valleys of coral as well as a couple of French Angels that think your fingers are hot-dogs. By the way everyone, will somebody move the Windsock marker back to Windsock? It was sitting in front of the Windsock Apartments in Sept/Oct this year. Don't count on the markers being where they belong. Navigate by the maps. Budget car rental has the best free map. Also, if you snorkel at night, you WILL encounter tarpon. We night snorkeled at Windsock (scary, won't do that again) and several times at the Divi restaurant rock pier. All times we saw HUGE tarpon. Dee told us the name of the one at Divi but we forgot it. There is a slightly larger one that we ran into at Windsock (6').
If you enter the water at night at Divi using the beach, be prepared to have a 5' fish follow you out of the water, right down to 2' depth. That really freaked me out because the tarpon swam right up in my face mask as I was about to stand up in the shallow water. I thought for sure it was going to run into my face. (I made a sudden move to get my feet in front of me to deflect it which seemed to scare it away.) Very interesting snorkeling.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4267) on Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 6:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi, Joe! We know the tarpon to which you refer!! LOL. He scared the beans out of us on our first-ever night snorkel (at the Divi)....had no idea what "it" was but we knew for certain it was going to come get us and eat us for dinner! LOL. We, too, beat feet out of the water...only to be told later on that it was the "house tarpon" who follows the flashlight beams of night snorkelers seeking chow! I can't even imagine running into one BIGGER at night at windsock! LOL. Now, that is way too "open" and scary for me....I'll stick to the Divi where I "know" the layout of the rocks and the beach, etc. It is exciting, tho. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Steiner (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 10:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Are jellyfish a problem anywhere in Bonaire" I plan to snorkel and dive when I visit Bonaire in a few weeks? thanks sue

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1272) on Monday, November 29, 2004 - 11:42 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jellyfish are not usually a problem when snorkeling in Bonaire. There was one time over at Kline during the month of March that I experienced a bunch of little stinging ones that just annoyed you and weren't dangerous. I have heard at certain times of year there can be man-o wars in the water at night time but I have never experienced it in 9 trips.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Pacific (BonaireTalker - Post #97) on Monday, November 29, 2004 - 11:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We saw tons of clear jellys about the size of walnuts with red streaks with little 2-inch tentacles floating in the waters around Alice in Wonderland. They didn't sting us though. My wife got stung twice on our drift at Klein and again at the restaurant pier at the Divi. Both times we were not wearing our lycra suits. At the Divi at night, I experienced some kind of multiple stinging sensation on my hands while wearing a skin. It felt like a mild alternating current shock. It did not let up either. We didn't care though as we were too busy keeping a lookout for the huge tarpon which was circling us like Jaws. We highly recommend wearing lycra skins if for no other reason than to protect against sunburn and maybe prevent scrapes from a rough entry/exit or two on the Karpata side.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mare (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #429) on Monday, November 29, 2004 - 12:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Good heavens Joe!
I can't tell from your descriptions if you are talking about sea walnuts (harmless ctenophores) or the dreaded stinging sea wasp (cnidarians -- box jellies).

Might I recommend a quick browse through Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach's Reef Creature Identification, pages 64-65 for text descriptions of box jellies, and pages 108-109 for the descriptions of the harmless comb jellies. (My page numbers are from the first edition.)

The clear jellies with the red streaks might be Red Spot Comb Jellies -- page 113.

Hopefully, if you don't own the books, you'll buy them or go to your local dive shop and browse.

In my humble opinion, if you are going to be visiting the reef, get acquainted with its residents. This way you'll have an idea of what might be stinging you and what to avoid.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By EDNA HERRMANN (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:50 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

WE ARE LEAVING FOR BONAIRE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4 DAYS.
1- WHAT KIND OF FIRST AID ITEMS SHOULD WE BRING WITH US?
2- DO WE NEED WETSUIT, HOOD AND GLOVES?

3- BEST PLACE FOR BEGGINERS?

WE ARE EXCITED AND SCARED. ANY ADVISE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. ( WE ARE "YOUNG" SENIORS)
EDNA AND JOHN HERRMANN

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie Hughes (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5328) on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 8:24 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Edna and John,
Welcome to Bonaire Talk.
to answer your questions...
If you tend to infect easily please bring any antibiotic that you may use successfully. Other things can be found on Island but maybe not your special stuff especially if it is a prescription item..
A wet suit is only a preference ,but it is also an exposure suit and will keep nasty fire coral and sun burn away from your body..
Gloves are not allowed in the park system . There are some times they can be used in diving but since you are snorkeling there is no need.. YOU will NOT be touching anything!!!
Booties are a must to navigate the iron shores.. There are very little sand beaches in Bonaire so in order to get in the water you will have to walk on nasty coral and other nasty things that would lead to major infections , so wear heavy booties[water shoes with soles}
Best place for beginners??? Just about any place !! If you are staying at any of the resorts, that is the place to start..
Have fun and be careful. Remember not to touch ANYTHING in the water. Take only photos and please write a trip report for those of us less fortunate..
{also please do not type in all capitals, in computer language in means that you are YELLING..} Have FUN!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1276) on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 11:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

You might want to try a guided snorkel with Renee or a sail and snorkel on the Woodwind.The Woodwind sails out of the Divi Flamingo resort and Renee can be reached at www.Reneesnorkletrips.com . I think the Woodwind is www.woodwindbonaire.com. You will love the ease of snorkeling in Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By EDNA HERRMANN (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you for your quick responses. If i have good information when i come back, i'll post it.

Edna and John

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Pacific (BonaireTalker - Post #98) on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

A couple of pieces of advice from a former first-timer:
You will NOT need a neoprene wetsuit nor a hood. We bought $50 lycra skins which are like spandex and very light weight. The weather was sweltering when we were there and we would have died in wetsuits. Leave you gloves at home.
A good beginner site is the (currently unmarked) beach at the end of the runway. This has a very easy entry with sandy beach-like entry. I believe this is called Windsock but the marker was moved down the road to the apartment complex of the same name.
After you get the hang of Bonairean reef ins and outs at the semi-ugly coral of Windsock, there is a much much better beginner spot right next to this one. Near the refueling pier at the airport, there is a little yellow hut on the water side of the road. Drive your car off the road and park it on the peninsula behind the yellow hut. There are two sides of this peninsula: the harbor channel side and the Windsock side. The great snorkeling is on the Windsock side (south, I believe). Just take the few steps from your car down the semi-rocky slope to the itty bitty sandy patch (beach) and proceed in, out, and around the excellent elkhorn coral formations around to the channel side and back. This is definitely where I would take a beginner. This site is unmarked (except for the hut) and more or less pristine, so DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!! Be extra careful getting in as there may be small perfect coral heads in 8-inches of water.
In the "Park", Wayaka II is good for beginners as long as you're not afraid of platter-sized fish in your face. The ride in will shake you up a bit though. Trade in your car for a truck for a day if you do this. Bring bread for the friendly lizards. (Note: Priscia's Ice Cream of guidebook fame in Rincon is gone so don't waste time looking for it.)
On the salt side of the island, we had to wait for 1-1/2 weeks for the seas to be calm enough to snorkel many sites. Entry and exit by the salt can be difficult and dangerous (the worst case being you fall on your butt on some rather hard uneven possibly jagged coral)
Fire coral: Keep a little more distance from any brownish or reddish coral with white tips or edges. This will hurt if you touch it.
Another beginner spot is the restaurant pier at the Divi. Not much coral but plenty of large fish hiding out in the rocks, including the biggest porcupine puffer I have ever seen up close.
I also recommend Hidden Beach on the salt side, which is unmarked, but if you use the search tools at the bottom of this page you can get pretty good directions to it.
Tori's reef is the only salt-side site where you can easily (a subjective term, as you have to wade out through a murky channel) enter and exit when waves are present.
Take the woodwind drift snorkel at Klein only after you get climatized to the water. You will be away from the boat for around 1-1/2 hours on the drift with no way to shore (although I'm sure Dee can find a way to shore if you need it.)
Definitely buy or rent lights and do several night snorkels. Renee can get you started but definitely go back out to the Divi restaurant pier and experience the shark-like tarpon that consistently cruises there. Enter and exit at the dock stairway north of the restaurant so you don't have to deal with the big fish in the really shallow water like we did. He/she/it will stay near the bottom which is more comfortable for us chickens.
Grab a map from the Budget car rental counter if you can. We found this one to be the most useful. You will need to carry several dive site maps as the site names change. If you can't locate a site, find the sites on both sides of it and cross-reference several maps until you find what the current name is.
Have fun!!! ;-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Gross (BonaireTalker - Post #25) on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 6:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

In the park, Boca Cocolishi can be fun, like swimming in champagne, mostly baby fish, but impressively near frightening seas. Bartol, out maybe 100 yards, has 30' deep channels but shallow coral and fish, esp. durgeons. Benje has several very pretty fingers. Down south, the drift from Margate Bay north is similar to Hidden Beach but can be of any length, with a walk back, lots of soft coral, not deep.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By EDNA HERRMANN (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Friday, December 3, 2004 - 2:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Because of the mosquitoes and sand flies do you wear shorts or pants during the day?

By the way, this is the first time I joined a discussion board, and I am amazed and thankful for the quick useful information.

Thanks a million.

Edna

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron LaCourse (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Friday, December 3, 2004 - 3:09 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Shorts and bathing suits are the plan of the day.
Light long pant for the night/dusk times.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #741) on Friday, December 3, 2004 - 3:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I always wear shorts during the day and spray a little bit first thing if it has rained overnight. We have never had a problem with flies on Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Steiner (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Friday, December 3, 2004 - 6:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the information re:jelly fish. This is such an interesting site - I feel I've learned far more about Bonaire from this site than I'd receive from a guide book. Are their any hams on the island? My boyfriend plans to bring his ham radio stuff to Bonaire when we go to there in a couple of weeks. We're renting a house on the ocean. I'd appreciate any info. It would be cool if he could hookup with a ham before we arrive. Thanks! Sue

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #803) on Saturday, December 4, 2004 - 12:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

John you missed the shallows on the Klein drift dive, I took this in about three feet of water about a third of the way back from the drop off spot. drift dive

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By EDNA HERRMANN (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 7:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi guys,

Came from Bonaire 2 weeks ago and already planning another trip in april.

Anybody ever used a snorkeling mask that has " "ear pro" to reduce ear pressure and discomfort?

Are the optic lenses really help?

I know i will hear from you soon,

Edna and John

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie Hughes (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5439) on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 7:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Edna, where is your Trip report???? we need one you know...
I have prescription lenses in my mask so I don't have to get the dog wet!!LOL seriously though you will SEE a world of difference if you need the lenses.
I don't have any information on the ear pro thingys. I'm sure someone will chime in soon...

(Message edited by scubahb on December 23, 2004)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4479) on Friday, December 24, 2004 - 3:23 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi, Edna and JOhn...I, too, have my prescription lenses inside my mask and boy, oh, boy...what a difference it makes under water now! I never knew what I was missing all those years until I had my first experience with the Rx lenses installed. Go for it!

I don't know about the ear pro, either, tho.


Glad to see you are booking your next trip....it is the only cure for Post Bonaire Depression!! Carole

 


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